Some time ago I read a sad report about the  record number of teenage pregnancies and abortions in the UK. Recently a local council in England banned peaceful protests outside an abortion clinic and Jules Gomes reports here (among other things) on the skyrocketing rate of sexually transmitted diseases, and the costs of sexual immorality to the UKs famed National Health System.

Free sex is anything but free and Britain is paying a very high price for free sex. Counting the Cost: Economics of Sexually Transmitted Infections estimates that the UK spends over £1billion annually on treating STIs alone.

The Public Health Report (PHE) published in June 2018 reveals 420,000 cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in 2017, with a 20% increase in syphilis. The increase in syphilis follows a 10-year trend, with 78% of diagnoses in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

Shockingly, the highest rates of STIs continue to be seen in 16 to 24 year olds. Over 1.3million chlamydia tests were carried out and over 126,000 chlamydia diagnoses were made among young people aged 15 to 24 years. ‘The impact of STIs remains greatest in young heterosexuals 15 to 24 years; black ethnic minorities; and gay, bisexual and other MSM,’ the report concludes.

Even worse, the NHS spends £1million a week providing repeat abortions as thousands of women use abortion as a form of contraception. Single or unmarried women account for five out of every six repeat terminations. Each abortion costs the NHS from £680 to £1,000. Taxpayers spent £118m on abortions in 2010.

Gomes highlights how the liberal British regime simply puts their head in the sand and calls for more contraceptive education, more abortion clinics, more free condoms and more sex education for younger and younger children.

This has provoked a conservative response that points out quite rightly that the policy of free contraception, and universal ‘values free’ sex education has failed. Yet, the conclusion the liberal establishment draws is, “Whoops! teen pregnancy and abortions are still going up. Clearly we have not given enough sex education and handed out enough free condoms to children early enough.”

This is like saying, “Gee, my car conked out when I put orange juice in the gas tank. I guess I didn’t put enough in. I better add some more.”

Whether he said it or not the  Einstein “quote” is true. The definition of insanity is, “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

It brings to mind Anne Atkins–a very down to earth vicar’s wife who was asked about condoms for teens by some liberal lame brain on BBC Radio 4.  The radio presenter said, “But don’t you think the problem is that teenagers simply do not have enough access to good sex education and free contraceptives?” Atkins roared with laughter and replied, “Do you have a sixteen year old son? I can’t even get mine to pick up his socks and get out of bed on time. Do you seriously think he’s going to take enough responsibility to put on a condom–especially when he’s had a few to drink and is feeling amorous?”

On this anniversary of Humane Vitae some people think conservative Catholics are living in fairyland since we keep on harping on about Humane Vitae. 

What’s the point when nobody listens, and even most Catholics pay no attention?

Conservative Catholics are not naive or ignorant of the world. We know most people won’t listen. We know many Catholics are themselves disobedient to the teachings of their own church. So what? Disobedience to a law does not negate a good law, but proves the integrity and need for the law. If a man kills ten people by speeding his car through a forty mile an hour zone it doesn’t prove that the speed limit was wrong. It proves that the speed limit was right.

We realize few will listen. We know we’re like the dog who barks at the moon.

He barks not because he thinks the moon will move, but because he’s a dog.