New Wellness Education Curriculum: Catholic Perspectives from the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta

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1 New Wellness Education Curriculum: Catholic Perspectives from the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta Key Messages & Catholic Teachings on Human Sexuality Topics The Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association (ACSTA) and the Council of Catholic School Superintendents (CCSSA) have been meeting with the Alberta Education Minister, Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Ministers in regards to the development of Alberta s new K-12 Curriculum in particular the Wellness (Health) Curriculum. ACSTA and CCSSA have requested Alberta Education s (AB Ed) assistance and endorsement of a Catholic Wellness Curriculum to be developed in parallel with the secular Wellness Curriculum. AB Ed has assured us on numerous occasions that the AB Ed Wellness and all new curriculum outcomes will be broad enough to enable Catholic teaching to be taught and permeated in Catholic Schools. To this end, CCSSA developed the following Key Messages & Catholic Teachings and a Catholic Worldview on Human Sexuality Topics that we believe may intersect secular beliefs and understanding. The Key Messages and Human Sexuality Topics were identified and developed by a committee of senior Catholic School leaders from across the province to inform AB Ed of our teachings and understandings on potential Wellness Curriculum outcomes as well as the intended perceptive that will be taught and permeated in Alberta Catholic Schools. Our request of the Alberta/NWT Bishops is to review the following Key Messages and Human Sexuality Topics for their accuracy and consistency with current Catholic teachings and understandings. We hope to continue working with AB Ed to heighten their understanding of Catholic teaching and understanding of the uniqueness of Catholic Schools working within a publicly funded secular school system. Thank you in advance for this review. Together in Christ, Jamie McNamara Executive Director Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta (CCSSA)

2 New Wellness Education Curriculum: Catholic Perspectives from the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta Our Catholic Perspective: Key Messages Our mission as Catholic schools must be aligned with the fundamental beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church. Catholic schools are thriving, as evidenced by strong Accountability Pillar and academic results. Permeation of Catholicity needs to be considered for all subject areas, including all aspects of the wellness curriculum. The Catholic worldview emphasizes the sacredness of the individual and the human body. Resources or materials that are developed for Catholic educators in Alberta are done so in collaboration with the CCSSA, ACSTA, REN and the Bishops of Alberta and represent the tenants of our faith, not the opinions of individuals. As Catholic educators, we are committed to raising a generation of well informed, critically thinking, morally developed young people. A deep teaching and a deep understanding of human sexuality are essential. Catholic school districts currently teach human sexuality embedded in the current provincial outcomes. If the new program of study outcomes are broad enough, we can develop specific outcomes and resources for our teachers, students, and parents that are rooted in our Catholic faith. Historically, we have worked within government mandates by providing materials to meet outcomes. Doing so is mutually beneficial to Catholic schools and the government. A proactive approach to Catholic resources will ensure a seamless implementation for one-third of the students and families in Alberta.

3 Human Sexuality Curriculum Development Considerations for Catholic Districts: The parental voice is very important in curriculum development. Catholic schools view parents as the primary educators of their children, and highly value the importance of engaged families in the education of students. It is important to allow for parents to make choices about their children s participation in the curriculum (per current practice and legislation). The development process of curricular components must consider: Allowance for language and key terms, which have multiple definitions, to be kept in alignment with Catholic teachings. Outcomes that are developmentally and age appropriate, with respect to topics and their explicitness. The ability to address the importance of healthy and committed relationships, family, and parenting. Care taken to ensure that specific outcomes, such as sexual health, are not isolated from moral, emotional and social contexts, values and beliefs. Avoidance of over-representation of specific topics at each grade level and across grade levels. Key Topics for Inclusion: Healthy Relationships Negative Impacts of Pornography Consent - Important to teach as one part of the threshold for decision-making about sexual activity. Family, moral, physical health and wellness values are all important considerations as well. Gender equality, addressing societal biases and discrimination between men and women Sexualization of girls (and boys) and objectification of the body

