Sex & the Spirit

Left to Right: Professor Lisa Cahill, Fr. Jack Butler, Shelia McMahon, Fr. Joseph Marchese, Tammy Liddell

Left to Right: Professor Lisa Cahill, Fr. Jack Butler, Shelia McMahon, Fr. Joseph Marchese, and Tammy Liddell

In a talk “Sex & the Spirit,” Boston College faculty and staff discussed topics and answered student questions on Catholic teachings on sexuality. The panel was comprised of Professor Lisa Cahill of the Theology Department, Shelia McMahon of the Women’s Resource Center, Fr. Jack Butler, S.J. of Campus Ministry, Fr. Joseph Marchese of the Office of First Year Experience, and Tammy Liddell of Campus Ministry.

Each panelist made brief opening comments on topics they thought were important for the discussion. Professor Cahill began by stating, “The teaching of the Catholic Church about sexuality is fairly simple – it is that sex has an inherent meaning and it has a meaning in the context of human relationship. It has two specific types of meaning. One is its ability to lead to the birth of children…the other meaning, or purpose, of sex is love.”

She explained that, “Sex is moral, according to the Catholic Church, and also other Christian traditions, when it is loving and when it respects its procreative potential…a specific development of that in the Catholic tradition…is that the procreative meaning of sex rules out the use of artificial birth control….no condoms, no birth control.”

Shelia McMahon emphasized the importance of open discussions of sexuality, because when she was a teenager, she “often felt really alone in [the] conversation,” because it was uncomfortable talking parents, and discussions in class were purely academic.

Fr. Marchese spoke about his experiences talking with students on the topic of sexuality and how he, “began to understand that we had to define a theology and psychology of human sexuality that made sense to our students, but also [one] that they would share with their own sons and daughters if they had those sons and daughters eventually.”

Following the introductory statements, the panelists answered questions submitted by students in the audience.

Several questions were regarding sinfulness and sexual activity. Cahill responded by saying that there are certain actions “that in and of themselves are defined as sin – like masturbation and sex before marriage,” but that “the basic question is, ‘Is this really how I want to express my sexuality?’”

Students also asked questions about how Boston College should support GLBT students on campus. Cahill had earlier mentioned this topic, saying, “The Catholic Church does not condemn people who are gay, but it urges them to live a celibate life and to reserve sexual activity to heterosexual committed couples.” Responding further to the question, panelists affirmed the need to be supportive of all students, regardless of sexual orientation.

Throughout the talk, panelists frequently stated that sex is appropriate only in “committed relationships.” Fr. Butler explained the terminology, saying, “I want to get it clear: sex in the Christian Catholic tradition only takes place in marriage. And the reason it only takes place in marriage is because it has the parameters of protecting the people because they made a decision to be committed to each other.”

“When I say commitment I mean marriage –the decision to be committed,” said Fr. Butler.

In response to a student’s question about what it feels like to “be in love,” Fr. Butler responded that “In the Roman Catholic Christian tradition, love is not a feeling, love is not an emotion.” Love, he said, is a choice and a commitment.

Tammy Liddell had said earlier, “The conversations that are most meaningful to [students] are the conversations [students] are having with one another.” Responding to the question “What next?,” the panelists proposed frequent small group discussions on campus about sexuality and Catholic teaching, in addition to larger panel discussions.

Overall, “love as a commitment” was a strong theme of the event. Panelists stressed the importance of living a life of sexual authenticity, honesty, and integrity – a life that is affirmed by Catholic teaching.

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