Problems of Decency

By Rev. R.E. Southard, S.J.

39 page booklet. Printed with approval of Ecclesiastical Superiors in 1949.

This booklet addresses the challenges of maintaining sexual purity and decency in a society increasingly saturated with sexual imagery and permissive attitudes. Fr. Southard emphasizes the critical role of self-discipline, proper education, and reliance on the sacraments to guard against temptation, especially for unmarried individuals. Drawing on psychological principles, he explains how controlling stimuli is essential to preventing sin and developing virtuous habits. The booklet outlines Church teaching on the proper context for sexual activity—within marriage—and warns against occasions of sin, such as indecent dress, provocative media, and immodest behavior. It also provides practical guidance on confession, resisting temptation, forming good habits, and avoiding public scandal. The text is firmly rooted in traditional Catholic moral theology and appeals to both natural reason and divine law to call readers to a life of chastity and holiness.