4 Human Sexuality Teachings that Require a Catholic Perspective Consent Within our Catholic faith, we believe that all people are created in God s image and that the human body is sacred. Therefore, positive, healthy relationships are those that recognize the sacredness of each individual and treat them with love and respect. In doing so, sexual relationships are not based solely upon ongoing consent and pleasure, but rather the understanding that they are to occur in an authentic life-giving relationship embedded within the sacrament of marriage. There are many moral factors that should be important in decision making before engaging in sexual activity, including but not limited to: legal consent, religious teachings and beliefs, family values, and health and wellness of the whole person. Possible Contrary Curricular Outcomes: It is problematic if an outcome dictates that consent is the major criterion required to engage in sexual activity or if consent is the only important factor listed when making good decisions about sexual activity. An outcome so specific that it implies permission for sexual activity for any individual is meeting the minimum standard of consent law but without reference to the often higher standard of family or faith beliefs or our understanding on the importance of sex within marriage would be problematic. We support teaching about legal consent, in the detail that it is written in the law, as one of the several important things that guides our decisions about sexual activity. Legal consent is important but we guard against a reductionist view of our human sexuality that consent is the most important factor in decision making. An example of how we would word the discussion about consent is: Although consent is always necessary for any sexual activity to be healthy, it is not the only threshold that needs to be met when considering choices regarding sexual activity and other important decisions. Integrity between a person s choice and their personal, family and faith values and legal requirements results in healthy decisions which, in turn, lead to emotional, social, spiritual & physical health.

5 Reproductive Technologies All people, regardless of how they are created, have inherent dignity and worth. Within our Catholic faith, we believe that sexuality and the sexual act is sacred. We also believe that life is sacred from conception until natural death. Technologies which are designed to aid the mechanisms God has given us for procreation are perfectly acceptable. Any reproductive procedure that involves something other than aiding sex and pregnancy within the context of a married couple, permanently committed to being the parents of this child together, is something the Church insists misses the mark. Children are to come as a gift from God via a sexual relationship, instead of being procured as a product or commodity. With regard to in vitro fertilization, there is additional concern over the discarded or terminated embryos (in the process of in vitro fertilization) which the Catholic Church teaches are full human lives. Possible Contrary Curricular Outcomes: It is problematic if an outcome dictates that all reproductive technologies are morally good. We would be able to teach/educate about reproductive technologies in detail, but cannot promote technologies that are in conflict with our Catholic morality. We teach respect for all types of families, but a mandatory promotion of family types that are in conflict with the idea of the Catholic understanding of family is problematic.

6 Promotion of Contraception (any form including condoms) and Abortifacient Contraceptives In our Catholic faith, we believe that sexuality and the sexual act is sacred. We also believe that both the unitive and the procreative elements of sexual intercourse must not be separated from each other. The Church teaches that marriage is the ideal place for sexual intercourse. Couples who engage in the sacrament of marriage give of themselves in free, total, faithful and fruitful love. Contraception restricts the total giving; one gives everything to the other person except their reproductive capabilities, and restricts the fruitful openness to life and procreation. The use of contraception by couples is problematic from the Catholic worldview. Additionally, some products that are often listed as contraceptives such as Plan B or The Morning After Pill, although they do have some contraceptive functions, can also cause the embryo to not implant. Since the Church believes that life starts at conception, when one s unique DNA exists for the first time, to stop implantation is actually abortive from the Catholic understanding of when life begins. This function of being an abortifacient makes these two products problematic--both as contraceptives and also, as possibly causing an abortion. The Church does allow for Natural Family Planning which by its very definition is not contraceptive and should not be confused with the rhythm method. Possible Contrary Curricular Outcome: It is problematic if an outcome dictates the promotion of the use of contraceptives for healthy sexuality. This understanding would be in direct conflict with Catholic teaching. A possible outcome or statement that students should be taught to use a condom every time a person has sex would be in direct conflict with our mission to teach our Catholic faith. We are unable to teach any outcome that promotes a contraceptive culture. We would be able to teach/educate about different forms of contraceptives in detail, but cannot promote contraceptives or other medical treatments that stop implantation from occurring. Educating about, but not promoting contraceptives, is our current practice for these educational outcomes within a much larger context of healthy sexuality and relationships.

7 Same Sex (Homosexual) Relationships The Church has a foundational teaching that all people being created in the image of God have inherent dignity and worth. Thus each individual is to be treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. All persons deserve to feel welcome, safe, included and respected. Therefore, the Church never condemns persons with same-sex attraction. The Church recognizes that individuals can and do experience same-sex inclinations, and that all people are created good and loved by God. In the Catholic faith, scripture, tradition and natural law teach that sexual relations between persons of the same sex are not part of God s natural order intended for creation. Homosexual acts are not biologically complementary and miss the mark of their intended purpose to create life. Same-sex inclinations in no way diminish the full human dignity or intrinsic worth of the person. The Catholic Church teaches that sexuality and sexual expression are deeply connected to our creation as a unity of body and soul in the image of God. We believe that both the unitive and the procreative elements of sexual intercourse must not be separated from each other. The Church teaches that marriage is the ideal place for sexual intercourse. Couples who engage in the sacrament of marriage give of themselves in free, total, faithful and fruitful love. The sacrament of marriage can only take place between a man and a woman as consummation is the very sign of this sacrament. People who experience same-sex attraction are very welcome in our Church, equally respected and love. Possible Contrary Curricular Outcomes: We support teaching outcomes that emphasize the dignity and worth of all people, focused on respect, compassion, sensitivity and against discrimination. All persons deserve to feel welcome, safe, included and respected. It would be problematic if an outcome required the promotion of multiple relationship and/or family types that are incongruent with the Catholic view of the sacrament of marriage. If there are outcomes that relate to the topic of marriage we can teach about civil law. At the same time we must always address the Catholic understanding of the sacrament of marriage. We would be unable to teach any outcome requiring the promotion of homosexual relationships and/or lifestyles that are contrary to Church teaching. We would need to be able to promote a life of chastity and virtue as a positive choice for all people.

