Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. Unmarried Catholics are expected to express chastity through abstinence, and intercourse within marriage is considered chaste when it serves the dual purpose of union and procreation. While the Church's teachings on sexuality and abstinence are clear, a significant number of Catholics do not adhere to these teachings. Various sources and surveys indicate that a large majority of Catholics, estimated to be over 80%, engage in premarital sex. This high rate of premarital sexual activity among Catholics raises questions about the effectiveness of the Church's teachings on sexuality and the challenges faced by individuals striving to uphold these teachings in a modern societal context.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics abstinent until marriage | 25-50% according to one source; 80% of Catholics have committed premarital sex according to another source |
| Percentage of Catholics who believe casual sex is acceptable | 64% |
| Percentage of Catholics who believe casual sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship is acceptable | 64% |
| Percentage of Catholics who believe it is acceptable for consenting adults to exchange sexually explicit images of themselves | 40% |
| The Catholic Church's view on abstinence | Unmarried Catholics are expected to express chastity through sexual abstinence. The Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a two-fold unitive and procreative purpose. |
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What You'll Learn
- A majority of Catholics (64%) say sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship is acceptable
- % of the year was forbidden for intercourse in the Catholic Church
- The Catholic Church defines chastity as moderating sexual appetite
- Catholics believe sex has a two-fold unitive and procreative purpose
- Natural Family Planning is a form of sexual abstinence within marriage
A majority of Catholics (64%) say sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship is acceptable
While the Catholic Church teaches that unmarried Catholics should express chastity through sexual abstinence, a majority of Catholics (64%) say sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship is acceptable. This is a slightly higher percentage than that of Christians in general, of whom 57% say the same.
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", with the marriage bond being a sign of the love between God and humanity. The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. According to Pope John Paul II, chastity is at the centre of the spirituality of marriage, and it is a virtue connected with the gift of respect for what comes from God.
Despite the Church's teachings, many Catholics have engaged in premarital sex. Some Catholics view abstinence as an ideal that is subjective and more of a superstition than an obligation. The average age of male marriage in the United States is 30, and it is considered extremely difficult to abstain from sex for such a long time.
In addition to teachings on premarital sex, the Catholic Church has also outlined expectations for sexual abstinence within marriage. Customs of sexual abstinence in marriage have been practiced since at least the time of St. Paul, who counselled Christian couples to abstain from the marital embrace only with mutual consent. In the Middle Ages, the faithful abstained from sexual relations during Lent, and this custom was widely practiced in Spain until the mid-1900s. The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Catholic Church continue to require abstinence during Lent and on certain fasting days. Natural Family Planning, when practiced under the guidelines of Pope Pius XII, is another form of sexual abstinence within marriage that can be used for serious reasons.
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40% of the year was forbidden for intercourse in the Catholic Church
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.
During the Middle Ages, the question of when intercourse was allowed was very important. Intercourse was prohibited on all Sundays and on all the many feast days, as well as on the 20 days before Christmas, on the 40 days before Easter, for three or more days before receiving Communion (which at that time was offered only a few times a year), and often on the 20 days before Pentecost. These forbidden days altogether totalled about 40% of each year.
The Catholic Church's view is that complete sexual fulfillment (including pleasure, which is not forbidden) must occur in the act of love with one's spouse of the opposite sex: that one is committed to for life, and that the couple must be open to life and possible conception. Sexual acts engaged in apart from this circumstance are considered wrong and sinful. Contraception is also considered wrong because it insists on separating what ought not to be separated (sexuality from possible conception).
Many Catholic individuals have expressed the difficulty of abstaining from sexual intercourse until marriage, with the average age of male marriage in the United States being 30. Some have also pointed out that many Catholics are not well-prepared to understand and follow the Church's teachings on sexuality and abstinence.
It is important to note that while the Catholic Church teaches that premarital sex is a mortal sin, a significant proportion of Catholics do not adhere to this teaching. A 2022 Reddit discussion estimated that more than 80% of Catholics engaged in premarital sex. Additionally, a 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 64% of Catholics considered sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship to be sometimes or always acceptable.
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The Catholic Church defines chastity as moderating sexual appetite
The Catholic Church defines chastity as the moderation of sexual appetite, referring to the successful integration of sexuality within a person. This means that unmarried Catholics are expected to express chastity through abstinence, while sexual intercourse within marriage is considered chaste when it serves the dual purpose of union and procreation.
The practice of abstinence has been a part of Catholic teachings for centuries, with historical evidence of abstinence during specific periods, such as Lent, feast days, and other holy days. In the modern era, Natural Family Planning (NFP), as outlined by Pope Pius XII, provides guidelines for couples to regulate births using natural methods under specific conditions. However, treating NFP with the same mindset as artificial contraception is considered sinful.
