The skinny teenager seemed naïve, but in reality he knew exactly what he was doing. He did everything he could to avoid the pressure of the girl who had other intentions than just hang out with him. She wanted a kiss, not on the cheeks, and maybe something else.

The message of the skit was clear, and the young audience laughed at the silly conversations and the boy's behavior. But their tone changed when they were urged to do what the boy in the play had done: remain chaste.

"How far is too far?" speaker Marc Leon asked 1,700 youth during his Sept. 5 teaching on sexuality at the 38th annual SCRC (Southern California Renewal Communities) Catholic Renewal Convention held Sept. 4-6.

"When the goal of your kiss or touch is either to please yourself or to please him or her in a sexual way, that is too far. If your kissing isn't pure, it's too far," the youth leader continued.

Leon shared with the teenagers how he had "crossed the line" with a girl a few years older while he was in eighth grade. He "made arrangements" with her to go to a high school and find a private place to kiss. All the doors to the classrooms were locked, except for the confessional, so they "made out" in the confessional.

When the time came to confess that act the priest laughed, Leon said, "but in that confession he counseled me. 'Life is a series of decisions,' the priest told me. 'Some are good, some are bad, but I want to talk to you about something called chastity and purity.'"

Using St. Paul's first letter to the Colossians (9-10), the speaker urged the junior high and high school students to live a life worthy of God. "Brothers and sisters, St. Paul is talking to us," he said. "We can't deny God and his truth through our Savior Jesus Christ.

"God is a God who knows. He is omniscient. He knows all, everything. He gave you and me specific talents and gifts to live here on Earth and to lead each other in our holiness. He has a specific purpose for our bodies, but we struggle to stay pure."

Then he challenged the young audience.

"Mother Teresa said that purity is the direct result from prayer. Wanna stay pure? Pray," Leon suggested. "Enter into that prayer with Him and engage in that intimate conversation. He will give an answer."

He encouraged them to avoid lust, to remember the love for their neighbors by leading them into being holy, and to remember the mercy of Jesus when they would struggle in forgiving themselves.

To end his talk, which combined humorous anecdotes with serious advice, Leon asked the teenagers to receive the sacraments and to promise God, themselves, their friends, their future spouse and children that they would always live lives of chastity.

Then they were asked to sign and date a "True Love Waits" card and, if possible, put it on the mirror where they see themselves every day.

For Christina Timko, one of 35 St. Dorothy School (Glendora) students attending, the request was simple.

"I definitely agree with chastity," said Timko, who said she talks about it with her parents. "I know of families that never talk about it, but I share my faith whenever I have a chance."

But Robert Santana, a freshman at Fullerton College, saw challenges.

"It's going to be hard," said Santana, "because the world we live in promotes the opposite. They give you free condoms everywhere and it's all right to have sex with girls," he said, showing his card with no signature on it.

"I have to pray about it," he said, but he promised that from now on he would think twice about having sex outside marriage.

The young adults also had their track at the SCRC. It kicked off with a concert and a fellowship session on Sept. 4, followed the two consecutive days by speeches regarding being born again in the faith, authentic commitment to Christ, and living the discipleship. Approximately 300 young adults attended.

According to event planner Barbara Lambert, the convention --- attended by more than 6,000 people --- fulfilled its purpose of "creating a stronger unity with God in peoples' lives and peace to continue to live with joy."

This year the event included a Vietnamese-language program, following the suggestion of Orange Diocese Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Luong, who presided at the closing liturgy. A program for children was also in the schedule.

SCRC organizers will consider including programs in other languages in future conventions, Lambert said.

For more information on SCRC, visit www.scrc.org or call (818) 771-1361.