Ethan Walker
While the Catholic Church does not forbid infertile people from marrying, it does require couples to be open to having children. This means that they cannot intentionally prevent conception, as procreation is considered the purpose of sex. However, couples may use natural family planning methods to avoid pregnancy during a woman's infertile periods. Some Catholic men and women may delay or choose not to have children due to secular influences, such as prioritizing personal goals and individual freedom. In such cases, the Church advises prayer and seeking counsel from priests or psychologists. Ultimately, the Church teaches that marriage is a calling and a mission, and those who are opposed to having children may need to discern if they have a vocation for marriage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic couples who don't want children | Must be open to the possibility of having children |
| Reasons for not wanting children | Financial and mental health concerns, secular intentions, personal goals, societal factors, etc. |
| Catholic beliefs on marriage | Sacrament, a calling or mission, indissolubility, faithfulness, and fertility |
| Catholic views on procreation | Sexual acts must be open to procreation, violating God's will if not |
| Infertility in Catholic marriage | Allowed, but must be open to children; impotence prevents marriage |
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What You'll Learn
- Marriage in the Catholic Church is a calling, a mission, not just a matter of being in love
- The Church teaches that the sexual act must always be open to the possibility of procreation
- Infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage, according to the Code of Canon Law
- The desire to not have children may be influenced by secular intentions and societal factors
- Some Catholic couples who do not want children may choose to pray, seek counsel, and have honest conversations with their partners
Marriage in the Catholic Church is a calling, a mission, not just a matter of being in love
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws...God himself is the author of marriage. The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator." This is further supported by Scripture, which speaks of marriage and its "mystery," its institution, and the meaning God has given it.
In the Catholic faith, marriage is a calling from God, and those who are called to marriage are better people together than they were separate. This calling involves proclaiming the message of Jesus with their imperfect lives and supporting each other when they fall. It is a ministry of small things done with great love, side by side.
While being in love is important, it is not the only or main concern in Catholic marriage. The couple must also be open to having children, as the sexual act must always retain its intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life. However, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage, as the Catechism states, "Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, hospitality, and sacrifice."
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The Church teaches that the sexual act must always be open to the possibility of procreation
The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual act must always be open to the possibility of procreation. This means that a couple can never intentionally thwart the procreative purpose of sex, as doing so would violate human nature and God's will. This teaching is based on the belief that marriage is a sacrament and one of its very purposes is the procreation of children.
According to the Church, a couple must be open to the possibility of having children to validly marry. This does not mean that they must desire or want children, but rather that they do not actively prevent or rule out the possibility of having them. If a couple has just reasons for not wanting to conceive at a particular time, they may engage in sexual intercourse during the woman's infertile periods. However, the use of contraceptives to intentionally prevent procreation is considered a violation of the Church's teachings.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, hospitality, and sacrifice" (CCC #1654). This indicates that while the Church encourages an openness to life, it also recognizes the value of marriages that do not result in children due to infertility or other reasons.
Some Catholic individuals may struggle with the desire to not have children, which can be influenced by societal factors and a focus on individualism and personal accomplishments. The Church addresses this by emphasizing that humans are made to live for others, not only for themselves, and that children are a gift that adds new dimensions to life.
In summary, the Church's teaching that the sexual act must always be open to procreation is based on its understanding of marriage as a sacrament and its belief in the intrinsic ordering of the sexual act towards the generation of children. While infertility does not invalidate a marriage, actively preventing procreation is considered a violation of the natural law interpreted by the Church.
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Infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage, according to the Code of Canon Law
According to the Code of Canon Law, infertility does not prevent a person from validly entering into marriage. The Code of Canon Law affirms, "Sterility neither prohibits nor invalidates marriage" (#1084.3). This means that a couple can enter into a valid marriage even if one or both partners are infertile, as infertility involves an inability to conceive a child, rather than an inability to physically consummate the marriage.
The Catechism acknowledges the suffering of an infertile couple and states, "Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice" (#1654). Therefore, while the sexual act must always have its intrinsic ordering toward the generation of children, a couple with just reasons for not having children may express their love through sexual intercourse during the woman's infertile periods.
