Fornication - WHAT??????

2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young. (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Every once in awhile I revel in the long-forgotten language once used by every day people.  It harks back to an era when one did not have to be monetarily wealthy in order to be well-spoken or solidly educated.  While most of us have forgotten how to craft a lovely sentence, we still recognize one when it is spoken.  I think that's the reason so many of us like Downton Abbey.  Those people speak real good, right?

ANYWAY....

One of my favorite words is fornication.  Nowadays it is usually  spoken by an actor dressed in period costume swinging a sword at a dragon, but the word still has a strong pull on the average listener.  It  makes us go "EWWW" and scrunch our shoulders.  We don't like its sound - it sounds old-fashioned and judgmental and seems to draw a line in the sand between good and bad.  In today's society, we don't like having that line drawn - unless, of course, we are talking about a sports team or a type of food. 

I thought of that word today when I read a news article about Russell Wilson, Quarterback for the dreaded and unloved (by me) Seattle Seahawks. 

It seems that the divorced Mr. Wilson has decided to try doing his next serious relationship in a different manner; his decision has made the news because it is not only odd for a celebrity to behave this way but it is even odder for that celebrity to make it public.

He and his girlfriend are not having sex.

I know, I know...what a shocker!  In a day when a former internet porn star makes billions by showing off huge buttocks in an attempt to 'break the internet', a handsome and talented young man has made a decision to try to do things 'right this time'.  He has not only noticed that the line in the sand is still there, he has made an intentional decision to be on one side or the other.

Now, of course, he has done so with great class.  Mr. Wilson has not pointed a finger at anyone else and called them any names, he has not declared that he is perfect and he has not pretended to be something he is not.  Just as that former internet porn star saw the value in having her child baptized by Holy Mother Church, Mr. Wilson has decided to take an action that suites his way of worshiping Jesus Christ. 

My hope is this:  Russell Wilson's declaration that he and his girlfriend are abstinent because they are not married will be met with acceptance.  I hope that he will be lauded for his attempt to walk a narrow path, not one that is wonderful for everyone but one that has proven so valuable to so many for so many centuries.  My hope is that he grows from this experience and comes to understand exactly what being a Godly, Christian man means in this day and age.

And I hope he has a really lousy year on the gridiron.

Good job, Russell Wilson.  May Christ lead you and bless you, one day at a time!