Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse outside of marriage is a mortal sin. This is based on the belief that sex 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. Despite this, some Catholics question the Church's stance, arguing that many of the ideas surrounding premarital sex are outdated. This has sparked a debate within the Catholic community about the number of Catholics who engage in premarital sex and whether this indicates a shift in beliefs among modern Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's stance on premarital sex | It is considered a grave sin |
| Catholic Church's stance on abortion | It is considered a sin |
| Catholic Church's stance on contraception | It is considered a sin |
| Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality | It is considered a sin |
| Catholic Church's stance on oral sex | It is considered a sin |
| Catholic Church's stance on sex in marriage for pleasure | It is considered a sin |
| Catholic Church's view on the purpose of sexual intercourse | It has a two-fold unitive and procreative purpose |
| Catholic Church's view on the frequency of sexual intercourse in marriage | Intercourse was prohibited on Sundays, feast days, 20 days before Christmas, 40 days before Easter, 3 or more days before receiving communion, and often on the 20 days before Pentecost. These days totaled about 40% of the year. |
| Catholic Church's view on the seriousness of premarital sex | It is considered a mortal sin, and those who do not repent will go to Hell |
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What You'll Learn
Premarital sex is considered a grave sin in Catholicism
The Church's stance on premarital sex is based on the belief that sex is reserved for someone you genuinely love exclusively (other than God) and are willing to spend the rest of your life with. Premarital sex is considered to lead to unforeseen consequences, especially if the couple breaks up. The Church also teaches that sex outside of marriage is a mortal sin, which means that the person committing it is severely hurting their relationship with God. They would not be allowed to receive Holy Communion until they have gone to confession and repaired their relationship with God.
The Bible describes the man’s official companion being made from his bone and flesh, and in the New Testament, marriage is referred to in Matthew 19, I Corinthians 7, and Ephesians 5:22-32. These passages do not refer to generating children, but Catholic moral doctrine emphasizes procreation as the primary purpose of sexual relations. During the Middle Ages, intercourse was prohibited on Sundays, feast days, and various other days, totaling about 40% of the year.
While some Catholics may consider the Church's teachings on premarital sex to be outdated, the Church maintains that its morality is timeless and based on the teachings of Christ. The Church has been opposed to contraception and abortion for as far back as one can trace, and these acts, along with incest and child sex abuse, are considered sins in the Church's catechism.
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The Catholic Church teaches that sex is for procreation
The Catholic Church teaches that sex is a gift from God, designed for procreation and to unite a man and a woman as one flesh. This belief is based on the Bible's description of marriage in Genesis, where Adam and Eve become "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). 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".
The Church's teaching on sexuality is rooted in the belief that God created everything, including the human body and sex, and found it "very good" (Genesis 1:26-27). As humans are created in the image of God, sexuality is an integral part of human dignity. According to the Church, sex is designed by God to unite a man and a woman as one flesh, not because they prefer it that way, but because God designed and created woman to be equal yet distinct from man. This unity between a man and a woman in marriage is also meant to be a sign of the love between God and humanity.
The Catholic Church has consistently emphasized that the primary purpose of sexual relations is procreation. This view dominated early Christianity and was held by many Church Fathers. The Church teaches that marriage is a unique communion of persons, a covenantal relationship designed for the well-being of husband and wife ("one-flesh" union) and the "begetting and educating of children".
The Church considers sexual expression outside of marriage or the deliberate frustration of the procreative function within marriage (e.g. using artificial contraception) to be a grave sin. This is because the marriage act is meant to be both unitive and procreative, reflecting God's design for human sexuality. However, the Church acknowledges that married couples may face infertility and offers consolation and guidance to approach this challenge in a way that respects God's plan for marriage and human sexuality.
While some Catholics may question or disagree with the Church's teaching on premarital sex, the Church maintains that sex outside of marriage is a mortal sin that harms one's relationship with God. Despite this, a person remains Catholic even if they disagree with or disobey Church teachings, but they would be considered out of communion with the Church.
