A Case for Chastity: The Way to Real Love and True Freedom for Catholic Teens

by Heather Gallagher, Peter Vlahutin

Overview

In twenty-six short topical chapters, teens and young adults share their questions and real-life experiences about sexual relationships. Their questions range from "How far is too far?" to "What's wrong with cohabitation?" Two questions posed by many people of all ages both within and outside the Church are also treated: "Chastity sounds nice, but is it practical?" and "What do the Bible and celibate men know about sex anyway?"

Teens will find A Case for Chastity a readable and informative book, and their parents and teachers, particularly catechists and DREs, will find it an invaluable resource.

Paperback

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764811029
Publisher:	Liguori Publications
Publication date:	01/15/2004
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	1,155,535
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Heather Gallagher is the Chastity Educator and a retreat facilitator for the REAP Team (a youth retreat ministry of the Office of Youth Ministry of the Archdiocese of St. Louis).

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xiii
	Introduction: Why Should I Read This Book?	xv
A	Attitudes and Approaches: What Choices Do I Have?	1
B	Be Different: But Everybody Else Is Doing It	7
C	Chastity: What Does It Have to Do With Me?	12
D	Discovering the Unavoidable Consequences of Sex: What Could Really Go Wrong?	19
E	Experiencing Real Love: Isn't Sex the Natural Expression of Love?	27
F	Freedom: Nobody Is Going to Tell Me What to Do	33
G	Great Sex: But I Want Sex to Be Passionate and Exciting	40
H	Having It Your Way: Can't I Define the Meaning of Sex?	47
I	If Not Sex, What Can I Do? How Far Is Too Far?	54
J	Just My Thoughts: Why Do They Matter?	62
K	Killing It Slowly: Can't We Just Use Contraception?	66
L	Laying Aside a Myth: Doesn't Chastity Lead to Repression?	74
M	Making a Distinction (Between Homosexual Orientation and Behavior): I Can't Help It; It's Just How I Am	80
N	Nobody But Me: What's the Big Deal With Masturbation?	87
O	Oral Sex: Is It Really Sex?	92
P	Pornography: How Does Looking at Pictures Hurt Anyone?	96
Q	Questioning the Church: What Do Celibate Men Know About Sex Anyway?	100
R	Respect That Builds Self-Esteem: But I Like Attention	106
S	Starting Over: What If I've Already Lost My Virginity?	112
T	Trying to Undo the Past: How Can I Move Beyond the Memories?	117
U	Under One Roof: What's Wrong With Cohabitation?	123
V	Vocation of Marriage: With So Much Divorce, Is It Really Worth Waiting?	128
W	What to Do: Chastity Sounds Nice, But Is It Practical and Realistic?	133
X	XX: How Can Women Live Chastely?	138
Y	YX: How Can Men Live Chastely?	144
Z	Zero Regrets: The Decision Is Yours	152
Appendix A	Where Else Can I Turn?	157
Appendix B	What Can I Do to Have Fun and Show Affection Without Having Sex?	165
	Notes	169