What are We thinking?


This is an article from Catholic Exchange, showing just how insane our culture has become. Oh, how much we need to recapture the true understanding of our sexuality.


by Pete Vere, JCL Other Articles by Pete Vere, JCL
Life Below Sea Level
06/03/06

I know how it is. It upsets secularists to no end when one mixes politics, religion and sex. Therefore, rather than put my own spin on the content, allow me to quote the opening sentence from the Reuters article dated May 30, 2006: "Dutch pedophiles are launching a political party to push for a cut in the legal age for sexual relations to 12 from 16 and the legalization of child pornography and sex with animals."

The story then describes the rest of the platform put forth by the Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party. Lowering the age of consent is merely a temporary measure. In the long term, the NVD reportedly hopes to eliminate the age of consent in Holland. The party also supports the private possession — but not trafficking — of child pornography. Yet they want to lower the age of consent for prostitution and pornographic appearances to sixteen. Sex education would be extended to toddlers, and daytime television would be permitted to broadcast pornography provided that the content did not denote violence. That would have to wait until the evening broadcast. Finally, the party would legalize bestiality, public nudity, the public consumption of hard drugs.

Like most Canadian social conservatives, I am frightened by this latest Dutch venture down the slippery slope. Many of Canada’s leftists — including politicians, academics and social activists — point to Holland as the model socialist society. What is cutting edge in Holland’s will eventually become the new front in Canada’s culture war.

Not surprisingly, the NVD are arguing their perversions are a matter of children’s rights. Reuters quoted party founder Ad van den Berg as saying: “A ban just makes children curious.... We want to make pedophilia the subject of discussion.... We have been hushed up. The only way is through parliament.”

Newsflash! Pedophilia should not be the subject of discussion. It should be the subject of harsh prison sentences. As should those who propose legalizing the sexual exploitation of children. Yet in a culture obsessed with sexual license and personal freedoms, I fear that my views may soon be in the minority whereas those of Mr. van den Berg will spread to the majority.

Same-sex marriage? The legalization of street drugs and prostitution? Unsustainable immigration in the name of multiculturalism? These are all practices the “Dutch Experiment” has exported to other western nations. Why should the slippery slope end with these practices and not continue to pedophilia, child pornography and bestiality?

Thus an old expression again proves true: the Revolution eats its young. I hope Canada’s leftists possess enough common sense to draw the line at our children. As my friend Aidan Reid, a Canadian right-to-life political lobbyist, puts it: “This is disgusting, although I am not surprised. I fear this will come to Canada as a result of the free-for-all that so-called same-sex ‘marriage’ has brought to this country.”

© Copyright 2006 Catholic Exchange

Pete Vere is a canon lawyer and a Catholic author. He recently co-authored Surprised by Canon Law: 150 Questions Catholics Ask About Canon Law (Servant Books) with Michael Trueman and More Catholic Than the Pope (Our Sunday Visitor) with Patrick Madrid. He lives with his wife and two (soon-to-be three) daughters in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada.

A version of this article originally appeared in Wanderer.