The Mass Implementation of International Sex Education Guidelines and the Legal and Moral Ramifications as Presented by the Roman Catholic Church

Abstract

The Roman Catholic Church, through its many teachings, boldly stands in opposition to the U.N.’s proposed regulations and ideologies ensuring the individual person is protected and cultivated into a mature and modest sexual human being. The world we exist in today is full of information about sexuality, health and lifestyle choices not available to previous generations. As we have progressed technologically and have begun to further understand the many contours of human sexuality, our culture and government have forced further regulation and imposed duties on educators that had been previously under the control of parents and religious communities. The true question that is asked of the legal community is whether the regulations imposed upon educators actually have improved the sexual health of humans in these regulated jurisdictions. This further regulation has pushed the family to accept the educational material required by regulators, like the U.N. and foreign governments, even if the required material is against the better judgment of families and religious organizations.

The goals of sex education in many jurisdictions are drastically different compared to those of the Church. The Church has been an advocate of sex education from the home and religious community to ensure that children gather knowledge about sexuality as they mature as an individual. The Church teaches that parents should play a significant role in determining when they feel it is appropriate to introduce a new topic on sexuality to the child. These discussions between parents and children are most effective when accompanied with programming and informational gatherings in the community. The Church purports that education should be conducted with appropriate materials and with modesty and friendship as dominating forces in the curriculum.

JEL Classification: K33