How do I help my sister who feels she is pansexual and struggles with suicidal thoughts? Is it wrong to marvel at the beauty of someone's sexuality? Does sickness in the body relate to anything spiritually?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute President Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

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Q1: I learned a few months ago that my younger sister has contemplated suicide. Today, I accidentally found a letter she wrote to our mom saying she believes she is pansexual. I feel like she's confusing the friendship love she has for her best friend who is a girl with romantic love. In her letter she used phrases like, "It's not the gender/sex that makes me attracted to someone, but who they are as a person," and other phrases that sound like things I've heard on the internet. I feel like she's choosing to put this label on herself because it's what she's being told to label herself as. She's only fourteen. I'm scared for her and don't know how to help her through this.

Q2: Thank you so much for entering into the pain of the human heart with everyone who God. places before youu on the podcast. I've been loving your podcasts because they've been teaching me just how much my creator loves me. It's also inpiring how receptive you are to each other's love! And now, the topic at hand: I used to have scrupals and I thought that thinking about sexuality was wrong. But more recently I've been wondering if maybe there is a time to marvel at the beauty of a person's sexuality. So my question is, is it always wrong to think about a person's sexuality? How do I marvel at the body's beauty?

Q3: Does sickness in the body relate to anything spiritually?

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Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body I: Head & Heart Immersion Course (Online)

Professor of Rock - Neil Diamond

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Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.