Florida Catholic | Catholic Sexuality Insights

Catholic Sexuality Insights

A modest crowd participates in the first annual C.S.I: Catholic Sexuality Insights conference.

AMY FERRARA SMITH | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 03.14.08

Diocesan young adults joined voices on March 1 during a praise and worship session at the first annual young adult C.S.I.: Catholic Sexuality Insights conference.
AMY FERRARA SMITH | FC

Genesis is about being. It’s about our creation. God created you because he wanted you. God is in love with us. He wants what is best for us.”
— Mary Beth Bonacci

GULF BREEZE | Evidence was spread around the room. Furniture had been strategically rearranged in St. Sylvester Church in Gulf Breeze. Near the back, groups of investigators busied themselves around a table filled with food. Others conferred in pairs, ready to solve the case. All were seeking the missing pieces. The laughter was incriminating: This group of about 60 young adults was, indeed, having a good time March 1 at the first annual C.S.I.: Catholic Sexuality Insights conference.

“The goal was to provide a conference for young adults who are seeking a better understanding of what (sexuality) is all about,” said Denise Pressley, associate director of the diocesan Department of Christian Formation. “Young adults know there is something beyond what society is giving them.” Pressley organized the event with the help of the Christian formation staff. Funding for the nationally known speakers came from a grant secured by the diocesan Department of Youth.

Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, jump-started the conference by leading a prayer session.

“Human sexuality is like nuclear power,” he said. “Nuclear power is capable of imminent good and can be a great positive force for humankind when used and understood correctly.”

In a similar way, he continued, human sexuality should be used as God intended it.

“Although this is a small group, Jesus only began with 12.” Young adults, he emphasized, need to carry the message of God’s plan for human sexuality throughout life.

“I hope this is the first of many experiences like this,” the bishop said.

Following the prayer service, Mary Beth Bonacci, a world-renowned speaker and author on the topic of chastity, entertained the group with the first keynote address of the conference.

“We find love through respecting our gift of sexuality,” Bonacci said. She continued to refer to Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body,” describing it as a “fresh restatement of what the church taught (about sexual intimacy).” She then spoke about the creation of Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:26-31.

“Genesis is about being. It’s about our creation. God created you because he wanted you. God is in love with us. He wants what is best for us.”

Male and female, she continued, are “two different ways of being human.” She emphasized that God created men and women to be different, yet to complement each other.

“God chose to work through sex,” she said. “God is there. That’s why the church teaches that artificial birth control is wrong. To change the act is to block God out.”

Keep sex sacred, she emphasized to the group. “Saving sexual activity for marriage leads to love.”

Bonacci’s speech preceded a number of breakout sessions, which participants chose to attend based on their circumstances and personal experiences. During this time, Bryan Mercier, a national Catholic lecturer who also later spoke as the second keynoter, shared his thoughts about healthy and unhealthy dating relationships.

“Our society confuses love with lust,” he told the group.

In another room, Kerry Sise spoke about raising ethical children in today’s society. Father Joseph Fowler, parochial vicar at St. Paul Parish in Pensacola, gave his audience an introduction to Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” while seminarian Mike Nixon talked about how God’s plan for human and divine love is stamped into our bodies as male and female. Tom and Dominique Baraco, who have three young children and another on the way, shared their ideas about dating in marriage.

“Calls for no reason during the day other than to say hello are a big deal for us,” said Dominique Baraco.

After lunch, Lori Ubowski, director of music ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Niceville, her husband, Adam, director of music ministry at Christ Our Redeemer Parish in Niceville, and their band, Out of Darkness, led the group in a praise and worship session.

As the second keynote speaker, Mercier then captured the group’s attention by speaking about the misunderstandings of love and chastity.

“Love can’t wait to give,” he said. “Lust can’t wait to get.”

Sexual intercourse between marital partners is an act of renewing marital vows, he continued.

“Sex in marriage speaks that. It’s the language of forever.”

Participants then had the opportunity to attend another breakout session, including Bonacci’s talk about the struggles and opportunities singles face in a couple’s world. Rey Malavé shared his thoughts regarding the messages that music and videos give about human sexuality.

“Rey’s presentation on the media’s influence in today’s culture with sexuality gave parents and other young adults a new view of what’s out there and what has become the norm,” said Pressley.

In a different room, Kerry Sise shared ideas about how parents can provide a solid home foundation while seminarian Kevin McQuone talked about the Catholic understanding of contraception.

“I think every participant,” said Pressley, “walked away from the conference at the end of the day with a new understanding of where they are as sexual beings in relation to the church’s teaching.”

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