Catechesis on Sexuality 4: Roots of Gender Theory, Part 3 - Aug 30 - Homily - Fr Terrance
Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Aug 30, 2023, where he continues his series "Catechesis on Sexuality" explaining how the existentialist philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir and her feminism that hated femininity are some of the roots of our modern Gender Theory. Today's gospel highlights the contrast between external appearance and internal impurity, a prevalent issue in our society due to sin. We continue our exploration of sexuality, focusing on gender theory's roots in feminist thought. Abigail Favale's "The Genesis of Gender" identifies existential, postmodern, and intersectional feminism. Margaret Sanger significantly influenced our current understanding of sexual freedom. She connects the first and second feminist waves. The first wave, with figures like Susan B. Anthony, were not radicals. The second wave, represented by Simone de Beauvoir, held revolutionary ideas. De Beauvoir, heavily influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre, championed existentialism, which posits that existence precedes essence. This opposes the Catholic belief where essence defines existence. De Beauvoir's work, "The Second Sex," critiques femininity. She saw femininity as oppressive and aimed to emulate male qualities, which she viewed as representing freedom. This perspective, foundational to modern feminism, often denigrated feminine qualities. Sartre and de Beauvoir believed humans are fundamentally nothing, a belief mirrored in gender ideology. Interestingly, Sartre renounced atheism before his death, recognizing a divine creator, while de Beauvoir remained steadfast in her beliefs. In conclusion, gender theory's philosophies often stem from flawed ideologies. We pray for those misled by these beliefs, hoping they embrace God's hopeful perspective.