However, it is important to note that impotence, which is distinct from infertility, can present an impediment to entering into marriage. According to the Code of Canon Law, antecedent and perpetual impotence at the time of marriage invalidates the marriage (#1084.1). This is because a marriage must be consummated, and impotence refers to the physical inability to have normal sexual intercourse. Nevertheless, impotence that occurs after the consummation does not impact the validity of the marriage.
Additionally, while infertility does not invalidate a marriage, it may be related to other canonical issues that could lead to a finding of marriage nullity. For example, if an individual voluntarily underwent surgical sterilization to avoid having children, a marriage tribunal might find the marriage null due to defective consent. In such cases, the failure to consent to the essential elements of marriage as understood by the Church can render a marriage invalid.
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The desire to not have children may be influenced by secular intentions and societal factors
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament with three goods: indissolubility, faithfulness, and fertility. The sexual act itself must always retain its intrinsic ordering toward the generation of children, and a couple can never intentionally thwart the procreative end of sex. To do so would be to violate human nature and, thus, God's will. However, infertility does not prohibit or invalidate marriage, and the Catechism acknowledges that infertile couples can still have a meaningful conjugal life.
Some Catholic individuals may not want children due to secular intentions and societal factors. They may want to focus on their careers, personal goals, and self-expression before being "pinned down" by children. This desire to prioritize individual accomplishments and freedom is reinforced by a hedonistic, narcissistic society that glorifies personal success. Additionally, there is a perception that children are burdensome and will hinder one's own life and pursuits.
Within the Catholic Church, there is a discussion about couples who love each other and want to be together but do not want children. While the Church teaches that couples must be open to children, some interpret this to mean that they should not actively prevent children but does not require them to desire children eagerly. However, others argue that being open to life is an intrinsic requirement of married love, and intentionally removing the possibility of children is not compatible with Catholic doctrine.
The desire to not have children among some Catholic men may be influenced by these secular intentions and societal factors. They may prioritize their careers, personal goals, or individual freedom. Additionally, they may perceive children as burdensome or believe that their lives will be restricted once they have children. These societal attitudes can reinforce a "childless by choice" mentality, even within the context of Catholic teachings that emphasize the importance of fertility and openness to life.
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Some Catholic couples who do not want children may choose to pray, seek counsel, and have honest conversations with their partners
For Catholic couples, marriage is a calling and a mission, not just a matter of being in love and wanting to be together. According to the Church, procreation and the rearing of children are the primary ends of sex, with the unitive aspect being secondary. This means that the sexual act must always be open to the possibility of generating children. To intentionally prevent procreation is to violate human nature and, thus, God's will.
However, this does not mean that a couple must always intend to conceive; they may use natural family planning (NFP) and have intercourse during the woman's infertile periods. Nevertheless, they must be open to the possibility of pregnancy and not actively impede the procreative nature of the sexual act.
Some Catholic couples who do not want children may choose to pray for wisdom and guidance, seek counsel from priests or psychologists, and have honest conversations with their partners. They may reflect on their situation from a broader perspective and consider the "bigger scope." By communicating openly and honestly, they can ensure they are on the same page regarding their desires and commitments to their faith and each other.
Additionally, seeking counsel from a priest can help them understand Church teachings and navigate their situation within the framework of their beliefs. It is important for couples to be honest with themselves, each other, and God, as starting a marriage with a lie can be detrimental. While it may be challenging, having these difficult conversations and seeking guidance can help Catholic couples who do not want children navigate their decisions and relationships with integrity and faith.
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Frequently asked questions
While a husband and wife do not have to be physically capable of having children to marry, they must be open to the possibility of having children. If a couple has just reasons for not having children, they may express their love through sexual intercourse during the woman's infertile periods.
The Church teaches that the sexual act itself must always have its intrinsic ordering toward the generation of children. The Catechism asserts what are traditionally termed "the three goods of marriage": indissolubility, faithfulness, and fertility.
In Genesis, God says, "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). In the second creation account, Adam says about Eve, "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken"; then continuing, "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body" (Genesis 2:23-24).
There are various reasons why individuals might not want children, such as feeling pressured to have children, prioritizing personal goals and desires, or believing that children are burdensome.
They should pray and seek counsel from priests and/or psychologists. They should also have honest conversations with their partners about their feelings and intentions.
