MACAU (UCAN) -- Macau diocese's Catholic Marriage Advisory Council (CMAC) plans to help parents discuss sexual matters with their children after schoolchildren it surveyed revealed liberal attitudes toward sex and lack of basic knowledge.

On July 5, CMAC released the results of the survey involving more than 2,000 students aged 10-20 from 11 schools. Conducted through interviews as well as questionnaires, the survey was aimed at studying the dating behavior of youths, and their attitude toward sex and sex education.

In Macau, the usual age range for primary students is 6-12, while that for secondary students is 13-18.

Survey coordinator Maggie Hao Meng-iok told UCA News on July 7 that since the CMAC holds regular sex-education talks in schools, "we have to know" youths' thinking on the topic so as to "deliver the correct message to them."

The results showed that 3.7 percent of the 877 primary-school respondents and 5.7 percent of the 1,777 secondary-school respondents reported having had sex. Among them, 29.2 reported having had sex for the first time at the age of 13 or younger, while 4.2 percent reported sexual activity as early as age 10.

On the issue of sex partners, 2.2 percent claimed to have had as many as 16. Seventy-six percent of the sexual acts reportedly took place at home.

The survey report said male respondents' top three considerations for having sex were: "like/love the partner," "enjoy the process of sex" and "sexual needs." For the girls, the top considerations were "like/love the partner," "request from the partner" and "enjoy the process."

The report stated that the youths felt their parents, teachers and schools should bear the major responsibility of providing them with sex education. It added that more than half of the respondents could not correctly answer questions related to pregnancy.

Hao said the survey results reveal a lack of knowledge about sex along with some liberal attitudes. Some adolescents believe "kissing will lead to pregnancy," she said, while others do not consider sleeping with friends of the opposite sex a matter of concern.

Such ideas will distort their view of marriage, she cautioned. Sharing from her experience as a CMAC counselor, she said many young people have told her they regretted acting impulsively in having their first sexual experience.

According to Hao, the council is now planning formation programs for parents and teachers on how to talk with their charges about sex, since many adults are embarrassed to address the topic.

Even so, she noted that some parents seem to tacitly approve of a liberal attitude toward sexual activity, advising their children "to 'play safe,' or even buying them condoms." Others, however, are overly strict on the issue, she said, and their children are afraid of sharing feelings or problems with them.

The CMAC has been providing free family-education programs, premarital and family counseling, and Natural Family Planning guidelines to Macau residents, regardless of religion, since its establishment in 1980.

Father Pedro Chung Chi-kin, vicar general of Macau diocese, told UCA News on July 7 that the council's report reflects insufficient communication between parents and children, superficial sex education in schools and "easy access" to "information" about sex through movies or the Internet.

The priest, who directs the Diocesan Youth Pastoral Centre, clarified that sex information on the Internet is not always correct, but its availability can arouse youths' curiosity and increase the possibility of them experimenting with sexual relations.

The vicar, second-highest diocesan official after the bishop, said he looks forward to Church-run schools and institutes following up on the report by providing youths with correct information. Noting that the role of parents is particularly important, he said they should communicate more with their children on such matters.

Salesian Father Pedro Ho Kuong-ling, head of the Bosco Youth Service Network of Macau, agreed parents should communicate more with their children. "What a teacher can teach is limited. Sex education is part of family education, which is the responsibility of parents."

The priest said his organization is involved in various aspects of youth and sex education, such as holding talks in schools and inviting professionals to give lectures on life, morality and religion.

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