Monday, April 25, 2005

Peruvian Virgin Remains So

So apparently this 15 year old Peruvian model, living with her mother and 12 year old brother, decided to sell her virginity in a desperate bid to have enough money for survival. She advertised it in newspapers, the internet, and such. Apparently, it garnered a lot of talk and very little else.

It did not take long before many in this staunchly Catholic country were up in arms.

Some said her actions were nothing short of prostitution. Others said she needed psychological help.

She says some people admired her ingenuity, saying she was doing more than the teenage girls who lost their virginity in the parks because they wrongly thought they were in love.

Her virginity almost became a question of national pride, with some commentators and chat show hosts accusing her of trying to damage Peru's reputation.
I'm just flabbergasted. Has nobody attempted to help her, or has the outrage been nothing but sound and fury? Apparently a Canadian man, who offered her $1.5M, was relieved when she turned down the offer for sex. If he has that kind of money to spend on sex with a 15 year old girl, can't he spend at least a portion of it to help her escape her desperate situation?

The BBC reports that her economic situation remains virtually unchanged. What a sad picture of humanity. Honestly, I find myself sympathizing with the liberals when so called "religious conservatives" sit and talk about morality and "national pride" and yet do nothing to help change the conditions that led to the problem in the first place. We tarnish the image of Christ in this world when our faith is not backed up by works.

I saw this story when someone on the CARM board asked what the proper response to it should be. Mine is absolute amazement.

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