The Sexual Revolution: History Ideology Power

by Peter J. Elliott

Proclaim the message... be persistent, whether the time is favourable or unfavourable. 2 Timothy 4:2 The sexual revolution at the heart of this book is part of wider and deeper developments happening in our world. It is a revolution that asserts the utter freedom of the individual to act and behave as if the vital traditions of religion and philosophy have no claim on how we live, especially in the area of sexuality that is so much part of our personalities and identities. The author, a Catholic bishop in Melbourne, traces the development of these ideas from the early days of the Enlightenment to our own times, in a context of the apparent failure of governments and even churches to defend principles of sexual behaviour and attitudes, honoured by timeless church teaching and social expectations.
In such times, he acknowledges that Catholic parents and teachers need sound guidance about sexual ethics. He records the constant teaching of Popes and Councils and reminds us of their focus on the integration of sexual morality within wider, deeper contexts of human nature, marriage stability and family life.
Above all, he brings a pastoral sensitivity to the task of helping contemporary Catholics understand their tradition, and offers sound strategies to affirm Catholic teaching about sexuality.
He well understands that forces opposing such an approach are formidable but knows too that the message must be proclaims, however unfavourable. He encourages parents, families and teachers to recover a different, richer understanding of sexuality for our time. Reading this account of the sexual revolution may be a source of dismay, but Christian hope never fades. - Most Rev Julian Porteous, Archbishop of Hobart

This is the beest book I have read on this subject. - Professor Tracey Rowland, University of Notre Dame (Aust)
... a comprehensive treatment of the history and manifestations of this all-pervasive malaise, with hope-filled suggestions on how to deal with it. - Rev Fr John Flader, Sydney
... very readable and sensitive and.. an important contribution to an ongoing and necessary discussion. - Dr Ron and Mrs Mavis Pirola, Former Members of the Pontifical Council for the Family

Genres: Catholic, History

174 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2020

About the author

Peter John Elliott was an Australian bishop of the Catholic Church who served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne from 2007 to 2018. He was also an author, writing a number of published works that predominantly concern the celebration of Catholic liturgy.

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Sexual Revolution: History, Ideology, Power" had me wanting to take my time and soak up the thicket of information on each page, while simultaneously wanting to rip right through to the end. Bishop Peter J Elliott seems to really have the pulse on this issue, often times bringing up subtle aspects that someone with mere surface knowledge would not have understood. I have heard about many of the pivotal people mentioned in this book, but hadn't understood how each figure fit together in the unfolding story of the sexual revolution. This book has helped me better understand the world I grew up in and the fruits of the revolution that we see today.