MTH 513 Marriage, Family and Sexuality Introduction

MTH 513MTH 513

Marriage, Family and Marriage, Family and SexualitySexuality

IntroductionIntroduction


The matrimonial The matrimonial covenant, by which a covenant, by which a man and a woman man and a woman establish between establish between themselves a themselves a

partnership of the whole of life, is by partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring (CCC and education of offspring (CCC 1601).1601).


God who created man God who created man out out of love also calls him to of love also calls him to

love – the fundamental love – the fundamental and innate vocation of and innate vocation of every human being. For every human being. For man is created in the man is created in the

image and likeness of God who is himself image and likeness of God who is himself love. Since God created him man and love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man (CCC 1604).with which God loves man (CCC 1604).


Holy Scripture affirms Holy Scripture affirms that man and that man and woman woman were created for one were created for one another…Therefore a another…Therefore a man leaves man leaves his father his father and his mother and and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. The Lord himself shows one flesh. The Lord himself shows that this signifies an unbreakable that this signifies an unbreakable union of their two lives…(CCC 1605).union of their two lives…(CCC 1605).


A correct A correct understanding of understanding of

God God and of the and of the human human person is person is essential essential to the teaching of the Church on the to the teaching of the Church on the subject of human sexuality.subject of human sexuality.


Man’s origin and the Man’s origin and the purpose of his purpose of his

existence existence are rooted in are rooted in the truths the truths of his being.of his being.


What happens when the What happens when the truth about the truth about the origin and purpose of man is origin and purpose of man is rejected rejected outright or dismissed as merely one outright or dismissed as merely one opinion among many?opinion among many?

ProblemProblem

We have to go to the We have to go to the heart of the tragedy heart of the tragedy being experienced by being experienced by modern man: modern man: the the

eclipse eclipse of the sense of God of the sense of God and and manman, typical of a social , typical of a social and cultural climate dominated by and cultural climate dominated by secularism…(secularism…(EV 21§1EV 21§1).).

ProblemProblem

Without the creator the creature would Without the creator the creature would disappear…But when God is forgotten the disappear…But when God is forgotten the creature itself grows unintelligible. Man is creature itself grows unintelligible. Man is no longer able to see himself as no longer able to see himself as ‘mysteriously different’ from other earthly ‘mysteriously different’ from other earthly creatures; he regards himself merely as creatures; he regards himself merely as one more living being, as an organism one more living being, as an organism which, at most, has reached a very high which, at most, has reached a very high state of perfection (state of perfection (EV 22§1).EV 22§1).

Family and Human SexualityFamily and Human Sexuality Today, two dynamics usually exist side-Today, two dynamics usually exist side-

by-side:by-side:1)1) The Catholic vision of the human person and The Catholic vision of the human person and

its relation to human sexuality:its relation to human sexuality:Based on the dignity of the Based on the dignity of the human person (made in God’s human person (made in God’s image and likeness: Gen 1:26-image and likeness: Gen 1:26-27).27).Sexuality as a great gift of God.Sexuality as a great gift of God.Right application leads to true Right application leads to true happiness and fulfillment.happiness and fulfillment.-- Disordered application Disordered application

leads leads to destruction.to destruction.

Family and Human SexualityFamily and Human Sexuality

2)2) Modern interpretation of marriage and Modern interpretation of marriage and human sexuality.human sexuality.

-- Largely a human institution.Largely a human institution.-- Created by men at a particular point in Created by men at a particular point in

history – little bearing on life today.history – little bearing on life today.-- Autonomy is the supreme value.Autonomy is the supreme value.-- Church’s involvement has positive and Church’s involvement has positive and

negative elements.negative elements.


Christian thought on the subject of sexual Christian thought on the subject of sexual morality:morality:

Before 1930 an all Christians, not just Before 1930 an all Christians, not just Catholics, upheld the universal Christian Catholics, upheld the universal Christian teaching on the subject.teaching on the subject.