While the Catholic Church upholds abstinence before marriage, studies suggest that a significant percentage of Catholics engage in premarital sex. Various factors, such as the average age of marriage and strong natural sexual desires, contribute to the challenge of abstinence. Some Catholics view abstinence as an ideal that may be subjectively right for individuals rather than a strict obligation.
Despite the teachings on chastity and abstinence, surveys indicate that a majority of Catholics find casual sex between consenting unmarried adults acceptable in certain circumstances. Additionally, a notable proportion of Catholics approve of sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship. These views align with the broader trend of evolving perspectives on sex and dating practices, reflecting the complexities of navigating sexuality within the Catholic faith.
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Catholics believe sex has a two-fold unitive and procreative purpose
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a two-fold unitive and procreative purpose. This means that the expression of love between husband and wife is an elevated form of human activity, joining spouses in complete, mutual self-giving, and opening their relationship to new life. 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", signifying the love between God and humanity.
The unitive and procreative purposes of sex are deeply intertwined in Catholic theology. The unitive dimension of sex refers to the spousal friendship and communal living that make the procreative inclinations properly human, integrating them into the rational part of human nature. It is the interpersonal union of knowledge and love between spouses. The procreative dimension, on the other hand, recognises that sex is for a union between a man and a woman, leading to the begetting of children.
The Catholic Church emphasises that sexuality is not merely biological or defined by personal preference. Instead, it is an integral part of the human person, spiritually designed by God to unite a man and a woman as one flesh. This unity is not just physical but also involves the emotional and spiritual drawing together of spouses.
While the Church affirms the unitive and procreative purposes of sex, it also teaches that these purposes should not be separated or sought in isolation from each other. Sex should always be open to the possibility of life, but pregnancy is not the sole purpose of sexual intercourse. The primary purpose of marriage is the procreation and education of children, but this does not diminish the importance of the unitive purpose of sex within marriage.
In practice, the belief in the two-fold purpose of sex has influenced Catholic teachings on various sexual practices. The Church has historically opposed contraception and artificial birth control, as well as non-procreative sex acts such as mutual masturbation and anal sex. Lust is considered a sin, as it represents an irrational attachment to venereal pleasure, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes.
While Catholic doctrine emphasises the unitive and procreative nature of sex, the majority of Catholics do not remain abstinent until marriage. Surveys indicate that most Catholics find casual sex between consenting adults acceptable in certain circumstances, and many Catholics engage in premarital sex. However, there are also Catholics who choose to abstain until marriage, seeing it as a way to strengthen their bond with their spouse and obey God's plan.
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Natural Family Planning is a form of sexual abstinence within marriage
While it is difficult to find exact statistics on the percentage of Catholics who abstain from sex until marriage, some sources suggest that over 80% of Catholics engage in premarital sex. However, it is important to note that the concept of abstinence within marriage is also relevant in the Catholic Church, particularly in the form of Natural Family Planning (NFP).
Natural Family Planning is a method of family planning that aligns with the Catholic Church's teachings on sexuality and procreation. It involves understanding a woman's fertility cycle and abstaining from sexual intercourse during fertile periods to either achieve or avoid pregnancy. NFP is based on the belief that every marital sexual encounter must be "ordered toward procreation," meaning that sexual activity should be consistent with the possibility of procreation.
NFP is considered a safe, healthy, and effective alternative to contraception that can build intimacy and bring couples closer together. It is a way to space out children and promote chastity and purity within marriage. However, some critics argue that the frequent periods of abstinence required by NFP can strain even healthy marriages.
In addition to NFP, there are other customs of sexual abstinence within marriage in the Catholic tradition. For example, abstaining from sexual relations during Lent has been practiced historically and is still observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Catechism of the Council of Trent also admonished priests to exhort the faithful to abstain from sexual relations for three days before Holy Communion to focus on prayer.
While the Catholic Church discourages the use of contraceptives, NFP provides a natural way to plan a family while remaining consistent with the Church's teachings. It is important to note that no method of pregnancy prevention, including NFP, is 100% effective, and couples may need to be flexible in their family planning goals.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear what percentage of Catholics practice abstinence until marriage. Some sources suggest that more than 80% of Catholics have premarital sex, while others suggest that only 5% of people in the United States were virgins at marriage.
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a twofold unitive and procreative purpose. Sexual intercourse within marriage is considered chaste when it retains the significance of union and procreation. Unmarried Catholics are expected to express chastity through sexual abstinence.
There are several customs of sexual abstinence in Catholic marriage, including abstaining from sexual relations during Lent and other religious periods. Natural Family Planning, when practiced under the guidelines of Pope Pius XII, is another form of sexual abstinence within Catholic marriage.
