Recently, a Catholic mom reached out to me with a thoughtful question:
“Can I share your Sex Ed for Married Catholics course with my older teens?” It’s a question that comes up more than you might expect, and one that deserves a clear, pastoral, and practical answer.
As Catholic parents, you are the primary educators of your children, especially in matters of faith, morality, and human dignity. In a culture saturated with distorted messages about sex, your desire to form your children well—without shame, confusion, or compromise—is not just admirable; it’s essential. You want to be honest without being graphic. You want to be faithful to Catholic teaching without sounding naïve or out-of-touch. And you want to help your child develop a mature, integrated understanding of sexuality—ordered toward love, vocation, and virtue.
That’s where Catholic Intimacy and our course Sex Ed for Married Catholics (SEMC) comes in. But should you share it with your teen?
Our mission at Catholic Intimacy is to support Catholic couples in building relationships that are emotionally connected, spiritually faithful, and sexually fulfilling. We believe married love is meant to be passionate, joyful, and holy. Our content is grounded in Catholic moral teaching, the Theology of the Body, and the lived experience of Catholic couples.
Our course materials—particularly Sex Ed for Married Catholics—aim to fill a significant gap: giving married Catholics clear, mature, and faithful education about sex. But it’s important to remember that these materials are written for adults.
The SEMC course is designed to address topics that are explicit, specific, and oriented toward the marital act. It includes anatomical details, psychological insights, techniques for improving communication and pleasure, and frank discussion of challenges like painful sex, low libido, and performance anxiety.
That doesn’t mean it’s inappropriate in all cases for unmarried viewers—but it does mean prudence and parental discernment are essential.
- Under 16: We do not recommend any of our materials for this age group. Instead, focus on foundational conversations about dignity, chastity, relationships, and God's design for the body. Excellent alternatives include Theology of the Body for Teens or age-appropriate chastity education.
- Ages 16–17: Use with extreme caution and only select topics. Some lessons on the theology of the body, moral decision-making, emotional intimacy, and understanding sexual development could be valuable—but parents must preview content first. Avoid any lessons on sexual techniques, marital aids, or erotic exploration.
- Ages 18–20 (unmarried): Still a caution zone. While adults at this age may benefit from discussions about emotional bonding, moral discernment, and preparing for a future vocation, much of the material is intended for those actively preparing for or living the vocation of marriage.
- Engaged Adults (18+): This is our ideal audience. The course is extremely helpful as part of marriage preparation, especially for couples who want to enter marriage with both spiritual integrity and practical understanding of sexual intimacy.
You don’t have to hand over the whole course. Instead, consider these more intentional and parent-led approaches:
- Use the course as a tool for your own formation. Many Catholic parents never received healthy or faithful sex education themselves. SEMC can help you gain confidence, vocabulary, and clarity for meaningful conversations.
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Preview lessons together. Watch a section, take notes, and decide if any part of it could be used in a family conversation.
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Share key concepts, not whole modules. For instance, instead of having your teen watch a lesson on foreplay, you might share a summary of the Church’s teaching on the unitive and procreative meaning of sex.
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Have conversations, not lectures. Invite your teen to ask questions, offer feedback, and share their own thoughts. Don’t make it a monologue.
It’s crucial to respect your teen’s developmental stage. Some content—while true and moral—can be emotionally or spiritually overwhelming if introduced too early or without the right context.
Also, avoid turning Catholic Intimacy into a disciplinary tool. If a child is acting out sexually or struggling with impurity, our materials are not a “quick fix.” These moments require pastoral care, emotional support, and good boundaries—not just information. In many of these cases, a therapist
For those looking to build a more age-appropriate formation path, we recommend:
- Theology of the Body for Teens (Ascension Press)
- You: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body (for high school students)
- Chastity Project resources
- Love and Responsibility (in adapted formats or summaries for young adults)
These can be paired with family discussions, pastoral guidance, and the witness of your own marriage.
Ultimately, no video, book, or program can replace the influence of a loving, faithful, and present parent. Even if you feel unprepared, your
honesty, humility, and willingness to talk matter more than having all the right answers.
At Catholic Intimacy, we want to support you—not replace you. Use our tools as aids in your sacred task of raising sons and daughters who know what it means to love fully and faithfully.
