Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church has always taken a positive view of sexuality in marriage, with marital intercourse deemed noble and honorable. The Church encourages married couples to experience the full beauty and meaning of marital union as God intended. According to Catholic doctrine, sexual intercourse may only take place within marriage, and unmarried Catholics are expected to express chastity through sexual abstinence. This is because sex is considered chaste only within the context of marriage and is referred to as the “nuptial act in Catholic discourse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic view on sex outside of marriage | Sexual intercourse outside of marriage is considered a sin and is not acceptable unless it is between two people intending to marry. |
| Chastity | The virtue that moderates the sexual appetite. It is successfully integrating sexuality within oneself. Unmarried Catholics express chastity through sexual abstinence. |
| Sins against chastity | Masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices. |
| Catholic view on sex within marriage | Marital intercourse is considered "noble and honorable". It is established by God so that spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. |
| Purpose of sex within marriage | Procreation and unification of the couple. |
| Catholic marriage | More than a contract, it is a sacrament. |
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What You'll Learn
Chastity
The Catholic Church has a clear stance on chastity and its role in marriage. According to Catholic doctrine, chastity is defined as "the successful integration of sexuality within the person." In other words, it is the virtue that moderates sexual appetite, ensuring that sexual intercourse is confined within the boundaries of marriage. This belief is derived from the principle that "sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes."
The Church teaches that sexual intercourse is permitted only within the context of marriage, as it is considered a sacred act of love between two married persons and a gift from God. This belief is reaffirmed in the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith's Declaration on Certain Problems of Sexual Ethics, which contradicts the claim that sexual intercourse before marriage is acceptable. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes marital intercourse as "noble and honorable," emphasizing that spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit.
The Church's teachings on chastity and sexuality are rooted in the belief that marriage is intended primarily for procreation, a view that dominated early Christianity. This belief has evolved over time, and recent church teachings have tried to integrate the two purposes of marriage—the unitive and procreative dimensions—into a single perspective. While the Church emphasizes the procreative aspect of marital sexuality, it also acknowledges the importance of unity and love between spouses, as described in the Book of Genesis: "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body."
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Sins against chastity
The Catholic Church defines chastity as the virtue that moderates the sexual appetite. It refers to the successful integration of sexuality within the person. Everyone is called to chastity, and unmarried Catholics express chastity through sexual abstinence. Sexual intercourse within marriage is considered chaste when it retains the twofold significance of union and
The Catechism lists several transgressions and sins against chastity, including masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices. Additionally, adultery, divorce, polygamy, and free union are considered grave offenses against the dignity of marriage. The Church distinguishes between “homosexual attractions”, which are not sinful, and “homosexual acts”, which are. Heterosexual acts outside of marriage are also considered sins against the Sixth Commandment.
The Sixth Commandment states, "You shall not commit adultery." Adultery is defined as sexual relations where at least one of the participants is married to another party. It is considered an injustice and a transgression of the marriage bond.
Lust is considered one of the seven capital sins and is viewed negatively by the Catholic Church. It is seen as an excessive and irrational attachment to venereal pleasure. The biblical quote, "But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart," is used to illustrate that sins of lust can be both external and internal.
Chaste and pure sexual love in marriage is always self-giving and never selfish. It is an expression of the marital covenant of unconditional love and should deepen the spiritual union between spouses.
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Sexual intercourse outside of marriage
The Catholic Church has consistently taught that sexual intercourse outside of marriage is a sin. This is based on the belief that sexual pleasure is morally wrong when sought for its own sake, outside of its procreative and unitive purposes within marriage. The Church defines chastity as "the successful integration of sexuality within the person", and unmarried Catholics are expected to express chastity through sexual abstinence.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes marital intercourse as "noble and honourable", and states that it is established by God so that "spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit". The Church's positive view of sexuality within marriage is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, which were drawn from the Old Testament. The Book of Genesis and the Song of Songs describe the basic goodness of sexual love within marriage, and in the New Testament, Jesus began his public ministry with his presence at the wedding feast of Cana, which is seen as a further indication of the goodness of marriage.
The Church affirms that marital sexuality has two purposes: its role in creating new human life, or the procreative dimension, and its unitive purpose, which contributes to the holiness of the couple. The late Pope John Paul II emphasised the importance of chastity within marriage, which he saw as a virtue connected with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including respect for what comes from God.
The Church does not provide a list of "acceptable practices" within marriage, but there are some general principles that are expected to guide married couples. Chaste and pure sexual love within marriage is always self-giving and never selfish, and it will deepen the spiritual union between spouses. It is also important for couples to remain open to the possibility of procreation, even if they are beyond childbearing years.
While the Church's teachings on sexuality have evolved over time, the prohibition on sexual intercourse outside of marriage has remained constant.
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Sexual intercourse within marriage
The Catholic Church has consistently taught that sexual intercourse is reserved for married couples. This is because the Church believes that sex is a gift from God, intended to be an act of love between two married persons, and that it is "noble and honourable".
The Church's positive view of sexuality in marriage is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, which were partly drawn from the Old Testament. The Book of Genesis and the Song of Songs both describe the basic goodness of sexual love in marriage. In the New Testament, Jesus began his public ministry with his supportive presence at the wedding feast of Cana, which is seen as another indication of the goodness of marriage.
The Church affirms that marital sexuality has two purposes: the first is its role in creating new human life, often called the procreative dimension of sexuality. The view that marriage is primarily for the purpose of procreation dominated early Christianity and was held by many Church Fathers. The second purpose is the unitive purpose, which is the idea that sex brings a couple together in a unique and profound way.
The Church teaches that, even for couples beyond childbearing years, sexual love within marriage must be chaste and pure. This means that it should be self-giving, not selfish, and always an expression of the marital covenant of unconditional love.
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Contraception
The Catholic Church defines chastity as the virtue that moderates sexual appetite and refers to the successful integration of sexuality within a person. According to the Church, unmarried Catholics express chastity through sexual abstinence, while sexual intercourse within marriage is considered chaste when it retains the twofold significance of union and procreation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that "fecundity is a gift" and an "end of marriage", with conjugal love naturally tending towards fruitfulness. Therefore, each marriage act should remain open to the procreation of human life.
The Church's stance on contraception is further supported by the belief that pregnancy is a gift from God and that contraception can lead to a subtle shift in how children are viewed, either as inconveniences or trophies. Additionally, the Church promotes natural family planning methods that work with the natural cycles of the reproductive system, allowing couples to engage in marital intercourse only during infertile periods. These methods have been shown to be effective in preventing pregnancy while also improving communication and sexual satisfaction for couples.
Despite the Church's teachings, it is important to note that there are differing opinions within the Catholic community, with many Catholics disagreeing with the Church's stance on contraceptives.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. According to the Catholic Church, sex is considered chaste only within the context of marriage.
The Church believes that sex is a wonderful thing, but it has to be used appropriately. God has designed sex to occur within marriage. According to the Bible, marriage occurs when a man and a woman "become one flesh", and the consummation of a marriage happens during sexual union.
No, you are not a bad Catholic. We are all sinners. First, acknowledge that you did something wrong. Then go to your local Catholic parish, confess to a priest, and make a commitment to do better in the future.
Talk to a Catholic priest, and they will give you advice. Think about things in the long term and remember how the other person will feel.
The Catholic Church has always taken a positive view of sexuality in marriage. Marital intercourse is considered "noble and honourable", established by God so that spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit.
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