This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
As the holiday season approaches, many flock to church not to claim righteousness, but to express gratitude for the many things they've survived.
However, one issue that requires attention is the church's handling of conversations around sex. The church, which is supposed to be a safe space free of judgment, has been notorious for its subjective labeling and handling of sexual conversations.
As a recovering Catholic, I'm heartened by the emergence of a female pastor who is dismantling the idea of sex in the church. Her platform is a powerful tool for demystifying sex and sexual pleasure, setting the stage for a broader conversation on sexual health rights.
By destigmatizing human desire, this pastor is creating room for healthier sexual practices and normalizing the human desire for sexual pleasure. This is particularly important given the rising concerns about teen pregnancies and sexual predation, including within the church itself.
The church's solution to these issues has often been to pray away the 'evil sexual spirit' and refuse to engage in a broader sex conversation from a place of empowerment and responsibility. However, this approach has led to a culture of silence and shame, allowing sexual predators to hide in plain sight.
It's time for the church to unlearn stigmas surrounding issues like divorce, single parenthood, contraception, childlessness, sex, and sexual health. By seeking and practicing understanding instead of judgment, the church can begin to address the many human problems that require human solutions.
