The demands of human dignity: Sexuality in the young person with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

The topic of sexuality among the disabled is often ignored within Catholic seminaries; within pediatrics, it is treated as a “problem” where the best solution is contraception or sterilization. In this article, the authors argue for an approach to sexuality in disabled youth that is grounded in the inherent dignity of the person, borne out of Christ's own humanity. Because sexuality is a part of the human person in his or her totality, it cannot be ignored or obscured; on the other hand, it cannot also be the overriding “problem” which defines them. Rather, by friendship, love, and covenantal solidarity with the disabled person, we can begin to set an example for them and for society that there are goods to be strived for beyond the physical. The demands of dignity require practical changes in seminary and medical education and practice.

Keywords:

• Disability
• Sexuality
• Pediatrics
• Catholicism
• Dignity

Notes

1 Underscoring the neglect of this issue, the message did not even appear in the English Weekly Edition of the paper.

2 All translations into English from Italian throughout are our own. English translation of Jean Vanier, Homme et Femme Il Les Fit (Paris: Editions Fleurus) has appeared under the title Man and Woman God Made Them (New York: Paulist Press, 2008).

3 The subject is taken up in Elio Sgreccia, Manuale di bioetica, vol. II: Aspetti medico-sociali (2006: 474–6). Recently, an updated English translation of Jean Vanier, Homme et Femme Il Les Fit (Paris: Editions Fleurus) has appeared under the title Man and Woman God Made Them (2008); this is a thorough treatment of the question. Father Roberto Zavalloni, O.F.M. addressed seminary formators on this subject in his article, “Il problemma dell’amore umano negli handicappati” (1984).

4 The specific question the authors take up is: “Would it be moral to put a mentally handicapped woman on a contraceptive or have her sterilized if she is at risk of being sexually abused?”

5 Of course, unintended pregnancy is only one possible consequence. Sterilization is not a “quick fix” for the emotional, physical, and psychological toll of sexual abuse. As we suggested earlier, it may even make sexual abuse more tempting to the perpetrator since it hides one serious marker of the abuse.

6 Bayer provides an excellent description of the development of Catholic doctrine from the seventeenth century through the late twentieth century, including an examination of the opinions of theologians regarding the use of prophylactic anovulants to prevent pregnancy, initially in the cases of the rape of religious women after the events in the Belgian Congo around 1960, and later in the cases of sexual oppression within marriage.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Earl K. Fernandes

Earl K. Fernandes, S.T.D., Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary's Seminary of the West. His email address is [email protected].

Ashley K. Fernandes

Ashley K. Fernandes, M.D., Ph.D., The Ohio State University Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities. His email address is [email protected].