The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Chair in Catholic Thought invites to Fontbonne University’s campus scholars who address subjects at the intersection of Catholic thought and contemporary culture. The lecture series typically includes additional programming, such as panel discussions and student-oriented events, before and after the main lecture.
Dr. Jason King, Professor of Theology, Saint Vincent College
“Sexuality, Hookup Culture and Catholic Social Teaching”
Thursday, October 4, 2018
7 p.m.
Lewis Room, Jack C. Taylor Library
Fontbonne University Campus
Lecture preview: The dynamics around definitions of family in our society are rooted in shifting ideas about sexuality. Important in the formation of a young person regarding these ideas is the college experience. When students arrive on college campuses, one particular pressure they feel is to hookup. Dr. Jason King recently published a study of this phenomenon at twenty-six Catholic colleges and universities (Faith with Benefits, Oxford University Press, 2017). Although most do not enjoy or desire hooking up, few feel like they can resist it. Doing so often means they are pushed to the fringes of social life. Catholic campuses can help support students’ resistance and enable them to pursue more of what they truly desire, but, to do so, these colleges and universities need to understand hookup culture as a social justice issue, one affecting human dignity and solidarity. If Catholic campuses take this approach, they will not only be able to address the marginalization of students but also provide a foundation for stable, flourishing relationships long into adulthood.