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Hi, Patty —
You said:
- According to the Church, what are the spiritual and societal impacts of prostitution on individuals?
The Church officially doesn't often comment on the intricacies of social impact, however, the Catechism states that prostituting one's self or using a prostitute is a grave evil.
You said:
- Why does prostitution exist?
It begins with original sin: Man's tainted nature seeks sexual activity without love and commitment. It must be overcome by grace and our cooperation with it.
You said:
- If someone is facing extreme poverty, is it okay for them to use what means they have to support themselves and their families?
No. It is never right to perform an evil in order that good might come of it.
You said:
- Does the [Church/Bible] believe that there are negative impacts surrounding the criminalization and deregulation of prostitution?
That is more of a political question. The Church speaks authoritatively on faith and morals.
You said:
- What would you say to an individual who believed that prostitution, in all its forms, is an moral practice and should be made legal?
To say that prostitution is moral is to say that it is moral to use and abuse people. That is what sex without permanent commitment does.
The Church stands up for the dignity of the human person, and will never condone abuse, even when it is consented to.
You said:
- What impacts do sex workers have on our society?
Whatever sin occurs in society it brings down the whole, like a drop of ink into a pool of pure water. "Sex workers" make money off the weakness of others and the lack of respect they have for themselves and others. It devalues and distorts the truth about human sexuality, and forms young people in a distorted view of man, woman, and love; introducing them to more selfishness and sin.
You said:
- What is the importance or benefits of sexual morality in our modern world?
That's like asking what is important about life.
Sexual morality brings about inner peace to individuals, it upholds the integrity of marriage, and it leads to healthy and happy families. It is also intrinsically linked to human life, for which it is designed: The more unchastity there is, the more disrespect for life there is.
Just look at the abortion rate exploding since premarital sex and contraception became socially "acceptable" in our society. Chastity according to God's will is a challenge in our distorted post-sexual revolution/Madison Avenue world coupled with our imbalanced nature that tends toward concupiscence; however, it is both necessary for a happy life and commanded by God.
You said:
Thank you very much for your time, and I'm sorry for the sheer amount of questions.
I'm just having a discussion with my friend and I wanted to write up a balanced dissertation on the topic of sex workers and I'd like to establish what the Church's opinion and biblical canon says about some of these issues.
I do not think that prostitution is innately wrong but I do respect your opinion and that of the Church.
Once again thank you! :)
You're welcome.
A bottom line principle to remember is that sex workers are abusing themselves and they offer themselves to abuse others. It is abuse or a misuse of the sexual self because sex is designed by God and nature to become one-flesh with one's spouse in marriage, for the end of sharing love with each other and potential children.
This is called the unitive and procreative meanings of sex. All other sex acts are abusive because they contradict the sexual meaning of our being and denigrate the beauty of marriage.
I hope this helps,
Paul
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