2.

4 Sexual relationships
Book B 1.2.2; Book A 3.2.2
 Religion and Sexuality?
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 Catholic teachings on Sexuality:
Why is sexual relationship so important to Catholics
Catholic Christians considered sexual relationship as a gift from God, having the
following nature:
Unitive
• It unites a married
Conjugal couple
/Marital [when 2 become 1]
• Strengthens a
- Happen within marriage marriage in self-giving Procreative
love, joy and pleasure • Open to having
- Between one man and
one woman (heterosexual) children
who are married to each • Create a family
other
An exclusive relationship
(keep faithful to each other)
Sex should not be simply
fulfill God's purpose biological;
the sacrament and commitm
of a Christian family ent of marriage make marital
bringing up children sex "truly human"
in the Christian faith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkCGglA_gcY
 Catholic teachings on Sexuality:
Why is sexual relationship so important to Catholics
Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. In
marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign of
spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons
are sanctified by the sacrament. (CCC 2360)
Different types of Sexual relationships outside marriage

Premarital sex • Sex before marriage

• Same-sex relationships
Homosexuality • E.g. Gays, Lesbians

• Living together in a sexual relationship

Cohabitation without being married
• Married person has sexual relationship with
Extramarital sex someone other than their marriage partner
• Unmarried person sex married person

• having sex with a number of partners

Promiscuity without commitment
 Religious teaching on sexual relationship outside
marriage
Catholic church teaches that any kind of sexual relationship outside marriage
is WRONG, because:
• Bible says that fornication (meaning both premarital sex and promiscuity) is sinful
 violates teaching of the Bible [which is God’s special revelation i.e.
authentic]
• Sexual act takes place exclusively within marriage, i.e. any sexual relationship
outside marriage is considered as committing adultery which is wrong
• It breaks the wedding vows to be faithful to each other
• It violates the 6th commandment – Do not commit adultery
• It is condemned by Jesus in the Gospels
• Only traditional marriage can provide a stable and devoted family life for
children
 Religious teaching on sexual relationship outside
marriage
Liberal Protestants have differing attitude towards sexual relationship:
• They believed that sexual act between 2 people who had committed
a long term relationship (e.g. cohabiting couples) is acceptable
• They accept couples cohabiting before marriage but expect them to
tie the knot when starting a family (to provide stable family life for
children)
• Cohabitation (which is like a “trial marriage”) might help to prevent a
divorce later on
 Catholic teaching on discrimination against a person’s
sexuality or orientation
Catholic Church condemns discrimination on sexuality and sex
orientation:

• A person can control but cannot help with their sexual

orientation
• Homosexuals should be treated with respect and dignity as
we all are made in the image of God according to the bible
teaching; We are all brothers and sisters in God’s love.
 Catholic teaching on Homosexuality sexual relationship
Catholic Christians do not accept Homosexual sexual relationships / Same-sex marriage
or same-sex civil partnership because:

1. Same-sex sexual relationship violate the procreative nature of sex

- As it is impossible for homosexual couples to have sex with creative purpose

2. Catechism of the Church teaches that Marriage is for a man and a

woman to join as one and to raise a family
Catholic teaching on Homosexuality sexual relationship

2. It is God’s will that marriage should be between one man and

one woman (heterosexual) as marriage is established by God
when he created humans
 traditional marriage should be protected as it is the
fundamental core of the society
 Catholic teaching on Homosexuality sexual relationship

3. There’s an over-emphasis on right and freedom as neither

homosexual or heterosexual orientation leads inevitably to sexual
activity

 Church asks homosexuals to become celibate (=live without sexual

activity )
[ Live in the beauty of Chastity]
 Sacraments of the Church (E.g. Sacrament of Holy Communion) can
help them on Celibacy
 Atheist and Humanist view on
Sexual relationship
They do not condemn sexual act outside marriage but premarital sex
is only acceptable within certain limits:
1. Consensual sex (✖ rape)
2. Between people "of Age" (✖ pedophilia - ongoing sexual attraction
to pre-pubertal children)
3. Sexual partner = single/ separated with their partner (✖ cheating
→ offensive)
4. No payment involved (✖ prostitution)
5. Safe (✓risk of disease/pregnancy; ✓ contraception)
 Atheist and Humanist view on
Sexual relationship
They see no problem with homosexual sexual relationship
because:

1. They regard people's sexuality as their own concern unless

it interferes with other people's human rights.
2. It is the right of men and women to marry and to found a
family with anyone that they believed to be suitable
– To them, Most important thing = the quality of the love/
commitment between the partners
 Atheist and Humanist view on
Homosexual sexual relationship
3. The anti-homosexual teachings in the Bible are a reflection of Jewish
culture at the time might need reinterpretation based on modern
knowledge
4. Medical research supports that homosexuality may be caused by
biological factors, thus it’s a part of the person’s nature
5. Rising numbers of institutions began to recognize homosexuality as an
acceptable orientation as they start to grant equal rights for
homosexual couple
 Atheist and Humanist view on
Homosexual sexual relationship

6. Christian belief in love and acceptance means that

homosexuals must be accepted

7. There are no reason for non-religious people to disapprove

homosexuality as all Christians arguments are based on
religious teachings only.
 Catholics' responses to homosexuality
should refrain from sex
same sex marriage should not be legalised
(confirmed by Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation "The Joy
of Love“)