Nearly 200 young Catholics have signed an open letter expressing their support for the teaching of Humanae Vitae. The letter, published in this week’s Catholic Herald, praises the document’s call to chastity, describing as “beautiful and prophetic”. “Living out chastity is counter-cultural and difficult, but rewarding for relationships,” the signatories say. “It reminds us how the person to whom we are attracted is not a thing to be used, but an equal to be loved, honoured and treated with reverence.” While they admit that Humanae Vitae’s teachings may be “unfashionable”, they add that this does not make them untrue. “Sex can never be truly casual, because it is so inherently filled with meaning – namely, the mutual love of the couple and openness to new life. That is why respecting the integrity of the sexual act matters. It is in allowing sex to convey its full meaning that we can give oneself to one’s spouse completely in love.” The letter comes just ahead of October's Youth Synod, when bishops will examine the Church's pastoral outreach to young people. A working document for the synod said Young Catholics were divided on issues such as sexuality and gender. The letter also comes after a similar statement signed by 500 British priests to mark the 50th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. The clergy said that a "proper ‘human ecology’, a rediscovery of the way of nature and respect for human dignity is essential for the future of our people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.” “We propose discovering anew the message of Humanae Vitae, not only in fidelity to the Gospel, but as a key to the healing and true development of our society.” The full letter: It has been suggested that Catholic teaching on contraception has failed to “engage with social change” (Letter, June 22). Yet one must not confuse being unfashionable with being untrue. Living out chastity is counter-cultural and difficult, but rewarding for relationships. It reminds us how the person to whom we are attracted is not a thing to be used, but an equal to be loved, honoured and treated with reverence. The philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe rightly observed that “in this contraceptive day”, however, sex becomes seen as “no more than a sort of extreme kiss, which it might be rather rude to refuse”. At the heart of chastity is the simple yet revolutionary idea that we are made for love, and our sexuality has been given to us in order to fulfil this call. Hence, as Pope Francis puts it, “The image of God is the married couple”. Sex can never be truly casual, because it is so inherently filled with meaning – namely, the mutual love of the couple and openness to new life. That is why respecting the integrity of the sexual act matters. It is in allowing sex to convey its full meaning that we can give oneself to one’s spouse completely in love. As young, lay Catholics living in Britain who find this teaching on sexuality beautiful and prophetic, we therefore wish to affirm the relevance of Humanae Vitae for our generation – and indeed for generations to come. The full list of signatories: Michelle Allan Johannes Arens Ray-Mallero Baquiran Damian and Margaret Barker Joao Barroca Vivienne Barrow Lorna Begley Antonia and Chris Braithwaite Anna Branford Sean Biggins Gerald Bonner Joanna and Stephen Bullivant Hugh Burling Ruth Bushell Elena Cahill Christopher Cahill Joshua Caminiti Philip and Clara Campbell Thomas and Rebecca Carrott Sara Chan James Channer Gregory Chilson Johnny Church Dominic Ciftci Georgia Clarke Dominic Clearkin Elizabeth Cohen Patrick Connell Mollie Cornell Angela Costley Rebekah Curran Catherine Dalzell Henry Darlison Edward David Tudur David Christopher Dean Grace Deighan Simone Delzin Alisa and Gregor Dick Luke Dowle David and Katie Edwards Emmi Egbuonu Sina Fackler Selina Fang James Farrell Eve Farren John and Rosemary Fetherston Catherine Fleischer Andrew Ford Maria Freeman Raphaella Gabrasadig Joseph and Julie Geoghegan Rafael Gibbons Conor and Naomi Gildea Annie Glasspool Chris and Marie-Therese Glover Antonia Goddard Anastasia Gomes Naoise Grenham Ryan Hawkes Eleanor Hall Angela and Paul Hammond Rachel Hammond Lucy Healy Jonathan Henry Rachael Henry Josephine Holt Joseph Hopkins James Howe Andrew and Irene Hutchinson Thomas Hutchinson Jacob Imam Gregory and Grace Jackson Guy Jackson Jo Jackson Emma John Bonnie and Dennis Johnson Michael Jones Leslie and David Keating Rory Kennedy William Kent Jack Kilday Evangeline Kozitza Ilona Lahdelma Brian M. Lapsa Matt Lavelle Visitation Lesterpearson Martin and Roisin Macgregor Pui Yiu Carol Mak Kathleen Malkin Claire Maloney Julia McCourt James McKee David Mitchell Caisen Mirassou Riccardo Monni John Morris Lauren and Greg Morrison Marya Morrison Peter Morrison Narquita Navarro Thomas and Catherine Neal Michael and Margaret Nicholson Isabel Ng Angela Mui Nouillan Darren Nouillan Niall and Ruth O Coinleáin Christopher and Rebecca Oldroyd Francis and Annabel Osborn Maria Overy Tanya Park Fraser and Jane Pearce Helena Penfold Benjamin and Jutta Portelli Michal Pruski Liam and Patricia Rafferty Gavin Rice Theresa Rowland John Saladino Gerrie Serpell Paul Shakeshaft Ruby Shao John Shinkwin Rebecca Short Edward Smith Brian and Elizabeth Sudlow Caroline and Matthew Sutherland Madeleine and Dominic Strezynski Wojciech Szymczak Saumya Thomas Brenden Thompson Gregory Treloar Joseph and Bethany Treloar Grace Shih-Chia Tseng Monica Underwood Hannah Vaughan-Spruce Ailsa and James Walton Ian and Kristiina Watt Matthew and Rachael Ward Thomas and Sarah Ward Michael and Elisabeth Wee Elizabeth Wilkinson Alithea Williams Matthew Williams Jamie Wilmore William Woodall