Dr. Luis Chiva, gynecologist: “Separating affectivity from sexuality profoundly harms individuals”

“Separating affectivity from sexuality profoundly harms individuals. Sexuality involves the most intimate part of our being, physically and spiritually. Just as we cannot separate our body from our soul, we cannot separate sex from affection.” Dr. Luis Chiva, director of the Department of Gynecology at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, and one of the organizers of the International Symposium on Natural Fertility Awareness, stresses the need to address the anthropological, affective, and biological dimensions of individuals sexuality and fertility.

The University of Navarra will host an international multidisciplinary symposium on Natural Fertility Awareness, organized in collaboration with the University de los Andes (Chile) and the Veritas Amoris Project, on September 22^nd, 23^rd, and 24^th.

The conference speakers include Josep Standford (University of Utah, United States), Rene Leiva (University of Ontario, Canada), Christopher West (Theology of the Body Institute, United States), Juan José Pérez Soba (John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute, Rome), René Écochard (Claude Bernard Lyon University, France), Marguerite Duane (Georgetown University, United States) and Monsignor Mario Iceta, Archbishop of Burgos and expert in bioethics.

The symposium sessions will begin at 3 p.m. (Central European Time). A series of workshops have also been organized for the mornings. Among them, a session titled, “Barrier-free sexuality and boundless love; learn to communicate the beauty of human love.” A memorial ceremony for Dr. Gonzalo Herranz, an internationally recognized bioethics professor who died this past May, will also be held during the symposium.

Dr. Chiva advocates investing in training on Natural Fertility Awareness, sharing the scientific findings about the diagnostic effectiveness of these methods, continuing research, and developing new tools. He also points out that this way of understating sexuality and affectivity goes beyond Christian thinking. “There are many people, including those who are not Christian, who feel that sexual relations are more than just a moment of pleasure. If you share in this idea, you may be interested in the proposals we will present at the symposium.”

For more information on the symposium, click here.