Your Catholic Sexologist
Credentials have the value that we give them. While some might be impressed by a PhD, others may scoff. Your forklift certification means something in the trades, but not so much in academia. Of course, the point of certifications is that, in theory, they provide some level of assurance that the bearer can accomplish the functions at the certified level. And so, we rely on certifications all the time. If a nurse or a doctor says something medical, we tend to believe them based on their credentials. Now they should be able to back up their statements with reason and research, but practically speaking we cannot verify everything everyone says, so we try to listen to credible sources.
When Megan and I started Catholic Intimacy, I primarily wrote sexually-focused theological articles. As this project has grown, I have continued my studies and research into both Catholic theology and human sexuality. Further, through coaching, I have gained invaluable insights into the sexual struggles and needs of Catholic couples. Thus, many of my more recent articles are properly sexological in nature.
So, to demonstrate to readers that I am a credible source of information concerning human sexuality, I applied for certification as an Apprentice in Sexology with the American Board of Sexology, which is one of the oldest and most respected credentialing bodies for sexology. I was approved for this certification level in April. Then to my surprise, a few months later I received an email from the ABS board chair president informing me that the board had decided to upgrade my certification to a Certified Sexologist.
“The Board has reviewed your status as an Apprentice in Sexology and feels that based on your experience, you deserve to be a full Certified Sexologist…I and a few other Board members have found that your website at https://www.catholicintimacy.com/ to be refreshing and a rarity in today’s changing world…Keep up with the good work you and your wife provide from the Catholic perspective.”
ABS Board Chair President
Email on July 20, 2024
Can a Catholic be a Sexologist?
Yes, Catholics can be sexologists. Catholics can study all that is within reach of our intellects, just like everyone else. The Church does not condemn but rather actively promotes scientific inquiry (e.g. the Pontifical Academy of Sciences). Catholic theologians have been writing about sexual issues from a moral perspective since the New Testament. But, each science is determined by its object (what is studied). When writing about sex from a theological perspective, the object is man’s relationship to God (i.e., is this act pleasing to God?).
Sexology, however, is the scientific interdisciplinary study of human sexual intercourse and sexuality. So, if I say that this act is moral, that’s a theological statement. If I say that this action caused a pleasurable sensation, that’s a medical statement. If I say that this action caused orgasm, that could be both medical and psychological. All of the above statements, however, pertain to sexology because they pertain to the science’s object.
What is Catholic Sexology?
Catholic sexology is simply the study of sex from a Catholic perspective. Pope John Paul II gave a nod to the legitimacy of this field of study by using its research in Love and Responsibility (Wojtyła, 2013). There is already an abundance of Catholic writings on sexual ethics, now we need more Catholics to teach about how to have enjoyable and even satisfying sex. That’s part of Catholic Intimacy’s mission.
References:
Wojtyła, K. (2013). Love and Responsibility (I. Grzegorz, Trans.; Kindle). Pauline Books & Media.
