Sir, - As five young people working for an organisation dedicated to promoting the teaching of the Catholic Church on sexuality and marriage, we would like to praise and encourage the three young women mentioned by Angela Macnamara (January 25th) as having chosen to remain virgins until marriage. In today's society, we feel there is an overwhelming pressure on young people to become sexually involved from an early age, with disastrous consequences. The media very often portray sexual intimacy as a necessary part of all relationships. Those who chose to remain chaste are increasingly isolated and suffer a lack of choice with regards to suitable social venues and partners. It requires a great degree of moral courage to go against this norm and stand up for principles that have become unpopular in this present culture.
Most importantly, in choosing a chaste lifestyle young people are remaining faithful to God, who has a perfect plan for their lives. They can use this precious time of their youth to develop their talents, spiritual lives and friendships so as to be ready in every sense of the word for the fullness of their vocation as that is revealed, be it marriage, single or religious life. - Yours, etc.,
Patrick McCrystal, Brenda Deery, Anthony O'Reilly, Jeanette Ryan, Michael Fitzgibbon, Human Life International (Ireland), Belvedere Place, Dublin 1.