To the editor:

I was disappointed in Dr. Wes and Julia’s response to the question in the Pulse section on Jan. 15. It is regrettably true that many teenagers are impatient to experience grown-up privileges, sex in particular. So I know that my opinion won’t count for much to those who see sexual experience as a rite of passage or as exciting fun for an evening.

Nevertheless, the consequences are many, and even if STDs and pregnancy are avoided, the deep emotional damage could be devastating. As Dr. Wes pointed out, by their early 20s, many young people are very disappointed in their earlier sexual decisions.

In this respect, I had hoped he would at least consider the benefits of waiting until marriage for this most emotionally charged experience. I personally know several young married couples who are glad they waited until marriage to experience the guilt-free pleasure that is theirs.

I’ve heard it said that to engage in a life-uniting act without a life-uniting commitment is trivializing the act. God designed sex to be in the protective sanctuary of a life-united, life-committed relationship called marriage.

Marjorie Kincaid,

Lawrence