Letter: Group of high schoolers vow delibacy before marriage

Recently, at a special ceremony at Holy Family Church in Las Vegas, 21 members of the high school youth group made a pledge to remain celibate until marriage. The 12 boys and nine girls are from five local high schools: Chaparral, Eldorado, Gorman, Green Valley and Vo-Tech.

After a series of talks spread out over a few weeks on the virtue of chastity, the young people were ready to commit themselves to sexual abstinence. In the presence of myself, parents and high school youth ministers, they received the blessing of Jesus to help them remain faithful to their pledge.

Some may ask, "What's the big deal? Aren't we all supposed to live a pure life, faithful to God's commands?" Yes, we are, yet it's become somewhat rare today. Look at all the couples who live together before marriage and need to be told that premarital sex is forbidden by the Sixth Commandment given to Moses on Mount Sinai and by the teachings of Jesus and the church.

It's newsworthy and noteworthy when 21 high school youngsters make this pledge, because it is unusual today.

I'm proud of these young people and want all in the Las Vegas Valley to know that we have children who are trying to do the right thing. They need our prayers of support. Here, in Las Vegas, we have an unfair image of being "Sin City," and I wish that people around the world could have been at Holy Family Church that evening.

It was Las Vegas at its best, a side of Las Vegas that many never see. This shows people who are struggling day in and day out to live good and caring lives, faithful to God.

In my nearly 24 years as a priest, all in Nevada, I don't think I have had many experiences that would equal what happened at Holy Family. Thank God! And blessed are the children of the valley.

Fr. John B. McShane

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