Doris M. Kieser: Catholic Sexual Theology and Adolescent Girls: Embodied Flourishing

Doris M. Kieser’s intersecting roles as a feminist, counselor, and Roman Catholic led her to write about a group of people that she feels is chronically underrepresented in Christianity: adolescent girls. Her goal is to see adolescent girls flourishing, growing in their sexuality, and making healthy choices for themselves. At the heart of her work is a strong and unquestioned belief in God and the Holy Spirit. Although many people may agree with Kieser that female adolescents should be encouraged to flourish sexually and to learn to make healthy decisions, many readers may have trouble connecting to the premise that the Roman Catholic Church, or the God of Roman Catholic Church, is a necessary or appropriate framework to view healthy female flourishing. However, maintaining that this is an appropriate framework to counsel adolescent girls, Kieser admits her own biases, but stands by them as part of her own personal point of view that incorporates her work as a theologian to explain a view of female adolescent sexuality. …