Students learn advantage of abstinence
The major thrust of AIDS education, in both Belize and other places, has been promotion of safe sex; that is…use of a condom. But you don’t have to be a Jesuit priest to know that the safest sex of all is…no sex. Not a realistic option you say? You may want to think again…as News 5’s Jacqueline Woods did at a unique presentation at SCA.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The one-hour presentation on the virtue of chastity was well received by the over five hundred students at Saint Catherine Academy. Guest speaker Jason Evert says his message about sexual abstinence is very realistic. In fact, Evert says he is the living example of one young man who remained a virgin until he got married last year.
Jason Evert, Speaker
?I mean I held onto my virginity until I was twenty-seven years old and married. So if we don?t expect the best from them, we are not going to get the best from them. And if we give up on them, they are going to give up on themselves. We can?t give them some mix message of abstain, but if not have safe sex. That?s just shows we don?t have any confidence in them. And so you?d be surprised what they?re capable of if we have confidence in them.?
For the next four days, Evert will be visiting Roman Catholic Secondary Schools to deliver his talk titled Romance Without Regret. Already Evert has been getting rave reviews from his young audience.
Sasha Walker-Ayuso, 14 years old
?He gave his views as a man. I guess me as a girl then, I think me personally would follow that because I think that talk was just fantastic.?
Charlene Pakeman, 14 years old
?The talk today was very informative telling us about true love, purity, chastity and I think after this talk, a lot of girls would go back to their boyfriends and tell him that I am going to wait because I am worth waiting for.?
Dominique Alvarez, 16 years old
?If more girls are aware and to get from a male?s perspective is better because if you hear females talk about it, it?s ok. We are females; we don?t think from a male?s perspective and get that. I think that?s a positive talk.?
Jaimala Requena, 16 years old
?I already believed that what he said before. So it was just refreshing that he could tell the whole school and could try to persuade everyone to believe in what we both believe in.?
The students say there are a number of reasons why young women, though they may not want to have sex, still engage in the act.
Charlene Pakeman
?They have a difficult time sometimes because they are pressured by their boyfriends–like they want the girls to do more in the relationship and they feel pressured to show they?re boyfriend that they love them and that and different thing.?
Dominique Alvarez
?They are becoming sexually active at young ages because what I notice is that a lot of females don?t have fathers in the home so they try to find the love from someone else and I think that it?s becoming more of a problem because fathers are walking out on their kids.?
Jacqueline Woods
?You are a fourth former, getting ready to get out of high school, what is the situation like with girls here and sex? How do they view sex?
Jaimala Requena
?Well at first for anyone who had sex is a slut or you know. But nowadays it?s becoming a norm and I really don?t like it. Honestly I think that we should abstain and having sex being the norm is just not right.?
Jacqueline Woods
?So how long you think you?d abstain for?
Jaimala Requena
?Well I plan to until marriage; definitely.?
Just how many of these young women will practice what Evert preaches is anyone?s guess, but Evert is optimistic that he has connected with a large number of the students.
Jason Evert
?And it happens at every talk. I was at one school where there were eighty-seven girls pregnant at the school. It was a terrible environment but the girls and guys sworn off the chastity materials; they are so hungry for it and so I have great hopes and great prayers for the girls.?
?They want to be challenged, they want to be guided. What?s the difference between lust and love? People think young people don?t want to hear abstinence so don?t even try it. But they are so thirsty for answers and how to find real love.?
The presentation is a combined effort of Divine Mercy Church, San Pedro Roman Catholic Church, The Bishop?s Office and Holy Redeemer Cathedral. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
