I have been on a carcer drug for 12 months now, and my testasterone level has sunk to an extremely low level. The result is that I have become a virtual eunuch. Thus, I can now offer dispassionate observations on the subject of human sexuality. Here are a few..

I am a Protestant evangelical, but there are many things I admire about Roman Catholics. However, I believe their insistence on priestly celibacy is damaging to their particular branch of Christianity. Celibacy is not a normal condition for an adult male. Many priests violate their vow of celibacy. Others become invovled in homosexuality or pedophilia. Married priests would not be immune from sexual temptations and impropriety, but I believe that incidences of priestly sexual misconduct woud be much fewer.

Another criticism of Catholics is their treatment of Mary, the mother of Jesus. I admire and reverence Mary, but I do not think of her as the “ever virgin” Mary. As I understand it, Catholics teach that Mary never had sexual relations with her husband Joseph or any other man.. They believe that her only child was Jesus, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. They also teach that Mary was born without sin, product of an “Immaculate conception.”This attitude indicates that the Catholic church must view human sexual relations as somehow shameful or sinful. I believe that is a very unhealthy attitude.

My own early views of sex were foolish nonsense, products of my idealistic imagination. I believe I had a very normal attraction to members of the opposite sex, but as I approached maturity I was strongly influenced by romantic illusions. I longed for that perfect world of my dreams – a sinless Camelot. Like Don Quixote, I visualized Aldonza as Dulcinea. I tended to think of any lovely girl that I adored from afar as being an almost etheral being that somehow graced the earth with her presence. In other words, I was terribly naive. Soon I was to imbibe the strong brew of reality.

I’m an old man now, but I’m still naive, and I still have what might be called a high view of sex and marriage. It’s not impossible to remain a virgin until marriage and remain faithful to your spouse. I did. Nevertheless, I do no condemn those who take another path. Every life and circumstance is different.

God loves us all!… . .