Books

Dear Son, Dear Daughter: God's Plan for Catholic Marriage and the Family

Reviewed by Michael Gilchrist

Contents - Jun 2006 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Pentecost: Church needs a spiritual kick-start - Michael Gilchrist China defies Holy See to 'ordain' two bishops - Peter Westmore (reviewer) News: The Church Around the World Books: Look for AD2000 Books online at freedompublishing.com.au! Vocations: Sydney seminary's growth continues - Michael Gilchrist The Da Vinci Code: did the Church vilify Mary Magdalene? - Frank Mobbs Education: Why do CEOs use Groome's RE method? - AD2000 Report Is dialogue possible between Christians and Muslims? - Cardinal George Pell Respect: New text book series vilifies the Catholic Church - Kevin Donnelly The John Paul II Institute after five years - AD2000 Report Liturgy: Catholics at prayer: why we stand and kneel - Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM Letters: The new barbarism - Fr. B. McGrath Letters: Victory? Letters: Disturbing exhibit - Veronica Sidhu Letters: Thank you from India - Fr. A. Joseph Letters: Meditation - Rosemary Chandler Letters: Priestly celibacy - Tim Coyle Letters: Pope Benedict and liberation theology - John Schmid Events: VIRTUS Retreat 7-9 July 2006 Books: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Letters to a Young Catholic, by George Weigel - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: The Defamation of Pius XII, by Ralph McInerny - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Dear Son, Dear Daughter: God's Plan for Catholic Marriage and the Family - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Stimulating reading from AD Books Reflection: Pentecost, launching of the Church - Cardinal Francis Arinze

DEAR SON, DEAR DAUGHTER:
God's Plan for Catholic Marriage and the Family
by Carol Phillips
(St Philomena Catechetics, Perth, 2006, 16pp, $4.50 each, plus $1.20 postage for 1-2 or $1.70 for 3-4 booklets. Available from Mrs C.V. Phillips, PO Box 202, Burswood 6100, WA, (08) 9458 6437, email: carol.v.phillips @ bigpond.com)

Two small booklets, produced by a Catholic mother in Perth, will prove a godsend for the many parents who find it awkward to introduce the "facts of life" to their growing, curious children, especially in today's "in your face" culture. These booklets make the task much easier, while keeping the sensitive subject within the bounds of a child's latency period and the Catholic Church's moral framework.

Titled Dear Son (for boys) and Dear Daughter (for girls), the booklets are aimed at children aged around 11 to 13 years. The purpose of each is to teach about marriage and procreation within a Catholic context, and to preserve the innocence of the child as much as possible. Each booklet is designed to be given to a son or daughter to read.

The booklets use simple, direct language suited to the age level and strike a good balance between religious and moral considerations on the one hand, and the physical, biological aspects on the other. Just enough is said to give an accurate idea of what is involved - along with a couple of simple sketches - without confronting the young reader with excessive details or potentially disturbing information.

In the booklets' short space, Mrs Phillips covers a surprising amount of ground, including problems children are likely to encounter in the school yard or on TV such as swearing or the crude treatment of sexuality and marriage. Areas like divorce and contraception are touched upon delicately, while the virtues of purity and modesty are emphasised.

The booklets should prompt questions from young readers which will enable parents to fill in the details according to a child's readiness or curiosity. But, importantly, they will help in breaking the ice, which is the most difficult part for many parents.

Mrs Phillips is to be commended for her booklets which fill a vital need. They deserve a wide circulation.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 19 No 5 (June 2006), p. 18