New Chastity Educator!

We have a new Chastity Educator at the pregnancy center! We're really excited to welcome Rocky Rhoades to our staff :)

Rocky is an internationally known chastity speaker with the Goretti Group and has appeared in shows such as EWTN's "The Pure Life."

.....Happy Birthday?

Yesterday, a young girl walked into the pregnancy center for a pregnancy test. I heard her talking with one of our client advocates as she walked through the hallway, and I stopped to listen when I heard her ask whether or not birth control was available through the pregnancy center.

This young girl told us that she had been using birth control for about a year now, but really wanted to stop using it. She told us that she "didn't like it." That answer can be pretty common for a lot of women who are using some form of birth control, and it's a pretty understandable answer. Birth control injects hormones into a woman's body, throwing her entire body off balance. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of what is famously known as simply "the pill," the most popular form of contraceptive here in the U.S.

No, we don't give out birth control here at the pregnancy center, and I'm very grateful for the fact that we don't. I think it's time that women start seriously looking at what birth control does to our bodies. These days, it's incredibly common for "the pill" to be prescribed for pretty much any reason - acne, heavy periods, pain etc. But what most people don't realize is that these pills can seriously harm us (both physically and psycologically), lower our chances of becoming pregnant in the future, increase the risk of getting breast cancer, cause us to gain weight, could possibly cause an abortion for baby already conceived, throws our hormones and our bodies off balance, gives us nausea, decreases our libido, harms the environment, and puts a barrier between us and our husbands.

So why would we do this? CNN put out an article this past week about how the birth control pill has revolutionized our culture and completely changed the way that we view sex. Birth Control is oftentimes seen a "liberating" thing for women - a powerful way for them to gain control over their bodies, to decide for themselves on how to use their sexuality, and a way to enjoy sex with "no strings attached."

But what's wrong with this? For one thing, there is no such thing as "sex with no strings attached." Our sexuality is the core of who we are as women, and the way that we use that gift goes deep inside of us. By using birth control, we're working against our own natural cycle, which is always going to touch us in a deep way. As Theology of the Body explains, our bodies express our persons - what we do with our bodies matters.

Second of all, birth control takes out the responsibility that comes with sex. We're human beings, not animals. We have the capability of saying no, of making decisions - we have freedom, and, as Spiderman famously said: "With freedom comes great responsibility." John Paul II said it even better: "the greater feeling of responsibility, the more true love there is."

The primary purpose of sex is procreation; no matter how much we try to justify the use of contraception, we can't - because Christ is always in control of new life, not us. Everytime we use contraception, we're kicking Christ and His creative power out of the fundamental act that He designed for new life.

And last, but not least, it really does harm us as women. As I once heard, "birth control is the only drug you give to a healthy woman that makes her sick." Think about that - birth control harms women. It isn't good for our bodies - this should tell us something.

So, happy birthday to "the pill"? I think not.

Theology of the Body for Teens

Interested in learning more about chastity, love, dating and John Paul II? (and free Chipotle?)Come hang out with us at the Pregnancy Center this summer!

Who: All incoming high school freshmen through incoming college freshmen.

When: We are offering two seperate five-week classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from July 7 - August 9. The afternoon class meets twice a week from 1 - 3 p.m. and the evening class meets twice a week from 6 - 8 p.m.

Where: Pregnancy Center East (3944 Edwards Rd. Cincinnati, OH)

Space is limited, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. You can contact me via email at aliciapce@fuse.net or call my direct ext. (513) 321 - 8584.

~ the class is completely FREE! ~

Catholic Actor Refuses Racy Sex Scenes

I'm always inspired by people who stick to their principles and radically live out their faith. I read this story this week about Neal McDonough, an actor who was recently kicked off T.V. show "Scoundrels" by ABC for refusing to do explicit sex scenes with actress Virginia Madsen.

McDonough is a Catholic married man with three kids, and because the role was paying McDonough around $1 million dollars, it really causes us to ask - is it worth it? Some people argue that it's not a big deal because it's not like he's "actually" having sex with her or cheating on his wife because he's an actor - this is what he does. So is it a big deal?

I think it is. For one thing, no matter if it's just acting or not, when you're doing a sex scene with someone you're physically close to them in a way that reveals your whole person. Any kind of sexual activity is a gift for your spouse. Our sexuality is who we are; it's our person. When you have sex with someone you're giving yourself away - no matter if it's acting or not. I admire this guy because he obviously loves his wife deeply enough to respect her as the one and only person who receives the gift of himself.
Bella actor Eduardo Verastegui has faced the same issue. And I think he has an awesome response:

"When you kill somebody in the movies, you’re not killing anyone. But when you kiss someone, it’s really a kiss,” Eduardo stressed. “In sex scenes, you’re really half naked. So I would recommend that people be careful, because you are working with fire and you’re gonna get burned. Don’t risk yourself for some role. I know because I did it. And I’m telling you, 12 years of that was nothing but emptiness, pain and suffering.” Eduardo described sex scenes as what they are: “legal adultery.”

Quote of the Week

"Have patience with all of the world, but first of all with yourself." - St. Francis de Sales

Eduardo Verastegui:"Yes to Christ, yes to purity, yes to chastity, and yes to God."

If you are a Bella fan then this is for you! Eduardo Verastegui, an actor in Bella, spoke this week at the first Congress for Catholic Youth in Guatemala. The event drew about 7,000 young Catholic youth, who promised “to work for the virtue of purity” and to "lead a chaste life.” The goal of the conference was to "motivate the youth to say yes to Christ, yes to purity, yes to chastity, and yes to God." At the congress, Eduardo himself led the youth in kneeling before the Eucharist and praying the chastity promise prayer. (Catholic News Agency)

Eduardo used to be a Mexican soap star, and he eventually gave it all to Christ and has done amazing work to promote life and chastity. I love his conversion story! You can read more about it here.

It's always so encouraging to see others, especially teenagers and young adults, commiting to living a pure life - definitely not an easy task in our culture today. Those are who aren't having sex aren't just surviving...they are living incredibly fulfilling lives. Purity IS possible!

Quote of the Week

"The way to perfect joy is incredibly simple. It is simply to die - to die to self-will and self-regard - to say to God, "Thy will be done," and mean it. To put God first, to consecrate everything - everything - to him." - Dr. Peter Kreeft