Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church teaches that sex has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. The Church believes that God created sex for procreation and unity, and that it should only take place within the context of marriage. The Church teaches that a couple can space births and decide to postpone children or have no more children for serious reasons of health, emotional factors, and finances. This is known as Natural Family Planning. The Church prohibits deliberately separating sexuality from procreation, and contraception is not permitted. The duration of sex is not specifically addressed in Catholic doctrine, and the frequency of sex is left to the discretion of married couples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of sex | Depends on the couple, their sex drives, and their emotional connection |
| Purpose of sex | Procreation and unity |
| Acceptable circumstances | Within marriage, during infertile periods, and after menopause |
| Unacceptable circumstances | Deliberately avoiding procreation during fertile periods, masturbation, and same-sex intercourse |
| Contraception | Prohibited |
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What You'll Learn
Sexual pleasure is only morally acceptable when seeking procreation
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. According to Catholic theology, the sexual act itself must always be oriented towards the generation of children, with the belief that sexual pleasure is only morally acceptable when seeking procreation. This belief is derived from the interpretation of "natural law", canonical scripture, divine revelation, and sacred tradition by the Church's magisterium.
The Church's doctrine states that "sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes". In other words, sexual pleasure is acceptable within marriage as long as it is open to the possibility of procreation. The conjoining of a man and a woman through sexual intercourse is considered an act of love and a gift from God. This belief is supported by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which 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".
However, the Bishops at Vatican II clarified that the primary procreative end of marriage does not diminish the importance of other purposes of matrimony. This implies that sexual pleasure within marriage is acceptable even when it is not directly seeking procreation. The Church acknowledges that sex can also serve a unitive purpose, fostering intimacy and mutual love between spouses.
Furthermore, the Church does not consider it illicit to use therapeutic means to treat bodily diseases, even if it may impede procreation, as long as the contraceptive effect is not the intended motive. For example, the use of female steroid hormones to treat endometriosis is not seen as conflicting with Catholic teachings. While the Church emphasizes the importance of responsible parenthood, it does not advocate for an indiscriminate increase in birth rates.
Despite the Church's teachings, some older Catholics have shared their experiences of navigating their sex lives within the confines of their faith. They describe the challenge of balancing their sexual desires with the Church's guidance on the unitive and procreative aspects of married sex. While they strive to follow the Church's teachings, they also recognize the practical difficulties and emotions that come into play.
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Contraception and birth control are forbidden
The Catholic Church has consistently opposed the use of contraception and birth control, deeming it "intrinsically wrong" to prevent the creation of new human life through artificial means. This stance is derived from the Church's interpretation of "natural law", canonical scripture, divine revelation, and sacred tradition.
The Bible, specifically the story of Onan in Genesis, is often cited as evidence of God's disapproval of birth control. Onan was killed for refusing to procreate with his brother's wife, and early Jewish and Christian commentators interpreted this as a violation of God's natural law. The Church Fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria and Hippolytus of Rome, further emphasized the biblical and natural law principles condemning contraception.
The Catholic Church's opposition to contraception has been unwavering, even as other Christian denominations began to relax their prohibitions in the 20th century. The mass production and availability of modern contraceptives in the 1920s and 1930s, such as rubber condoms and diaphragms, prompted the Church to take a more public stance. The Roman Catholic Church officially banned artificial birth control on New Year's Eve 1930, with Pope Pius XI reiterating the Church's teachings in his encyclical shortly after.
Despite external pressures and internal discussions, the Church has maintained its position. In 1968, Pope Paul VI, in Humanae Vitae, declared that "the direct interruption of the generative process already begun" and abortion, even for therapeutic reasons, are to be excluded as licit means of birth regulation. The Church does allow for natural methods of birth regulation, such as Natural Family Planning or the rhythm method, which involves abstaining from sex during the woman's period of ovulation. However, these methods are considered unreliable and challenging to follow.
For devout Catholics, the Church's teaching on contraception presents a challenge, especially when trying to balance responsible parenthood with the belief that sex should only occur within marriage. While some Catholics may struggle with this aspect of their faith, the Church remains steadfast in its interpretation of God's will regarding the use of contraceptives and birth control.
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Homosexuality is not an illness, but a sin
The Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality is a complex and multifaceted issue that has evolved over time. While the Church considers homosexual behaviour as a sin, it is important to distinguish this from homosexuality itself, which is not viewed as an illness. This distinction is crucial, and Pope Francis emphasised this in 2018, stating that homosexual people have existed throughout history and should be accepted as part of their families.
At its core, Catholic theology of sexuality is rooted in the belief that sexual pleasure is morally ordered when it aligns with its procreative and unitive purposes within marriage. Marriage, as a sacrament, is seen as an "intimate partnership of life and love," uniting a man and a woman in a gift from God. Sex outside of this context is considered a transgression against chastity, and homosexual acts are deemed violations of divine and natural law.
The Church's position draws from various sources, including canonical scripture, natural law, divine revelation, and sacred tradition. The Bible contains passages that have been interpreted as condemning homosexual acts, such as the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and explicit prohibitions in Leviticus. However, interpretations of these passages have been challenged, and the New Testament also plays a role in shaping the Church's stance.
It is important to note that while the Church considers homosexual behaviour as sinful, it does not condemn homosexual individuals. The distinction between desires and actions is essential. Homosexual desires themselves are not inherently sinful, but acting upon those desires is considered a sin. This distinction is similar to how the Church views heterosexual desires that are deemed improper.
The impact of the Church's stance on the lives of gay Catholics cannot be understated. Studies have shown that internalising these religious principles can lead to intense conflicts, guilt, and fear of eternal condemnation. Gay Catholics often face the difficult choice between their religious beliefs and their sexual identity, navigating a space where their intimate behaviour is seen as a sin, yet their very existence is acknowledged by the Church's highest authority.
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Masturbation is an unnatural vice
Catholic theology of sexuality is derived from "natural law", canonical scripture, divine revelation, and sacred tradition. 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". The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose.
Thomas Aquinas, one of the most prominent Doctors of the Catholic Church, wrote that masturbation was an "unnatural vice" and a "species of lust". The Church has always taught that masturbation is "an intrinsically and gravely disordered action". It is considered a mortal sin when committed with full knowledge and complete consent.
Masturbation is seen as an offense against love, as it makes sexual pleasure an end in itself, separate from the holistic unfolding of love between a married man and woman. It is a dualistic, self-indulgent activity that uses the body as a means of personal gratification, instead of integrating one’s gift of sexuality into a sincere self-gift to another. It is a solitary act of self-centeredness that strips sexual activity of its unitive and procreative purposes.
The Catholic teaching on masturbation is centered on a virtue called chastity, which means giving sexuality its proper place in our lives. It is not about snuffing out sexuality, but about not giving it free rein. The Church does not demonize masturbation but warns against trivializing it.
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Sex is a gift from God
The Church teaches that a couple can space births and decide to postpone having children or choose not to have any more children for serious reasons related to health, emotions, and finances. This is the basis of Natural Family Planning, which involves abstinence during a woman's fertile periods if there are valid reasons not to conceive. The Church emphasizes that marriage is an "intimate partnership of life and love," and sex within this sacred union is a means to foster deep fulfillment and unity between spouses.
While the Church upholds the procreative purpose of sex, it does not consider it a sin for older or infertile couples to engage in sexual activities. It is the deliberate thwarting of a possible conception during fertile periods that is prohibited. The Church recognizes that each person has a unique sex drive, and the frequency of sexual intimacy within marriage should be discussed and decided together by the couple.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the importance of conjugal love, which "aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul." Sex, therefore, is a gift from God that strengthens the bond between spouses, allowing them to experience pleasure and enjoyment within the context of their marriage.
However, the Church also warns against lust, which is considered one of the seven capital sins. Thomas Aquinas, a prominent Doctor of the Church, wrote that masturbation is an "unnatural vice" that contradicts the holistic unfolding of love between a man and a woman. Instead, the Church encourages sexual intimacy within marriage to be approached with a spirit of selflessness and mutual fulfillment, where each spouse finds joy in their partner's pleasure and excitement.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics believe that sex has a twofold purpose: procreation and unity. Sex is considered chaste only within the context of marriage and is therefore often referred to as the "nuptial act".
No, the Catholic Church teaches that it is a grave sin to deliberately separate sexuality from procreation. However, the Church does not consider it illicit to use therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation may result, as long as the contraceptive effect is not directly intended.
No, the Church teaches that a married couple can engage in sexual activity when conception is not possible, such as during a woman's infertile periods or after menopause.
There is no prescribed frequency for sexual intercourse in Catholicism. It is up to each couple to decide together what is the right amount of sex for them.
While the Church does not demonize masturbation, Thomas Aquinas, one of the most prominent Doctors of the Catholic Church, wrote that masturbation is an "unnatural vice" and an offense against love.
