To the editor,

In this letter, I will continue my previous discourse regarding our God-given human dignity, and how secular society violates it. As such, I would like to specifically address those who claim to fight for women’s equality and empowerment. 

It is interesting such people claim that men have subjected women to second-class status in society, yet simultaneously approve of biological men entering women’s spaces to steal their jobs, scholarships, opportunities for fair competition, and worse of all, their privacy and safety.  Look no further than New Richmond School District. By failing to protect real women from such circumstances, these ideologues are implying, if not outright communicating, the misogynistic notion that men are better than women…at being women! It is absurd, but the impact on the well-being of young ladies is very real. 

Do not be fooled, these same people have also nurtured and encouraged a culture that applauds objectification, immodesty and promiscuity backed by chemical birth control/abortion. Sadly, the cumulative effects of such behaviors inevitably result in physical, psychological, and/or emotional damage. Strangely, women have been convinced by secular society that empowerment is achieved by abandoning their self-respect. This is a lie. Make no mistake, men contribute to the problem by going along with it, and I would argue that there is not one person, male or female, young or old, that has not been negatively impacted by our hyper-sexualized culture. It is everywhere in the mainstream media, online websites and social media platforms, entertainment, sports, and pop culture. The list goes on, and the psychological and physical effects are both far-reaching and highly destructive to our social fabric. 

On the contrary, Catholicism believes that women are indeed special and unique, and that they are equal yet different from men. In the order of Creation, men and women are meant to be complimentary to each other. When this balance is interrupted, it destabilizes society.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of Christian men to safeguard the human dignity of their counterparts. It starts within our own souls and households. Healthy societies are built by virtuous individuals who form well-ordered families and communities. We have to turn back to God and put Him first above everything else, to include our self-interests and especially our politics. We cannot achieve a better society if we will not let God work through us and out into the world. Catholicism—which encompasses the teachings of Christ and His Apostles, sacred scripture, sacred tradition, and the sacraments—is not a contributor to our society’s ills, it is the solution! Find a Catholic church near you!

In my next letter, I will conclude my discussion on human dignity. Until then, may God bless you!

Joe Guagenti

Ellsworth