Sexuality

Father Jaroslaw Szymczak goes by many nicknames. Father Jay and Padre Jota are just a couple. But the one that perhaps has the most meaning is "Rescuer of Married Couples."

The native Polish priest, an instructor with the Faculty for Studies on the Family in Lomianki-Warsaw, Poland, at Cardinal Stefan Wysznski University, was in town late last month to give a talk on the gift of human sexuality. The archdiocesan Office of Natural Family Planning hosted the April 23 talk at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury.

Catholic men and women who experience same-sex attractions yet want to live in accordance with Church teaching on homosexuality can find solace in a local support group.

The St. Louis chapter of the organization Courage, endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family, was established in the archdiocese almost three decades ago to reach out to those with homosexual attractions. It is one of nearly 100 Courage chapters worldwide.

Catholic Church teaching is solidly behind the brief filed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8 cases that went before the U.S. Supreme Court March 26 and 27.

The cases weigh the constitutionality of same-sex marriage. In its brief in the Marriage Act case, the bishops' conference states that there is "no fundamental right to marry a person of the same sex."

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The carpet of the Harbor Room at the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque served as fashion runway for Elegantees, designer Katie Martinez's clothing line.

Walking to the beat of pop music, women of all shapes and sizes proudly displayed the shirts Martinez sells with 100 percent of the profits going to help rescue women from sex trafficking in Nepal.

Wearing the sash and crown of Mrs. Missouri International is a way to raise awareness of human trafficking and encourage others to take action, according to Adelaida Peterson, a member of Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield.

She will have the title for a year, she said, and will do what she can to promote the cause at events and in the media. An avid runner, she recently took part in a run/walk for International Crisis Aid. She also has met with Dedee Lhamon, founder of The Covering House in St. Louis, and with members of the St. Louis Rescue and Restore Coalition.

NEW YORK -- Father Benedict Groeschel, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal who has long been a popular speaker and television personality, apologized Aug. 30 for interview comments he made that were published online two days earlier, saying that "in a lot of cases" the victim of child sexual abuse is "the seducer."

Father Groeschel also had said priests who have committed abuse just one time should not go to jail.