IWL event goes against Benedictine values
This is the opinion of Molly Wells, CSB sophomore
I have supported and appreciated many of the doings of the Institute for Women’s Leadership during my time at CSB. However, after I attended IWL’s discussion titled “Purity Culture is a Feminist Issue,” I was simultaneously disappointed and disgusted by the information presented.
The idea that sexual experiences should be encouraged and explored outside of marriage and that contraceptives should be promoted on our Catholic campus goes against our Benedictine values of awareness of God and respect for persons. The Rule of Benedict states that “we believe the divine presence is everywhere” (RB 19.1).
From the small things in life to the big things, God is here with us. The pinnacle of divine presence in the Catholic church is demonstrated on the cross. As uncomfortable as it may sound, the divine is also present during sex.
Put simply, Jesus’ death was the act of ultimate love because it was free, total, faithful and fruitful. Having sex should be a free, total, faithful and fruitful act of authentic love. Sex is not shameful in this context.
If these four attributes of the cross are not present during sex, are you really showing love and respect to the partner you are engaging in the activity with? Are you pursuing what is better for someone else, or what feels best to you at that moment?
Another topic discussed at this IWL presentation was female virginity being unhealthily viewed as an object to be given away. The IWL preached that “virginity is a social construct” in an attempt to equalize femininity and masculinity. The equalization backfired.
Yes, virginity is not an object because you are not an object. Your body itself is not sinful. But the things you choose to do with your body? Therein lies the real conversation we should be having.
The IWL further objectified the female body by encouraging the use of contraceptives, which suppress the female menstrual cycle and cause unnatural hormone counts that affect the daily life of a female and take away from recognizing her as a holistic human being. This is not feminism.
Several of the powerful women who attended this event voiced their dissenting views on the Catholic church’s teaching on contraceptives, some to the point that they left the church.
My heart was broken, especially because I am a practicing Catholic who has used birth control pills in attempt to regulate irregular menstruation and hormonal imbalance, and they did not work. I’ve found myself empowered with tracking my cycle using the sympto-thermal fertility awareness method. If these words are unfamiliar, or if words like “menstruation” and “hormones” make you uncomfortable (especially if you are male), then that is where the problem lies—not in the Catholic church.
Society, including our campus, is not talking about women’s health in the way it should. We are not empowering women by avoiding the conversation of fertility awareness. We are not empowering women by ignoring natural ways to track cycles. We are not empowering women by inadvertently teaching them to disrespect their bodies. We are not empowering women by leaving God out of the equation.
Do your job, IWL.