Let alone the Catholic Church saying “Yes” to homosexuality and contraceptives, it disapproves of inter-religious and inter-caste marriages in the light of rising divorce rate.
The Family Commission of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has come out with a book in Malayalam, targeting higher secondary students (16-18 age group) for sex education.
Titled Kaumara Vidyabhyasam (Teenage Education) and priced `60, the book covers all aspects of sex from the church viewpoint.
It does not approve of inter-religious marriage, saying two people from different religious backgrounds could create tension in family life. The basic concept of a Christian marriage is that it’s a sacrament. Any union that does not subscribe to this view is anathema to the church.
While agreeing that some people are homosexuals, it is dead against same sex liaisons and marriage and their adopting children.
The book, a collective effort of a group of doctors, psychologists and theologians, also underscores the church view prohibiting artificial contraceptive methods; masturbation is a sin and abortion a crime against man and God.
Girls should avoid “such dress” that attracts sexual deviants.
Fr Jose Kottayil, secretary of KCBC’s Family Commission and editor of the book, says: “We felt the need for such a book two years back when the then LDF government planned to bring out a book on sex education violating the stand of the church on many sexual issues. It is also the need of the hour considering that due to increasing exposure to media and Internet, children can acquire wrong notions about sex and life in general.”
The book gives scientific knowledge on various stages of growth and one chapter has been devoted to sexual diseases. But the emphasis of the book was on strengthening the family.
Fr Kottayil said the initial plan was to distribute the book at Sunday schools. The church would consider distributing the book in schools run by it later.