It seems that contemporary culture — from popular music, to movies and media — has turned its back on the idea of chastity, instead encouraging open sexuality, even for school-aged youth. Government-based schools and even private, church-based schools sometimes drop the ball, failing to protect their students or even, in some cases, joining in the culture’s celebration of sin.

The result is a society that is confused and promiscuous. Pornography use is rampant: A study from Family Safe Media reports that 90% of 8- to 16-year-olds have viewed porn online. A 2014 survey from the Pew Research Center revealed that 85% of self-identified Catholics aged 18-29 believe that homosexuality should be accepted by society. Another Pew Research study in 2015 reported that even women who identify as Catholic have chosen abortion, and that fully 76% of Catholics who attend Mass at least weekly think that Catholics should be allowed to use birth control.

Family Honor Inc., a Catholic nonprofit organization that offers family-centered chastity education, proposes a different idea. The organization’s mission is to provide a Catholic framework based on the truth and meaning of sexuality, love and family. Family Honor serves as a trusted source for parents and families, based on the authoritative teachings of the Catholic Church and the latest research findings. Family Honor helps to change the culture through courses, seminars and other resources, notably through age-appropriate, on-site, parent-child programs.

The Register talked recently with Brenda Cerkez, Executive Director of Family Honor, Inc., and with Vincent Weaver, the organization’s Director of Programs and Training, about their program goals, and about how their curriculum differs from other well-known sexuality education programs.

“Family has always been at the heart of our mission,” said Cerkez. “We have two main pillars which support our mission: family-centered programs, and parent-child programs. Our goal is not just to transmit the notion of chastity, but it is also about strengthening the parent-child relationship. We want to help parents reclaim what the culture is attempting to take away from them.”

Family Honor understands that it is parents’ primary role to educate their children in morality and virtue, and all that goes along with it. “But now we face a scenario,” Weaver said, “in which in some cases, even in faith-based institutions, parents are left out of the equation in chastity education. That is a shame. ... There are programs that offer great content, but they are structured as a classroom model, not a family-centered model.”

There are other programs for young people across the nation that explain Catholic teachings on sex, respect for life, virtue and more; but Family Honor is unique in that they require parents to participate alongside their children. “One of the most effective things you can do,” explained Cerkez, “is to involve parents in chastity education programs. If you sign up your son or daughter to participate in an event in your parish, we expect you to be there as well.”

Since its inception thirty years ago, Family Honor has impacted the lives of thousands of parents and young people. Hundreds of men and women have gone through the organization’s training program; and today, Family Honor — which was founded in Columbia, South Carolina — has affiliate teams in other areas including Atlanta; St. Louis; Raleigh, North Carolina; Gulf Breeze, Florida; Columbus, Ohio; and Erie and St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania.

There have been successful national conferences, a live weekly radio program, a continuing education webinar The Seven C’s of Chastity Education, and online courses. Their book Our Power to Love has been printed both in English and in Spanish. In recent years, webinars have been developed for bilingual persons, including a simultaneous Spanish translation for Hispanic adults.

Vince Weaver and his wife were attracted to the program when they first became parents, and he has worked to spread the news of the program’s success. “When you hear good news,” said Vince, “you want to scream it from the mountaintops and tell others about it. It is very personal to me.”

Parents who might like to bring Family Honor, Inc. to their local community can reach them via the website.