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Catholics who have sex before marriage are still considered Catholic
The Catholic Church has always taught that sex outside of marriage is a mortal sin. This means that engaging in premarital sex is considered to severely damage one's relationship with God. However, it is important to note that, according to Catholic doctrine, once a person is baptised, they are considered Catholic for life. Therefore, Catholics who have sex before marriage are still considered Catholic, but they are considered to be Catholics who are out of communion with the Church. This means that they would not be allowed to receive Holy Communion until they have confessed their sins with a genuine intention of not repeating them and have repaired their relationship with God.
The Catholic Church believes that sex is a wonderful thing, but it must be used appropriately. God designed sex to occur within marriage, and the consummation of a marriage is considered to happen during the sexual union of the couple. When two people do not commit to being together for life, sexuality becomes tied to a tentative relationship that can be ended at any moment.
The 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.
In the past, there have been differing opinions on the nature and severity of various sexual sins within the Catholic Church. During the Middle Ages, the question of when intercourse was allowed was very important, with intercourse prohibited on Sundays, feast days, the 20 days before Christmas, the 40 days before Easter, and several other days, totalling about 40% of the year.
While the Church continues to oppose premarital sex, some Catholics believe that these teachings are outdated and based on old ideas. However, others argue that Catholic morality is timeless and based on the teachings of Christ, who is eternal.
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Contraception is forbidden in the Catholic Church
In 1930, the Anglican Church caved into growing social pressure and allowed the use of contraception in some circumstances. Soon after, other Protestant communities followed suit, and now almost all have no objection to using contraception within marriage. However, the Catholic Church stood firm in its opposition. Just months after the 1930 Lambeth Conference, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Casti Connubii (On Christian Marriage), which clearly outlined the Church's teachings against the use of artificial birth control.
The Catholic Church's argument against contraception is based on the belief that it is a deliberate violation of the natural law and design that God built into the human race. The natural-law purpose of sex is procreation, and the pleasure that comes with it is an additional blessing from God, intended to strengthen the bond of intimacy, respect, and love between husband and wife. Contraception is seen as treating pregnancy as a disease and fertility as a pathological condition, working against the natural gift of fertility.
While the Church forbids contraception, it does allow for natural family planning methods, such as self-observation and the use of infertile periods, as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. These methods can effectively space the births of children without interfering with the natural procreative process.
Despite the Church's teachings, many Catholics disagree with its stance on contraception, considering it outdated and oppressive. Some argue that not using contraceptives to plan family size is irresponsible, and that the use of contraceptives can lead to improved marriages and happier, more successful children. However, the Church maintains that contraception is intrinsically wrong, as it renders procreation impossible, and is, therefore, a grave sin.
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Catholics who have sex before marriage cannot receive Holy Communion
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 promotes the idea of waiting until marriage for sex for a variety of reasons. However, many Catholics find these reasons outdated.
The Church considers sex outside of marriage a mortal sin, severely hurting one's relationship with God. Catholics who have sex before marriage are considered to be out of communion with the Church. They are still considered Catholic, but they cannot receive Holy Communion until they have gone to confession and repaired their relationship with God. This is because receiving Holy Communion without sanctifying grace in one's soul is considered to profane the Eucharist in the most grievous manner.
In the past, the Church demanded abstinence from sex for three days before receiving Holy Communion. However, this is no longer required by law. Nevertheless, some argue that following the Church's teaching in this regard can be seen as a beautiful sacrifice and preparation for receiving Holy Communion.
To receive Holy Communion, one must be in a state of grace and have met certain requirements, including observing the Eucharistic fast and being free from ecclesiastical censure.
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Frequently asked questions
While there do not appear to be any recent statistics, a 2011 article in U.S. Catholic reported that 80% of young, unmarried Christians have had sex, with two-thirds having been sexually active in the last year. Another source from 2022 also estimates that more than 80% of Catholics have had premarital sex.
The Catholic Church teaches that premarital sex is a sin. According to the Catechism, sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. The marriage bond is meant to be a sign of the love between God and humanity, and the human body and sex are considered good.
There is widespread support among American Catholics for a change in the Church's teachings on premarital sex, with many not seeing it as a sin. A 2015 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 65% of Catholics do not consider cohabitation without marriage to be a sin, and 50% do not think homosexual behavior is a sin.
