Religion, relationships and families Flashcards
Biblical teaching about sexual love
Genesis 1:27-28:God created men and women in the image of God so are equal and they”43 designed to complement each other. Men and women are expected to procreate.
Catholic teaching about the nature and purpose of sexual love
Sexual intercourse should be marital(within marriage, not before or outside marriage). The sacrament of marriage enables two people to commit themselves publicly in front of God to each other and the commitment is consummated by the physical union of sex.
Sex should be unitive, strengthening the couple’s love for each other and adultery is forbidden as it destroys the unity of the married couple
Sex should be procreative(open to creating new life) and the Catholic marriage ceremony contains the commitment to accept children lovingly from God. There’s more intensity in self-giving when open to new life.
What is the significance of the exchange of rings in a Roman Catholic marriage?
The ring is a sign of a couple promising each other permanent love and faithfulness
What is the purpose of vows in a Roman Catholic Marriage?
The couple make vows to be together at any cost until they die - the actual moment of the sacrament where God’s love is poured into the couple
What is the priest’s role in a Roman Catholic marriage?
A priest must be present for it to be a Catholic wedding, he represents the Church and ensures the couple understands the responsibilities and meaning of Catholic marriage. The priest represents the people of God.
What is the moment of consent in a Roman Catholic marriage?
The priest accepts the mutual consent of the bride and groom for the marriage to be permanent - important as you have to give consent to make it a legal marriage, otherwise it could be a forced marriage
Purpose of the Bible in a Roman Catholic marriage?
It claims a marriage is permanent and the love of God is shown in the love in a marriage, a reading is taken from the Bible at the marriage
Homily(in a Roman Catholic marriage)
The priest talks after the readings about the meaning and responsibilities of Christian marriage for the couple to understand.
Register(in a Roman Catholic marriage)
To ensure the couple follow the civil requirements of marriage and to legally join the marriage together
How is God’s love shown in a Roman Catholic marriage?
The marriage is what God has joined together, God pours his love into a couple
Teachings against adultery
The Catholic Church forbid adultery as it destroys the unity of the married couple.
Pope John Paul II teaches adultery breaks the marriage vows and shows no commitment to a spouse
One of the 10 commandments from the early days of the Old Testament claims to not commit adultery
Jesus tells us to “love your neighbour as yourself”(Mark 12): if a married person commits adultery, they are not showing love/respect to their former partner
Catholic Church sources of authority
Scripture(Bible)
Tradition - The wisdom in the lives/writings of inspired Christians
Magisterium - The pope and bishops allowed to interpret scripture and tradition:
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…“(Jesus to Peter in Matthew 16:19)
Adultery
Voluntary Sexual intercourse between a married person and a person not in their spouse
Pope John Paul II’s teachings on marital sex
Unites a couple in self-giving and love
Brings two people into a communion of persons(sharing together)
Shows commitment, mutual love and respect, meaning greater intimacy
Contraceptives shouldn’t be used(gives possibility of creating new life)
Pope John Paul II’s teachings on extramarital sex
Is a form of exploitation for personal pleasure
Can lead people to think of others as sex objects rather than individuals with dignity and value.
Adultery breaks the marriage vows and shows no commitment to a spouse
Stops sex from representing total love.
Views that support marital sex
Other Christian denominations agree that sex shouldbe treated with respect, and intercourse should only occur in marriage
Catholic teaching forbids adultery since it destroys the unity and deep love of the married couple - sex(creating new life) fulfils this commitment and Catholics believe it should be marital(within marriage)
Pope John Paul II claim marital sex is better since it unites a couple in love as a communion of persons
and creates new life.
Catholics claim it’s an ever-lasting commitment that is an example to the rest of society and creates a warm atmosphere for children.
Christians think the ideal place to start life is in a marriage
Views that support extramarital sex/adultery
Some people in Britain have casual sex with many partners
People in Britain, including Christians, use contraceptives to prevent sexually-transmitted diseases
Many Christians and non-Christians in British society do have sex before marriage
The marriage might be falling apart due to unhappiness
What marriage is
Sacrament - The love of man and woman is shown in the name of God, a sign of Christ’s love for the Church
Permanent - for life:”and becomes the mirror of your everlasting love”(Preface of the Wedding Mass)
Exclusive - everyone apart from the couple is excluded, exclusive union of man and women, importance of faithfulness(“Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the Church and gave his life for it”-Ephesians 5:25).
Life-giving(pro-creative)
Views on sex before marriage
The Catholic Church, in Youcat 407, claims sex before marriage devalues or trivialises it.
As there’s been no sex before marriage(Youcat 407), there’s no danger of sexually transmitted diseases.
The gift of virginity offered in marriage makes both husband and wife feel special, privileged and loved
Teachings supporting homosexuality
The Church of England supports the idea of same-sex civil partnerships, homosexuality is fine but they won’t do same sex marriages.
Same sex-marriage was legalised in 2014 in England and Wales, reflecting the views of many in British society
Some United Reforms Churches perform same-sex marriages.
The Catholic Church would allow celibacy before marriage(no sex).
Teachings against homosexuality
The Catholic Church teach homosexual relations are not acceptable as there’s no possibility of new life, but believe people should be loved by God regardless of their sexual orientation. Same sex marriage isn’t unitive(bond deeper if open to new life- can’t be procreative with homosexuals).
The Catholic Church also believe marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman
Countries that criminalise homosexuality include Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan