Is There a Problem?

The latest figures released for teenage pregnancy in Britain have shown a significant increase over previous years and all indications are that it will grow worse, despite myriad initiatives introduced to tackle the problem.

Apart from the serious social issues arising from the 40,000 teenage girls who become pregnant each year, there is the disturbing health problem connected with the epidemic of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) that now affects over 397,990 young people annually. This is despite the huge outlay to promote sex education, contraception and the morning-after pill.

Equally disturbing is the problem primarily, but not exclusively, associated with teenage boys. Research has revealed an increase in the use of pornography, which can be highly addictive in nature, among teenagers. We are now seeing the resultant social impact: a distortion in the way young men view women and relationships.

Solving Tomorrow’s Problems Today

It is well recognised that children are the future of our society, that good parenting and a good education are the grounds where the confident and secure young individuals of tomorrow are fashioned. Family Life International (FLI) contributes by assisting parents, schools and parishes to support the young in both their moral education and personal formation, enabling them to make good life choices.

The past few decades have seen a number of experimental programmes aimed at developing young people’s views on relationships and sexual behaviour. These, coupled with the media and the Internet, have contributed to an unhealthy diet leading to the current moral morass with incalculable costs in suffering to the young and therefore to our society. Over the past ten years FLI has been running programmes in schools to encourage young people to be more discerning about the material they watch and the information they take in from the media and the Internet. Furthermore, the FLI programme gives students rational reasons to embrace Christian values and develop virtues such as modesty, chastity, and self control; and a healthy respect for members of the opposite sex. The FLI programme is designed to support parents and teachers to help them get the very best out of students.

Developing Young Minds to Make Good Life Choices

The FLI programme is not sex education. It is based around developing Christian values; and encourages an appreciation of freedom, respect, friendship and security. This approach takes advantage of this valiant ideal of our human personality and gives students the inner strength to choose right over wrong, even in the face of peer pressure.

The programme helps students to develop skills such as decision-making and assertiveness and gives them moral guidelines so they may choose wisely and correctly. It enables them to be more discerning about information they receive from media and peers. It aims to equip young people with the skills necessary to remain safe in the face of the ills now ravaging our society.

FLI also aims to help parents so that they can better help and support their sons and daughters through adolescence.

Programme Components

The programme can be tailored to meet the requirements of the school. It can run as a

• full day event for the whole school or year group.
• single module with each class on a single day.
• single presentation.

The event can be run during school time or on a weekend where parents can attend. Modules include:

Building Character
Chastity: God’s plan for love and life
Whose values should be following?
How do we make good and moral choices?
Building healthy relationships

Knowing the consequences
The dangers of pornography
Cherishing life
Consequences of our choices
How safe is “Safe Sex”?

Preparing for the Future
The meaning of marriage
Authentic masculinity
True womanhood
Is truth seasonal?

About us

Family Life International is a Catholic educational not-for-profit organisation. FLI was founded by Fr. Paul Marx, O.S.B., Ph.D. and fulfils its mission by promoting and defending the sanctity of life and the dignity of the family through prayer, education and service. FLI is totally loyal to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and is also ecumenical.

Contact Us

0208 857 9950
Family Life International -UK
Po Box 4771
London SE9 4XA
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Testimonies

The response has been amazing. For most of the students, the feedback has been incredibly positive and for the students life-changing. Many have said that they have changed their attitudes to girls/ women and have looked at them with more respect. Many others witnessed to being introduced to a new way of thinking about relationships, what they are capable of and how a person can be too passionate.

Bobbie RE Teacher

“FLI’s Chastity Programme is the real sex and relationship education. The students loved it as it give them a glimpse of normal life, not the made-up stories they see on TV. Simply put, for youngsters chastity is reality and FLI helps them enjoy that fact.” Simon Dames RE Teacher

Greg Clovis really engaged with the boys and presented a holistic pro life message in a relevant and informative manor that challenged the way they viewed relationships between men and women. Through interactive smaller group workshops he allowed them to express there opinions and concerns, helping to recognize the need for them to take responsibility for their actions and the importance of the role of the father in the family. This really enhanced there RE lessons and changed many of their attitudes towards relationships and the dignity of woman.'

Ray Cilia RE Teacher