Grace Thompson
Chastity is a central and pivotal concept in Catholic praxis. It is a virtue related to temperance, and those who are chaste refrain from sexual activity that is considered immoral or from any sexual activity, according to their state of life. Chastity is often associated with celibacy, and Catholic theology of sexuality dictates that sexual intercourse has a two-fold unitive and procreative purpose. The Catholic Church considers sexual expression outside of marriage or the deliberate frustration of the procreative function within marriage (e.g. using contraception) to be a grave sin. While the Church takes a positive view of sexuality in marriage, there is an unspoken understanding among Catholic men that chastity is only a virtue for those who are unmarried. This poses the question: do men accept marital chastity in the Catholic Church?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic view on chastity | Chastity is a virtue that applies to everyone, including married men and women. |
| Catholic view on homosexuality | Homosexuality is considered a "disorder" that must be cured through chastity and self-mastery. |
| Catholic view on contraception | Contraception is considered a grave sin, even within marriage. |
| Catholic view on marital intercourse | Marital intercourse is considered "noble and honorable" and is meant to bring spouses pleasure and enjoyment. |
| Catholic view on premarital sex | Premarital sex is considered immoral and a sin. |
| Catholic view on modesty | Modesty in dress, speech, and action is considered a virtue for both men and women. |
| Catholic view on sin | Sin is seen as a disintegration of the self, while grace leads to integration and wholeness. |
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What You'll Learn
Homosexuality and chastity
The Catholic Church's relationship with homosexuality is complex and often contentious, with conflicting views between the Church and the LGBTQ+ community. While the Church teaches that same-sex attraction is not inherently sinful, it considers sexual activity between people of the same sex a "grave sin against chastity".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which outlines the Church's dogmas and teachings, describes homosexual acts as "intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law", and homosexual tendencies as "objectively disordered". However, the Church emphasises that individuals with same-sex attraction "must be accepted and treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity", and that all forms of unjust discrimination should be avoided.
The Church teaches that homosexual individuals are called to practice chastity and celibacy. It offers practical support to help them achieve this, recognising that homosexuality is not a choice and that homosexual people have as much human dignity as anyone else. This teaching is based on the belief that sex is meant for procreation and to build up husbands and wives in love and respect. Homosexual sex, according to the Church, is divorced from the responsibility of procreation and, therefore, does not align with God's intention for sexuality.
Some gay rights activists have protested the Church's stance on homosexuality, including through acts of disruption during Mass and desecration of religious sites. In contrast, some Catholic organisations have campaigned against LGBTQ+ rights, advocating for chastity and celibacy among LGBTQ+ Catholics.
Pope Francis has taken a notably different approach to his predecessors. He supported civil union status for same-sex couples and publicly denounced sodomy laws. He also emphasised the importance of Catholic parents talking to their homosexual children and accepting them as part of their families.
Overall, while the Catholic Church considers homosexual acts a sin against chastity, it teaches that individuals with same-sex attraction should be treated with respect and compassion and calls on homosexual individuals to practice chastity and celibacy.
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Catholic teachings on sexual sins
Catholic theology of sexuality is drawn from natural law, canonical scripture, divine revelation, and sacred tradition, as interpreted by the Catholic Church. Sexual morality evaluates sexual behaviour according to standards laid out by Catholic moral theology, providing general principles for Catholics to evaluate their actions.
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "conjugal love ... aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul", since the marriage bond is to be a sign of the love between God and humanity.
The Church teaches that sexual sins are committed against oneself and one's body, and often against another person's body. The following sexual activities are considered sins according to Catholic teaching: lust, voyeurism, masturbation, contraception, fornication, homosexuality, polygamy, polyamory, pederasty, pedophilia, rape, sodomy, bestiality, abortion, and adultery. These activities are considered unlawful and requiring confession and repentance. The degree of sin can vary, from mortal to venial, depending on the type and circumstances.
Chastity is a virtue promoted within Catholic teaching, encouraging individuals to refrain from sexual activity until marriage. This is taught in Catholic schools and promoted by Catholic authors, who emphasise the freedom, peace, and romance that can be achieved through chastity. Modesty in dress, speech, and action is also encouraged for both men and women.
While the Church teaches that homosexual inclination is "objectively disordered", it must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Homosexual persons are called to chastity and instructed to practice self-mastery to achieve inner freedom, with the support of friends, prayer, and grace found in the Church's sacraments.
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Chastity and abstinence
Abstinence, in the context of Catholic teaching, refers to strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage. This teaching is promoted in Catholic schools and youth groups, encouraging young people to refrain from premarital sex to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and the emotional baggage of past relationships that can impact future marriages. Abstinence in this context is presented as a way to achieve freedom, peace, and romance without regret.