8 Anal/Oral Sex Within our Catholic faith, we believe that sex is sacred and in marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. The revealing sign of authentic married love is openness to life. Thus the couple, while giving themselves to one another in spiritual communion, give not just themselves but also the reality of children, who are a living reflection of their love. Therefore, sexual activity within the context of a marriage serves both procreative and unitive purposes. Any sexual acts that not aimed towards directly creating life misses the mark of this spiritual and physical communion The Church teaches that this is for the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Sexual relationships are not based solely upon pleasure or consent, but rather the understanding that they are to occur in an authentic life-giving relationship embedded within the sacrament of marriage. Possible Contrary Curricular Outcome: It is problematic if an outcome dictates that consent and pleasure are the only criteria required to engage in any sort of sexual activity. An outcome so specific that it implies the promotion of oral and/or anal sex would be problematic as these acts are not in alignment with the Catholic understanding of the purpose for sexuality. We would support teaching the risks and health concerns associated with oral and anal sex, but we cannot promote oral and/or anal sex.

9 Masturbation The Church teaches that masturbation is not part of God s natural order intended for creation as it does not support the unitive and procreative purpose intended for sexuality. The Church recognizes that in the practice of masturbation, factors including adolescent immaturity, psychological or social factors, and ingrained habit can influence a person's behavior; it is important for people to learn how to best use the fullness of our gift of human sexuality. Possible Contrary Curricular Outcome It would be problematic if an outcome existed that required the promotion of masturbation.

10 Gender, Gender Identity, Modern Gender Theory The Catholic Church places high value on the dignity and respect of our bodies as gifts from God, created good. It teaches that the body and soul are so united that one's gender identity is rooted in one's biological identity as male and female. In Catholic teaching, one's sexual identity is considered "a reality deeply inscribed in man and woman". It is the conviction of the Catholic Church that genetically and anatomically, the body reveals the divine plan, and that humans are obliged to regard [their bodies] as good and to hold [them] in honour since God has created [them]. Gender and gender identity are always linked to one s natal or birth sex. This understanding leads to a different definition of the word gender or gender identity from the definitions now commonly popular. Newly popular definitions of gender or gender identity are viewed in terms of modern gender theory. These different understandings of the nature of gender identity place gender theory in direct conflict with Catholic teachings. Efforts to impose gender theory ideology on other groups is a concern for the Church, sometimes termed ideological colonization. Sexual relationships are not based solely upon pleasure or consent, but rather the understanding that they are to occur in an authentic life-giving relationship embedded within the sacrament of marriage. Catholic teaching is committed to supporting inclusive communities that teach care and compassion for every person, regardless of age, race, sex, gender or sexual orientation, and require that every person be treated with dignity and respect. Possible Contrary Curricular Outcome: We support teaching outcomes that emphasize the dignity and respect of all persons, framed authentically within our mission for Catholic education and creating welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. We would be able to teach/educate about a variety of topics on gender and gender identity. We cannot promote modern gender theory or anything that is ideologically opposed to Catholic teaching. It is best to keep outcomes in this area general enough to be authentically framed for each way of knowing so a conflicting ideology is not imposed. It would be problematic if the definitions for words like gender or gender identity were defined in the curriculum in a way that conflicts with Catholic definitions of these important terms. We can easily teach about what gender means, but if the curriculum stipulates that we have to teach about gender or gender identity as disassociated from biological sex, then that would be problematic. Outcomes that could potentially view sexual activity outside of the sacrament of marriage as good and healthy would also be problematic.

11 Pornography Within our Catholic faith, we believe that all people are created in God s image and that the human body is sacred. Therefore, positive, healthy relationships are those that recognize the sacredness of each individual and treat them with love and respect. Human sexuality is designed to be expressed in an authentic life-giving relationship embedded within the sacrament of marriage. As pornography removes sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties it damages the intended purpose for human sexuality, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does not respect the dignity and worth of people (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object. There has been a widespread increase of pornography, including increased exposure and access for children at formative years. Pornography damages understanding of sexuality, harms human relationships, exploits individuals - especially women and young people, undermines marriage and family life, fosters anti-social behavior and weakens society itself. This Catholic teaching is strongly supported in emergent research and child advocacy groups. Research suggests a very early age of first Internet exposure to pornography. In July 2017 a committee to study health effects of violent online pornography will report back to the House of Commons. The motion introduced by Alberta MP Arnold Viersen received all-party approval to create the committee. He said "the scientific evidence is piling up that viewing violent, sexually explicit material has an effect We have mental illness that is being caused both to men and to women due to addiction issues, but also due to abuse issues that go unresolved. We have erectile dysfunction that is happening. Brain structures of individuals being altered because of prolonged use of these kinds of images. We don't know what the impacts of all of these things are." The Canadian Centre of Child Protection also has concerns about pornography and have many resources to protect children from exploitation including, internet safety, digital citizenship, dangers of sexting and production, distribution, and/or possession of child pornography. This topic is certainty becoming of greater health concern in Canada and Alberta. Possible Contrary Curricular Outcome: With respect to pornography consent and pleasure cannot be the only criteria that needs to be met when considering choices regarding healthy sexual activity and other important decisions. Integrity between a person s choice and their personal, family and faith values and legal requirements results in healthy decisions which, in turn, lead to emotional, social, spiritual & physical health. We want to see outcomes about the health risks associated with all types of pornography, aimed at reducing human objectification and exploitation. We would teach about how pornography influences an

12 individual s image and feelings of self-worth, examining and evaluating the risk factors and consequences associated with pornography and viewing pornography. Additionally, we would support outcomes that teach students to be discriminating, informed consumers of media. Media education should aim to develop in young people a critical attitude and properly formed skills of discernment in using the internet, television, and other media, so that they might know how to resist manipulation and enhance positive digital citizenship. Schools should support values that promote the unity and health of families and of society itself. Works Cited Pat Fagan, Senior Policy Analyst Family Research Council. The Effects of Pornography on Individuals, Marriage, Family and Community. Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Pornography and Violence in the Communications Media: A Pastoral Response. Vatican City, May 7, Commons committee to study health effects of pornography

13 Sexualization of Girls (and Boys) The dignity of the human person is found as being made in the image in likeness of God. Therefore, Catholics address all humanity as being equal in dignity and as created for unconditional love. The sexualization of another person is a violation of that dignity in that it reduces the complex nature of the human person to a small part (sexuality) and falsely places a disproportionate value on it. Catholics approach this cultural problem by emphasizing the dignity, value and worth of all. We are committed to building welcoming caring, respectful and safe environments. This Catholic teaching is strongly supported in emergent research on the topic of sexualization. The sexualization of the female body is a cultural phenomenon that appears to be a contributing factor to psychological disorder. The many consequences of a negatively developed sexualized self-worth are eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression. (Kring et al., 2016). The American Psychological Association defines cultural sexualization according to sexual appeal (physical attractiveness) as determining of a person s value (2007). The adoption of this belief as a reflection on one s self-worth carries many implications for belonging in society. According to Calogero, Tantleff-Dunn, & Thompson, self-objectification (the willingness to be known as an object of another s pleasure) is the result of placing such ideals upon oneself (2011). Though the cultural prominence of female sexualization is obvious, the influence of social media remarkably amplify its effects (Ferguson et al., 2014). Possible Contrary Curricular Outcome: An outcome that addresses the negatives and concerns about sexualization and objectification of girls and boys would be both very positive from a Catholic perspective and as a way to address depression and anxiety, especially among girls at the time of puberty which is an area of concern in Alberta. It would be problematic if sexualization or objectification could be viewed as acceptable if an individual provides consent. Works Cited American Psychological Association, Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Retrieved from Calogero, R. M., Tantleff-Dunn, S., & Thompson, J. K. (2011). Self-objectification in women: Causes, consequences, and counteractions. Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association. Ferguson, C. J., Mun oz, M. E., Garza, A., & Galindo, M. (January 01, 2014). Concurrent and Prospective Analyses of Peer, Television and Social Media Influences on Body Dissatisfaction, Eating

14 Disorder Symptoms and Life Satisfaction in Adolescent Girls. Journal of Youth and Adolescence: a Multidisciplinary Research Publication, 43, 1, Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2016). Abnormal psychology (13 th ed.) DSM-5 update. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.