PURE ATTRACTION ... a guide to human sexuality

Already he has helped thousands in Australia and beyond with his catechetical workbooks on First Penance, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. There is also his workbook on Church History, and his coming workbook on Preparing for Marriage, of which draft copies are already in use. It will accompany Pure Attraction.

After having graduated from Agricultural College, he worked for several years in Melbourne, prior to commencing seminary studies in Rome. He graduated with a Degree of Philosophy from the Angelicum University and then a Master's degree in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Urban University before being ordained in 1992 by Bishop Brennan for the Diocese of Wagga Wagga.

While he was Vice Rector of Vianney College, the Diocesan Seminary of Wagga Wagga, he was also Youth Chaplain of the Diocese. After pastoral work in parishes, he returned to Rome for further studies and completed his doctorate in Moral Theology whilst working for the Vatican in the Congregation for the Missions.

He has been a lecturer in philosophy and moral theology at Vianney College for the last sixteen years and is also a visiting lecturer for the John Paull II Institute on Marriage and the Family. Presently Fr. Murphy is the Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Church at Lavington, Albury, New South Wales.

Over the last eleven years, he has conducted biannual camps for Catholic families in the Kosciuszko National Park.

THIS book is an all-encompassing treatment of THE VIRTUE OF purity.   It is for those preparing for marriage, and also for those presently single or already married, and for priests and Religious.

It is not only about purity but the other supporting virtues. It helps the readers towards becoming saints in everyday living.    It is:-

* thoroughly positive — the real lay apostolate;
* genuinely modern — today's real issues;
* faithfully traditional, e.g. no trendy nonsense at all.

It is the fruit of the mature spiritual life of a very zealous, highly educated and much experienced parish priest who is currently working very hard in one of the largest parishes of the Wagga Wagga diocese, even while he lectures in Moral Theology in its seminary.

THOROUGHLY POSITIVE

Father's enthusiasm for the new Theology of the Body and the traditional Four Temperaments is really helpful, and at all not overdone. Nor are these themes the only underpinning of his insights. His Latin snippets and scholastic jargon are carefully explained.

He always makes virtue sound attractive. He repudiates both prudery and impurity. Explanations are always well-done, and made even clearer by his life-like examples.   The Bible quotes are good, too.

GENUINELY MODERN

The book is full of practical advice to the young man or woman, on HOW TO BEAT THE DEVIL, which is vital information for living the virtuous life, "the good life", and passing on to our troubled world the life and love of God.

It is insightful on things like self-pity, and how Satan uses it for our downfall.

FAITHFULLY TRADITIONAL

His sections on temptation, sin and original sin are easy to follow. He does not weaken words with euphemisms, and uses out-of-fashion language like "living in sin" and masturbation.

He offers four reasons against fornication; asserts that Hell awaits the unrepentant impure and that sex-ed in primary schools is an abomination.

He is very persuasive on daily prayer, Sunday Mass, frequent Confession and the requirement to confess all essential details.

And he is merciful to sinners — again, it is a real pastor of souls who is speaking! He will not break the bruised reed nor snuff the smoking flax.

GIRLS AND DRESS CODE

He quotes Karol Wojytla that girls and women seem to need more training in the ways of modesty; whilst boys and men possess a greater natural sense of it, and also of shame, because they are more sensual, and that this is over-looked in an immodest age.

Masculine man places importance on the bodily parts of a woman: thus he more easily feels shame and is sensitive to the loss of modesty.

On the other hand, women are emotionally attracted to the whole of the man., and are less sensual. Girls and women might not even be aware of the effect they are having, and need guidance, said the future Pope.

There are gentlemen too diffident even to hint that an expanse of breast and a peeping cleavage are a subjective problem for their virtue. Hence women and girls might not easily find out. And even if they were asked, gentlemen, out of sensitivity for female feelings, might not answer frankly, and fail to realize that a humble woman "can be told" and can be sympathetic to male moral problems.

TOO HARD?

Some have found parts of this book a little heavy going, and the author himself admits it for Chapter 3. He suggests the reader change into four wheel drive and low range gears, to get through. Then magnanimously he dispenses him from the perils of getting bogged in a mere two-wheel drive vehicle, and suggests a detour to skirt Chapter 3 by skimming it.

His masculine imagery might be obscure to the ladies, but it will certainly hold the tough shy young men who are precisely the ones likely to dodge courses in virtue and particularly in marriage preparation.

SUB-HEADINGS

The sub-headings are large, clear and engaging. A diffident reader might well breeze through them for what catches his eye.

Incidentally, Father Murphy is at his best when he sets out his teaching in points: they're like carefully cut-up meat for children clumsy with their cutlery.

Hopefully, a second edition will have an index, and page headers with the names of chapters.

NO, NOT TOO HARD AT ALL!

* Chastity is the key that opens the heart to true love.
* Chastity defends true love from the perils of selfishness.
* The opposite of love is not hate but selfishness.
* True love waits...
* Chastity before marriage prompts faithfulness after.
* Like death, you cannot try out true love beforehand.
* Dating is a recent novelty — courting far preferable. 

His "Guidelines to stay on track" are wonderful for their traditional, simple wisdom.

Atheism and relativism are today's rival religions. They are the foundations of culture of death. We aim to be counter-cultural and set out to redeem the moral softness of a wicked and adulterous generation.

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Revised 14 May 2009