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Catholic
Committee on AIDS
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Sexuality
Education: The Way Towards AIDS Prevention
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As a
follow-up to the above national seminar of Catholic organisations
involved in AIDS ministry in 1999, another national seminar was
called in 2000 to discuss direction and guidelines on sexuality
education for Catholic organisations and schools. The urgency of
this issue was felt because improper sex has been one of the essential
risk factors of AIDS infection. The following final statement is
the fruit of this national seminar.
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Sexuality
Education along Catholic Direction:
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Why
and How?
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On the
occasion of the Jubilee 2000, the universal Catholic Church is moving
towards the third millennium and the Catholic Bishops' Conference
of Thailand has announced a pastoral direction for the Church in
Thailand. It is also the time to respond to the policy-oriented
proposal of a national seminar on "AIDS: the Challenge of the
Church in Thailand in the Third Millennium" held at Salesian's
Retreat House in Hua Hin, on 4-6 October 1999. One of the recommendations
is a revision and development of proper curriculum and learning
process on sexuality.
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The
Catholic Committee on AIDS, under the Catholic Commission for Health
Care Workers, is fully aware of the urgency of the problems on conceptual
understanding on sexuality, sexual behaviours, adverse effects on
various groups of people and society as a whole, and sexuality education
with our target groups. Therefore, in close collaboration with the
Catholic Commission for Youth, the Catholic Commission for Family
and the Catholic Commission for Education, it has co-organised a
national seminar on "Sexuality Education along Catholic Direction:
Why and How?" on 7-9 November 2000 at Baan Phu Waan, Sampran.
The participants came from 20 schools, 38 Catholic organisations,
3 hospitals and 5 religious congregations, altogether 132 people.
Objectives of the seminar were to develop a plan on sexuality education
along Catholic direction, and to promote ongoing operational process
to apply the plan on sexuality education in schools, Catholic institutions,
families and various organisations all across the country, including
youth groups outside schools and other target groups.
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The
seminar began with a presentation of teachings of the Catholic Church
on AIDS, followed by sharing of resource persons on a topic of "Reality
of Thai society and the Significance of Sexuality Education",
theology and ethics on sexuality, and sharing of experience in sexuality
education.
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Then,
the participants attended workshops to mobilise ideas and challenges
on sexuality education. At the end, the participants have come up
with practical guidelines on sexuality education with the following
recommendations.
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1.
Catholic Teachings
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The
main Catholic teachings on human sexuality are:
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Human
beings have dignity because they are created as men and women in
the image of God and as the sons and daughters of the same Father,
and, therefore, are brothers and sisters having equal rights and
freedom.
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Human
sexuality is sacred according to the God's Plan of Love and Creation.
It is the essential element of human life that has dignity. Therefore,
we have to respect and accept differences of one another. Women
and men supplement one another to be fuller human person.
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Human
sexuality is a constitutive part of a person and cannot be separated
for any exclusive purpose. It is closely related to a holistic development
of a total person.
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2.
Guidelines on Sexuality Education
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Main
issues:
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The
contents of this education should cover all aspects of life, be
they religious teachings, physiological, mental, emotional, health
and nutritional, sexual development, relationship and responsibility
of men and women, and guidelines to provide proper information and
correct myths, and so on.
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People
at different ages require different emphases in the ongoing process.
They are children, youth and adults.
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It should
be an education that promotes good attitudes and self-confidence,
such as respect in the rights and dignity of human person, especially
women.
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It should
be an education that promotes proper skills for daily living, such
as refusing friends who lure into improper behaviours, self-control
of sexual emotion, or implementing creative activities like sports,
music, arts, community service, and organisation to render service
to society, and so on.
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3.
Dissemination Process
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It is
necessary that the dissemination process should be:
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A life-long
learning process.
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Learning
from actual problems or real events or question raised because of
curiosity of the audiences who want to learn and understand the
issue.
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A participatory
process to help the audiences think and identify reasons, use their
wisdom to make their own decision, be honest and responsible to
profoundly understand their vocation in society, in which instructors
act as advisors.
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Learning
in an atmosphere of co-operation and close relationship among family,
church and school.
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4.
Human Resources
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It is
very urgent that:
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Various
catholic institutions and schools identify their personnel who have
earnest intention and qualifications as instructors to disseminate
the concepts, subjects and values to their target groups, as well
as giving proper counselling.
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Personnel
with this assignment should get training before teaching and ongoing
development as deems necessary and appropriate.
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Build
up a network for sharing of experience in the work among personnel
involved in this work, as well as developing techniques and knowledge
in different related field, as well as renewing life as a living
witness.
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5.
Policy and Management
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Executive
personnel of all Catholic schools, institutions and organisations
start to support sexuality education by the year 2004 as indicated
in the pastoral direction of the Catholic Church in Thailand.
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A committee
be established, comprising the Catholic Commission for Education,
Catholic Commission for Youth, Catholic Commission for Family, Catholic
Commission for Health Care Workers and other organisations, to organise
personnel training, monitor and evaluate this operation, as well
as identifying experts in various fields to help develop proper
contents of sexuality education as case studies, which should be
completed by April 2001.
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Each
diocese co-ordinate with concerned organisations to start their
operation in a number of schools, parishes and communities for future
extension by 2001.
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With
a strong belief that the Holy Spirit has thrown the light and led
all of us through the course of this seminar, we pray for assistance
from Mary our Mother and pledge to co-operate with one another to
put the above recommendations into concrete action to accomplish
our goals, which will be an elevation of human dignity according
to God's Plan of Love for the glory and honour of Him, while we
are moving firmly into the third millennium.
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VCD
Information
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| Baan Sukruthai | |
| Spirit Consolator | |
| Suthasinee Foundation | |
| Baan Naboon | |
| Lorenzo Home | |
| Baan Mittrathorn | |
| Fatima Self-Help Centre | |
| AIDS network : Thai | |
|
Health
Association Media
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© CHC
Address : 122/11 Nonsi
14 Rd,Yannawa,Bangkok 10120,Thailand Tel. 66 2 681 3900 Exit 1309 Fax. 66 2 681 5857
e-mail : chc@cbct.net
Update March 2011