Posted on 02/20/2010 3:51:55 PM PST by NYer
.- Reports of post-competition partying and condom hand-outs at the Olympics show the need for Catholic athletes to be grounded in their faith and the need for the sporting world to recover the idea of athletics as a forge for virtue, the head of a Catholic athletes’ organization says.
On Thursday MSNBC’s Today Show reported on Olympic athletes’ behavior after their competitions had ended.
While acknowledging athletes’ self-control, the Today Show cited event organizers’ distribution of 100,000 condoms and recounted off-the-record rumors of liaisons between residents of the Olympic Village as evidence of “hot nights” at the international event.
In a Friday interview, CNA sought comment on the spiritual dangers and benefits of sports from Ray McKenna, president of the Alexandria, Virginia-based Catholic Athletes for Christ.
McKenna said he knew 2008 Summer Olympics swimmer Kate Ziegler, but had never spoken with her about anything discussed in the Today Show article.
Hearsay of “somewhat bacchanalian excesses,” in his view, probably had “a lot of truth to it.”
The condom distribution, McKenna said, seems to be evidence of that lifestyle and sends the message that such a lifestyle is permitted and even encouraged at the Olympic Village.
“If there is encouragement to distribute condoms, at the very least there should be encouragement to practice your faith at those events,” McKenna told CNA.
While Olympians may have a “play hard, party hard” reputation, McKenna said athletes’ behavior differs with each person. Gossip about their pastimes is a “real danger,” in his view, and detracts from the story of a sport.
He encouraged Catholic athletes to be grounded in their faith and to engage in prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments and spiritual reading. They should also have a “discipleship relationship” with a spiritual mentor to help combat the dangers of off-the-field activities.
He named dangers such as drunk driving and the number of children fathered out of wedlock by some sportsmen.
Asked whether the self-control of sports is related to self-control for the sake of moral and spiritual integrity, McKenna gave a “clear and definitive ‘yes’.”
“Faith can inform sports, so that one’s personal faith can be beneficial for one’s sports life,” he explained.
Discipline is very valuable in one’s spiritual life and in sports because it cultivates the virtues of dedication, determination, constant practice and repetition, McKenna explained.
One central aim of Catholic Athletes for Christ, he reported, was to tell athletes “be good in your faith, be good in your sport.”
He encouraged athletes to stay bonded with friends of similar faith so that they can share their struggles and can be better disciples.
“Historically, sports was considered to be a ‘virtue-making machine.’ The values that correspond with sports were considered to go hand in glove with those that go into being a person of integrity and faith,” McKenna told CNA.
“Vince Lombardi, the former coach of the Green Bay Packers, was a good example of that. He lived his faith and it was integral to his coaching.”
McKenna thought it was unfortunate that people now associate sports with vice.
He cited a quotation of Pope Pius XII, who said that sports “develops character, makes a man courageous, a generous loser, and a gracious victor.”
The virtues of the Olympic model, fraternity, goodwill, and teamwork, are also praiseworthy. McKenna added that sports and athletes’ “heroic efforts” have been the vehicle used to overcome some “real, terrible social problems” such as racial discrimination.
In athletics, “great bonds” which otherwise could not have happened have formed between different races, ethnicities and faiths.
Catholic Athletes for Christ encourages athletes in their spiritual formation, particularly as Catholics, McKenna reiterated. The organization works with the Vatican often to help ensure access to the sacraments and to Mass and Bible studies.
The group also advocates better access to ministers and rabbis so athletes of other beliefs can practice their faith.
Its website is http://www.catholicathletesforchrist.com.
and some have said that a re-supply might be necessary.
Thousands of exceptionally fit and attractive ‘alpha’ males and females, average age of 23 or so, are thrown together in a walled-off wonderland of pampering and ego-stroking. They have denied themselves every pleasure throughout their lengthy, monastic, maniacal training regimens. What do you think they’re going to do when the competition is over and the valve is taken off the pressure cooker they’ve lived in for at least four years? If ever there was a time and place for sowing wild oats, this would be it.
I urge the holier than thous to mind their own damn business.
I urge the holier than thous to mind their own damn business.Why? Why does "arealconservativeforachange" want to silence social conservatives?
Article is about condoms, but just as likely will be the planned barenhood business that results as well.
Don’t forget about the female athletes that planned pregnancies to boost their hormones, just in time for competition. They will now be looking to terminate the child in the womb that allowed them to excel during competition. I don’t believe there is any monitoring of this practice the way steroid usage is monitored and prohibited!
Because he's concerned about actually, say, winning elections, which isn't helped by conservatives or Republicans being seen as squarish prudes.
ROTFLMAO! You are a hoot. Did you actually READ the story?
Where did I say I wanted them silenced?
No place.
“I urge the holier than thous to mind their own damn business.”
=
SHUT UP, no?
It means mind your own business.
“It means mind your own business.”
=
SHUT UP, no?
It means mind your own business
“Mind your own business” is a common English saying which asks for a respect of other people’s privacy. It can mean that a person should stop meddling in what does not concern that person, attend personal affairs instead of those of others, etc.
Clear enough?
The lame excuse of the IOC made me do it won’t count for much during their particular judgments.
Nope. It still smacks of libertine libertarian nonsense that says my immorality has no impact on you or others, a blatant falsehood. Plus the clear implication is to say to us social conservatives, “SHUT UP”. Sorry mate, not gonna happen.
What an absurd suggestion. Do you have proof to back up this assertion?
Don;t shoot the messenger. I am being descriptive, not normative.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.