Following the series on Catechesis on Sexuality by Sr Jane Dominic Laurel, O.P., The Sower will be drawing attention to various initiatives around the world in this area of the handing on of the good news of marriage, family and sexuality. In this issue we have asked Dr Gerard O’Shea to tell us about a programme and resource for parents which he has assisted in developing.
As I Have Loved You began as a project at the John Paul II Institute of Marriage and Family in Melbourne, Australia. The Archdiocese of Melbourne had produced a set of ‘Directives’ concerning sexuality education. These directives were based on the document of the Pontifical Council for the Family The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality. Taken together, neither document provided practical assistance for implementing what was wisely proposed. It was clear that the Church genuinely understood what was needed in the area of sexuality. Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body offered a profound understanding of the place sexuality in human life. Nevertheless, this would remain a dead letter if it was not explained to ordinary people and put into practice in their lives. This need for a simple, practical explanation constituted the development brief for the programme.
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