Chastity, on the other hand, is a broader concept that applies to both unmarried and married individuals. For unmarried individuals, chastity involves abstinence and the practice of self-mastery, which entails controlling one's thoughts, words, and actions to avoid sexual sin. For married couples, chastity involves conjugal chastity, which is proper to their state of life. It is described as a lifelong relationship that excludes sexual intimacy with other persons, implying complete fidelity and loyalty to one's spouse.
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse within marriage is "noble and honorable," established by God for spouses to experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. This sexual expression within marriage is considered a sacred part of God's plan, allowing husband and wife to participate in the creation of life and express their love for each other.
The Church's understanding of chastity extends to homosexual individuals as well. While the Church teaches that homosexual inclination is "objectively disordered," homosexual persons are "called to chastity" and are instructed to practice self-mastery with the support of friends, prayer, and grace found in the Church's sacraments.
In summary, chastity and abstinence are integral aspects of Catholic sexual morality. Abstinence is emphasized before marriage, while chastity is a lifelong virtue that involves the integration of sexuality and personality, leading to self-mastery and harmony.
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Catholic marriage as a sacrament
In Catholic theology, marriage is considered a sacrament. It is a "covenant by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life", which is intended for the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. The Catholic Church teaches that a marriage between two baptised persons is a sacrament because it expresses the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and his people. Marriage is one of the seven sacraments of the Church, and like the others, it is a symbol that reveals the Lord Jesus and through which his divine life and love are communicated.
The sacrament of marriage involves the couple's entire life as they journey through the ups and downs of marriage, becoming more able to give and receive from each other. Their life becomes sacramental when they cooperate with God's actions in their life, seeing themselves as living "in Christ", with Christ living and acting in their relationship, attitudes and actions. Catholic teaching holds that sacraments bring grace to those who receive them with the proper disposition. Grace is a way of describing how God shares the divine life with us and gives us the help we need to live as followers of Christ. In marriage, the grace of this sacrament helps spouses to be faithful and to be good parents. It also helps them to serve others beyond their immediate family and to show the community that a loving and lasting marriage is both desirable and possible.
The Catholic Church recognises as sacramental the marriages between two baptised non-Catholic Christians, as well as marriages between baptised non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians. However, in the latter case, consent from the diocesan bishop must be obtained, and this is termed "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage". If both parties are Catholic faithful, the wedding is ordinarily held in a Catholic church. If one party is Catholic and the other is not, the wedding can be held in a Catholic church or a non-Catholic church, but in the latter case, permission from the Bishop is required for the marriage to be free of defect of form.
Catholic theology of sexuality teaches that sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "conjugal love ... aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul", since the marriage bond is to be a sign of the love between God and humanity. Chastity is highly valued in Catholic tradition, with many Catholic schools teaching chastity-based sex education. It is believed that refraining from sexual activity until marriage will lead to freedom, peace, and romance without regret.
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Catholic views on contraception
The Catholic Church's views on contraception are derived from Scripture, Natural Law, Apostolic Tradition, the Magisterium, and human experience. The Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament with both unitive and procreative ends, and therefore the fecundity of marriage is vital in its teachings about contraception.
Contraception is defined as "any action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act [sexual intercourse], or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible." The Church's teaching on contraception is that it is a grave sin, as the procreative function of sexual expression within marriage is "deliberately frustrated". The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "conjugal love... aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul", and that "each and every marriage act remain ordered per se to the procreation of human life."
The use of contraceptives is not a new controversy. Christian leaders were unanimous in speaking out against artificial birth control for almost 2,000 years. However, in the twentieth century, this position began to change, and by the 1960s, the availability of contraceptives had led to a subtle shift in how children were viewed. They were no longer seen as "gifts from God", but as either inconveniences or trophies.
Despite this shift in societal views, the Catholic Church has held fast in forbidding contraception. Some see this as outdated and oppressive, keeping women in the Dark Ages. However, the Church's position is that contraception is a violation of God's will. The Church teaches that in cases where a couple decides not to have additional children, they may take advantage of natural cycles and engage in marital intercourse only during infertile times. These methods of natural family planning rival and even surpass the effectiveness of contraceptives while posing no risks to mothers or unborn children.
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Frequently asked questions
Chastity is a virtue related to temperance. Someone who is chaste refrains from sexual activity that is considered immoral or from any sexual activity, according to their state of life. In some contexts, for example, when taking a vow of chastity, it means celibacy.
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines chastity as "the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being". The Church has always taken a positive view of sexuality in marriage, with marital intercourse considered "noble and honourable".
Chastity is a central and pivotal concept in Catholic praxis. It is essential in maintaining and cultivating the unity of body with spirit and thus the integrity of the human being. Married couples practice conjugal chastity, which involves controlling their thoughts, words, and actions. It includes strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to one's spouse after marriage.
The Catholic Church teaches that a homosexual inclination is ""objectively disordered" and can be a great trial for the person. Homosexual persons are "called to chastity" and are instructed to practice the virtues of "self-mastery" to help them approach Christian perfection.
