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V Question: If one of the spouses gives permission to the other to practise adultery does not that remove the injustice?

VI Answer: In that case, such an action remains objectively a grave offence against the divine precepts which man can not change: a sin against chastity and an injustice towards the legitimate children. This is why Pope Innocent XI solemnly declared that, in spite of the consent of the faithful spouse, such an action was always adultery (Decree of the Sacred Office of the 2nd March, 1679; Proposition 50; Ds 2150).

II. The Battle for Purity

2520 Baptism confers on its recipient the grace of purification from all sins. But the baptized must continue to struggle against concupiscence of the flesh and disordered desires. With God's grace he will prevail
- by the virtue and gift of chastity, for chastity lets us love with upright and undivided heart;
- by purity of intention which consists in seeking the true end of man: with simplicity of vision, the baptized person seeks to find and to fulfill God's will in everything;312
- by purity of vision, external and internal; by discipline of feelings and imagination; by refusing all complicity in impure thoughts that incline us to turn aside from the path of God's commandments: "Appearance arouses yearning in fools";313
- by prayer:

I thought that continence arose from one's own powers, which I did not recognize in myself. I was foolish enough not to know . . . that no one can be continent unless you grant it. For you would surely have granted it if my inner groaning had reached your ears and I with firm faith had cast my cares on you.314

2521 Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their solidarity.

2522 Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. It encourages patience and moderation in loving relationships; it requires that the conditions for the definitive giving and commitment of man and woman to one another be fulfilled. Modesty is decency. It inspires one's choice of clothing. It keeps silence or reserve where there is evident risk of unhealthy curiosity. It is discreet.

2523 There is a modesty of the feelings as well as of the body. It protests, for example, against the voyeuristic explorations of the human body in certain advertisements, or against the solicitations of certain media that go too far in the exhibition of intimate things. Modesty inspires a way of life which makes it possible to resist the allurements of fashion and the pressures of prevailing ideologies.

2524 The forms taken by modesty vary from one culture to another. Everywhere, however, modesty exists as an intuition of the spiritual dignity proper to man. It is born with the awakening consciousness of being a subject. Teaching modesty to children and adolescents means awakening in them respect for the human person.

2525 Christian purity requires a purification of the social climate. It requires of the communications media that their presentations show concern for respect and restraint. Purity of heart brings freedom from widespread eroticism and avoids entertainment inclined to voyeurism and illusion.

2526 So called moral permissiveness rests on an erroneous conception of human freedom; the necessary precondition for the development of true freedom is to let oneself be educated in the moral law. Those in charge of education can reasonably be expected to give young people instruction respectful of the truth, the qualities of the heart, and the moral and spiritual dignity of man.

2527 "The Good News of Christ continually renews the life and culture of fallen man; it combats and removes the error and evil which flow from the ever-present attraction of sin. It never ceases to purify and elevate the morality of peoples. It takes the spiritual qualities and endowments of every age and nation, and with supernatural riches it causes them to blossom, as it were, from within; it fortifies, completes, and restores them in Christ."315

Can a woman wear a bikini at the beach?

Maybe something like this is more appropriate???

Can a woman wear a bikini at the beach?

Goa, The Hard Way
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 am
posted by Michael Ryan

Photo | Michael Ryan


Travel is cheap and easy here in Goa. In Palolem, the Indian version of “laid back” is sublime. I am in my shack on a remarkably active beach, with cows and dogs, travelers, fisherman and sales people mingling in the surf. Despite this activity, there is never a shout or angry word, or anything even approaching a bad vibe. Everyone is smiling as if they’ve just found paradise. Here, life is swim and tan, eat and drink, smoke and dance. A beach shack is 300 Rupees ($7.50) and a scooter is Rs.200 ($5) per day. With meals and kayak rentals, I’m topping out at 20 bucks a day. Why on earth would anyone ever leave?

The locals here still have genuine smiles for travelers, despite the disparity in work, pleasure and spending money. For the Goans, a white face is an opportunity for additional income. Every Tamil, Deepak and Hari has his own racket, including boat trips, scooter rentals, ayurvedic massage and handmade goods for sale. These services are on top of an already thriving formal economy of beach shacks, tiki bars, clothing and souvenir shops, internet cafes and travel agencies. In Palolem, everything a beach bum could possibly need is within a few hundred yards. But finally, after 15 days on the beach, I am ready to hit the road.

