Do you doubt this? By and large, Catholics, in ALL countries, do not look to the hierarchy for guidance in sexual matters. Catholics make their own decisions, and priests and bishops are more than happy to let them.
The fact that there is no guidance is pathetic.
Hey Sinkspur. I don't doubt at all that this is the current situation. I, as an example, have NO confidence at all in the Church or its schools to teach my kids authentic Catholic sexual morality. But I think we're in the midst of a huge cycle on this issue. From the beginning of the 60s and the sexual revolution, we have progressed from premarital sex, to abortion on demand, to rampant homosexuality, to sex of all kinds, wherever, whenever, to nods and winks for adultery. With the explosion of STDs, herpes and HIV in particular, million of abortions, broken families, the rape of thousands of teenage boys in the Catholic Church itself, people are beginning to wake up and realize that there was deep wisdom and truth in God's (and the Church's) teachings on sexual morality. The sexual revolution wave has washed over us. Now we picking ourselves up and trying to dry off and trying to make our way to higher ground. I think for many, within and without the Church, there will be a significant move back to sexual orthodoxy (over many, many years). But for that to happen, the Church needs to find its pitiful voice and start teaching God's way.