Originally published at National Catholic Register
The “theology of the body” was a central theme of the SEEK25 conference held in Washington, D.C., last week, with several speakers drawing on the teachings of St. John Paul II in their talks at the flagship Catholic event for young adults.
Speakers including Nebraska priest Father Sean Kilcawley and Samantha Kelley, president of FIERCE Athlete, a Catholic women’s organization that “promotes true and authentic femininity in sports,” called on young Catholics to dive deeper into their understanding of human sexuality and their identity as sons and daughters of God.
Several attendees at the conference, sponsored by Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), told CNA they had limited exposure to the theology of the body and had been surprised and moved by John Paul II’s teachings. From 1981 to 1985, the late pope devoted his Wednesday general audiences to catechesis affirming the dignity of life.
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“This one probably hit me the hardest,” Meredith Cole, 20, a student at Virginia Tech, told CNA after Kelley’s talk, which was titled “Theology of the Body: Understanding Who You Are.”
Standing in line to meet the FIERCE president, Cole told CNA she
