More to the point, I think, is that individuals have the right and the obligation to decide for themselves what is right, decent, or licit for them at any given time. What you or I think is not very relevant.
I said this before, and nobody responded, so I'll say it again:
The whole issue here is one of maturity, readiness, ability to weigh possible outcomes and make intelligent decisions. Some people are more ready at 17 than others are at 30. Some may never be ready. But who decides who's ready and who's not? That decision, ultimately, is made by the individuals involved. Even with minors, the decision does not really belong to the parents: if kids decide that they want to have sex, parents can't stop them. What parents and the society can do is provide kids with the reasoning skills, information, and emotional independence to make intelligent decisions. |
