Florida Catholic | Redeeming Sexuality Conference

Christopher West talks to adults young and old at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More Feb. 2 about "Redeeming Sexualtiy" based on the Theology of the Body works by Pope John Paul II.

JULIE S. BETTINGER | FC
Christopher West talks to adults young and old at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More Feb. 2 about "Redeeming Sexualtiy" based on the Theology of the Body works by Pope John Paul II.

Only God satisfies the appetite of humanity

Seven-hundred hungry people fill the pews at the Co–Cathedral of St. Thomas More for Christopher West’s “Redeeming Sexuality” conference.

JULIE S. BETTINGER | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 02.15.08

TALLAHASSEE | Christopher West’s main point is this: God wants to “marry” us.

As the Catholic speaker’s two-day program at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Tallahassee showed recently, even college kids are more than willing to give up their weekend to find out what that was all about.

West packed the 700-seat church on Feb. 1-2 for his “Redeeming Sexuality” conference, then managed to capture and keep the attention of the varied ages in attendance both days. Mario Sacasa, the parish’s family life director, said the gathering drew people from New Orleans, the University of Central Florida and many non-Catholics, including several from the Jewish faith.

At the root of attraction is a hunger, West maintains. It’s a hunger for God, but people are tricked into thinking it can be satisfied through other means, including sexual sin.

He told the audience the biggest difference between a saint and a sinner is where they go to satisfy their hunger.

“The saints knew that their deep hunger was for God,” and they sought to know him more in order to be satisfied, he said, noting that today’s culture encourages a very different course.

“Did you know that the No. 1 word people type into Google is ‘sex’?” The second most typed-in word is ‘God,’” West said, to demonstrate the connection between the two.

West went on to tell the audience that Satan has twisted the truth about how to satisfy humanity’s deepest desires. People eat out of dumpsters, instead of enjoying the banquet the Lord has prepared, he said, and need to untwist the truth to see what is being offered.

Drinking deeply

West’s message revolves around Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body, based on a collection of 129 talks the late pope delivered between 1974 and 1994. The purpose of the talks was to help people rediscover what it means to be a man, what it means to be a woman and to answer Catholics’ deepest questions about sexuality.

While the pope’s original work is difficult for many to absorb, West devoted the last 15 years “unpacking it” for Catholics in the pews.

In his presentation, West used analogies that were familiar to the audience. He broke out into song (Mick Jagger and Billy Joel were favorites) and used contemporary movie themes to bring home his points.

Referring many times to the Old Testament’s Song of Songs, West described the work as “erotic love poetry” that God uses to express his love for humanity.

“The Bible is not ashamed to celebrate erotic love,” West said.

West also encouraged his audience to “drink deeply of the new wine” God offers Catholics through our relationship to Jesus.

Better aiming his message at youths, he then shouted, “College students: Are you ready to get drunk on the real stuff?” After a cheer, he said, “Let’s get wasted on God’s new wine.”

The content of West’s programs is not just geared to married people or those seeking the vocation of marriage. As he notes, his programs are for those who are consecrated celibate, single, married and homosexual.

“If you have a body, the Theology of the Body applies to you,” West said.

Katty Paulino, a student at Florida State University, understood the importance of the topics West covered. “Lust should be talked about,” she said. “If it’s a mystery, it’s not real.”

Her friend Patty Chipi agreed, “If you talk about it, then you can recognize it,” she said.

Nicholas and Dorothy Wagner, who have been married just over five months, said they went on a two-hour walk after the conference to debrief and ponder the material.

Nicholas Wagner said the couple had listened to West’s seminars before, but he always picks up something new on each hearing. One of the points that stuck with him was how Satan tricks people into feeling shame, but the Lord brings freedom from shame.

“It’s a matter of understanding who we are,” he said. “If I’m steeped in shame, there’s no way I can be the ‘high priest’ I’m called to be to my family.” Almost finishing his sentence for him, Dorothy added, “And if he was in that shame, he wouldn’t be able to receive my love, either.”

West, who is based in Lancaster, Pa., said he is scheduled to do an expanded version of the same talk April 4-5 at St. Dominic Parish in Panama City. He urged those attending the conference to tell their friends about it.

“You are among a small number of people who have heard this message,” he said. “The world needs to hear it, and I’m asking you to help spread it.”

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Only God satisfies the appetite of humanity

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