Family and Human SexualityFamily and Human Sexuality What caused the shift?What caused the shift?

Four Factors:Four Factors:

1)1) Moralities of Obligation.Moralities of Obligation.Strong public reaction against this Strong public reaction against this basis for morality basis for morality around the time around the time of the Second Vatican Council of the Second Vatican Council (Pinckaers).(Pinckaers).More educated populace – asked More educated populace – asked “why” instead of “why” instead of merely accepting merely accepting religious teaching at face-value.religious teaching at face-value.

Family and Human SexualityFamily and Human Sexuality2)2) Autonomy and Individualism.Autonomy and Individualism.

Began in the middle to late Began in the middle to late 1960s. Reaction against 1960s. Reaction against authority authority in every aspect of society: in every aspect of society: political, political, religious, social.religious, social.Secular humanism and relativism Secular humanism and relativism – – no objective truthno objective truth (e.g., (e.g., Coach Majerus’ comments).Coach Majerus’ comments).Developed under a philosophical Developed under a philosophical framework that framework that exalted man in exalted man in his capacity to reason his capacity to reason (Rationalism) or (Rationalism) or his capacity for his capacity for feeling (Romanticism).feeling (Romanticism).


3)3) The Rise of Contraceptive Technologies and The Rise of Contraceptive Technologies and the Legalization the Legalization Acceptance of Abortion. Acceptance of Abortion.

It seems reasonable to conclude that the sexual It seems reasonable to conclude that the sexual revolution would not have had the impact and far- revolution would not have had the impact and far- reaching consequences if the people involved had not reaching consequences if the people involved had not had access to inexpensive had access to inexpensive contraceptives or contraceptives or recourse to abortion.recourse to abortion.

Family and Human SexualityFamily and Human Sexuality4)4) The inability or unwillingness of many The inability or unwillingness of many

Catholic moral teachers to uphold and Catholic moral teachers to uphold and clearly clearly articulate the Church’s positive vision articulate the Church’s positive vision of sex of sex and marriage.and marriage.-- Lack of a unified front.Lack of a unified front.-- Abrogated the role of the Abrogated the role of the theologian – to teach theologian – to teach the the truths of the Church in a truths of the Church in a way that is way that is understandable understandable to each age.to each age.-- Unprepared to discuss Unprepared to discuss modern issues of sexual modern issues of sexual morality.morality.-- Persuade – Andrew Greeley.Persuade – Andrew Greeley.


All four factors contributed to the rejection of All four factors contributed to the rejection of the consistent teaching of the Catholic moral the consistent teaching of the Catholic moral tradition regarding the truth about the human tradition regarding the truth about the human person and the purpose of human sexuality.person and the purpose of human sexuality.

Rejection of or Rejection of or misinterpretation misinterpretation of the natural of the natural law.law.

Rejection of the divine law – Rejection of the divine law – Divine Revelation (God tells us Divine Revelation (God tells us who he is and who we are).who he is and who we are).

Family and Human SexualityFamily and Human Sexuality The Catholic Moral Tradition.The Catholic Moral Tradition.

-- Consistent and universal from the beginning.Consistent and universal from the beginning.>> Questions and speculation.Questions and speculation.>> Development in understanding of the goodness and Development in understanding of the goodness and dignity of married conjugal love.dignity of married conjugal love.>> Moral teaching opposed to sexual license and sin is Moral teaching opposed to sexual license and sin is unchanged from the beginning.unchanged from the beginning.-- Understanding of the human person and human Understanding of the human person and human sexuality is based upon natural law and divine law.sexuality is based upon natural law and divine law.-- Objective truths, not simply one opinion among Objective truths, not simply one opinion among others.others.-- Purpose of the Church’s Magisterium.Purpose of the Church’s Magisterium.>> Uphold and preserve the Deposit of Faith (Scripture Uphold and preserve the Deposit of Faith (Scripture and and Tradition) across all times and cultures.Tradition) across all times and cultures.

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MTH 513 Marriage, Family and Sexuality Introduction