National speaker to address sex, marriage

By Sylvia L. White, The Catholic Sun
May 3, 2007

A Catholic author will address religious and scientific understandings of marriage at two talks later this month.

Jennifer Roback Morse, author of “Smart Sex: Finding Life-Long Love In A Hook-up World,” will address scientific support of Bible teaching.

Morse will speak at 7 p.m., May 7 at North Phoenix Baptist Church’s Fellowship Center and at 11:30 a.m., May 8 at Southwestern College’s Olsen Activity Center. 

“Marriage is under attack,” said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy. The center is teaming up with Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix and the Diocese of Phoenix to bring Morse to the Valley.

After a 12-year lapse from the Catholic faith, Morse’s devastating experience with infertility brought her back to the Church.

She is now a research fellow at the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty and a regular columnist for The National Catholic Register.

Herrod encouraged parents to bring their children, junior high and older.

Ron Johnson, director of the Arizona Catholic Conference, the Arizona bishops’ legislative representative, said the event will provide the opportunity to hear a “good, Catholic” talk.

“There are a lot of good public policy reasons why marriage is good for society as a whole,” he said.

Mike Phelan, director of the diocesan Marriage and Respect Life Issues office, said Morse is “one of the best intellectuals on this topic, certainly worth going to see.”

To register for either free event, call (602) 424-2525.