The Bristol vs. Levi Brouhaha
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Family on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 3:00 PM
Have you heard any of the news this week about the ending of the relationship between Bristol Palin and her ex-fiance Levi Johnston?
It’s been all over the airwaves since the pair split and Levi granted (or perhaps was trapped into) an interview with the crew from Good Morning America. I’d ask you to view the quick video here and then to read this column’s take on Levi’s statement that he is “too immature” for parenting.
I don’t want to specifically address the Bristol and Levi situation here, but rather to use this unfortunate story as a jumping off point for a discussion on the topic. I will keep Bristol, Levi, their son Tripp and their families in my prayers. Goodness knows they will need all of the love and support they can get in creating a wonderful life for this little one!
When this story hit, it struck a chord with me - perhaps because I have two teenage sons and I could so easily see this happening in any family. Every day, I strive to converse with my children about their faith, to educate them on our values, and to entrust them to the care of God as they go about their days. We have open, upfront discussions about situations like the Bristol/Levi relationship and try to speak with them about God’s plan for their lives as young men and future husbands. We set boundaries, oversee their activities and friendships, and keep them on a relatively short leash. That being said, they face a world of challenges and societal pressures I never could have imagined when I was seventeen or fourteen.
So I’m coming to you, my friends, to ask you what we as Catholic families can be doing to address the true crisis confronting our country when it comes to the topic of teenage sexual activity. The blogger in the column I pointed you to seems to draw the bottom line that birth control is the answer with her statement, “Although this situation is better for everyone involved than jumping into a forced marriage, it’s also clear exactly why family planning is so essential to gender equality.”
Well, I’m not buying that. I think we, and our teens, deserve a more thorough discussion of the topic as well as some respect for the fact that choosing abstinence and a life of purity is indeed a valid, wonderful option.
Finally, we know that many good, solid families do end up dealing with unplanned teenage pregnancies. I know several situations in my own life where families have rallied around sons and daughters bringing new life into this world before they felt they were “mature” enough to handle the circumstances.
In truth, when I learned of my own pregnancy in my late twenties, I doubted my own maturity level! How can families support and encourage teens who find themselves facing unplanned pregnancies? How can our parishes support and encourage our families to continue battling societal norms in the face of so much pressure?
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