Catholic Views On Marriage

Contraception

In the Catholicism, marriage is a sacrament; meaning it is a covenant relationship a man and a woman and hence it is boundless. The fruitful union of the relationship is the bearing of children. Marriage is a vocation in which the man and woman are dedicated for the procreation and education of children, and to represent the mystical union between Christ and his Church. Fertility is a gift and by giving life, couples share in God's Plan of procreation, Aquinas explains, “bonum diffusum sui.” In the Trinity the love of the Father and the Son bears fruit in a Third who is the bond of love and a person . The Catholic Church is not against spacing of births, or even as Humanae vitae (n. 10) states, avoiding another pregnancy indefinitely

It condemns the homosexual’s activity, as it condemns premarital sex. The Catholic Church encourages homosexuals to pick up their cross, despite its difficulties, and strive to live a Christian life . The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.” The Catholic Church has not always been understanding of the homosexual condition. Their first recognition of the need for Christian support of homosexuals was in 1969, when an organization called Dignity was begun. It was the first spiritual support group for lesbian and gay Catholics. As Dignity spread it forced church hierarchy to deal with the issue of homosexuality. By 1982 eight dioceses had established some official outreach to the lesbian and gay community. In 1977, another organization was founded. The group called themselves, New Ways Ministry. It provided the non-gay community education enabling them to learn more about the hidden minority within our Church and society. With the increase of education about homosexuals and the rise of support groups for them, there was evidence of an attitudinal shift in the Catholic Church by the

Homosexual activity is not right, but homosexuals may still live a full life within the church. They are called to chastity as demonstrated in this bible passage: “That celibacy is something which not everyone can accept, but only those for whom God has appointed it. For while some are incapable of marriage because they were born so, or were made so by men, there are others who have themselves renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let those accept it who can” (Matthew 19: 11-12). In many cases the wisest words ever stated on various subject were stated years and years ago. This last Bible passage, if carefully read demonstrates the way in which we, as human beings, should act towards one another when differences of our persons arise. “Do not conform to the standards of the world around you, but change your attitudes through a complete renewal of mind, that you may discern the will of God and know what is good, desirable, and right. Just as there are numerous parts in the human body, all with different functions, so too we - though many - form one body in Christ and belong individually as members to each other and yet have different personal attributes according to the favor God has bestowed on us. Love each other with the affection of sisters and brothers, and have a profound respect for one another. Treat all people in equal consideration; never be haughty, but go about with humble folk; and under no circumstances