Backpackers with Lonely Planets run into each other in different places, again and again. We recognize each other, sit down for dinner and carry the conversation from where we left off last time. Sometimes, when you run into someone you didn’t quite like, it takes a delicate white lie to throw them off course. Other times, you run into people you enjoy a great deal, and if the schedules permit, get to spend a few days or more with them.

Toward the end of my 10 days in Anjuna, I ran into two Australian girls, very fun to hang out with in Anjuna for a few days, and then decided to join them for a 3-hour taxi-share to Palolem. On the way, we picked up a third Australian girl, who grew up in South Africa, and with whom I was immediately smitten. Like, “holy shit” smitten. Once in Palolem, we kept running into people we’d met in Anjuna. I am now heading toward Hampi, which also happens to be next on the itinerary of several travelers I’ve spoken to. After that, I’m heading to Mysore for yoga.

Kate, the third Australian we picked up in Baga, has just left us. I am very sad about this, more than I should be, since we met a few days ago. Then again, I’m a guy and unusually fickle. It’s a double-edged sword, to meet such a remarkable, articulate and refined woman while traveling, but to know that we’ll end up on opposite sides of the planet. She is going home to Perth, to begin a residency. I am heading off to continue my tour of India. We’re stuck in a travelers’ fantasy. As she prepared to leave, I was searching for ways to.. oh, I don’t know.. move to Australia? Finally, we said our good-byes. I wish you all the best, Kate!

As the Australians put it, “it’s really very lovely, here… isn’t it?” Last night I found myself in a group of only native English speakers. We were Australian, English, American and South African. We talked about our countries, how other countries are perceived back home, and linguistics. It was a startling realization for me, that so few nations around the globe can claim English as their primary language, yet the language dominates trade and information worldwide. I knew this already, but here I was, speaking with representatives from the 4 largest English speaking nations, on a beach in India! It suddenly occurred to me that we are really a minority on earth; extremely privileged; and that by talking to each other, we might actually be changing our own languages and accents, ever so slightly, back home. We dubbed it the new “Globo-Anglo.”

If the news back home has any of you stressed, the healing qualities of beach life are still working, and easier to obtain for extended periods than you may realize. There is something hypnotic about laziness near the waves. My big stress for the day is a run to a neighboring town, to use the only ATM near Palolem. After that, I’m renting a sea kayak with James, the Englishman from our group discussion. Last night I enjoyed a traditional Goan dish of chicken “chilly stir fry,” with a few “Kings” beers. It’s like a spicier version of pepper-steak, and satisfying over a bed of plain white rice. Tonight, I am going to try the more famous Goan “fish curry.” I hear it’s amazing.

I’m leaving the beach tomorrow. I’m heading to Hampi for a few nights, about nine hours east from here in the state of Karnataka, then onward farther south to Mysore, Ooty and Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu. Along the way, I will be looking for yoga schools, so I can learn a new discipline, lose a little more weight, breathe a little more deeply (Pranayama) and see as much of India as I possibly can. If all goes well, I will also get to see Kholkat (Calcutta) and Rajasthan, and maybe even squeeze in another week on the beach before heading home in late December. Gotta go now… I can smell that fish curry. Thank you for reading.

If you would like to write, please know that your comments are always welcome. You can reach me directly at mikerphilly@mac.com.

Philadelphian Michael Ryan is reporting from India. He started the semester in the Temple University Fox School of Business� International MBA Program.

Civic Responsibilities


Shall be a good neighbor by applying the highest standards of integrity, fairness and ethical conduct in the surrounding neighborhood and participate actively in community fora to address broader social problems.
Shall treat all visitors with honesty and courtesy even if they are not staying at our guesthouses and hotels, and make sure that they are aware of the local customs and laws.
Shall provide decent employment and make provisions for our staff during the off season period.

Protection of Human Dignity

Modesty protects the intimate center of the person

So, is the culture changing? Aside from using common sense based on a history of prudence in dress, who's right?

Here is the website that shows my bathing suit (I have the extended one): http://www.wholesomewear.com/slimmer-c.html

That kind of suit looks like it would be hard to do laps in, as would a bikini.

. . .

I think bikinis are in poor taste, regardless of the body shape. I have an overweight neighbor who's near 60 who wears a bikini, it looks ridiculous. It exposes too much skin and increases therisk of malignant melanoma.