Sexual Ethics

Question 1

What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about cohabiting?

Answer 1

Human love does not tolerate ‘trail marriages’. It demands a total and definitive gift of persons to one another

(cohabitation does not express fidelity and commitment)

Question 2

What does the Church of England say about cohabiting?

Answer 2

accept that cohabitation is, for many people, a step along the way towards a fuller and more complete commitment

Question 3

What does Lisa Cahill argue in ‘Sex, Gender and Christian Ethics’?

Answer 3

Men commonly had long-term relationships with multiple woman (e.g. concubine and wife)

Adultery was a crime that men were rarely accused of

Divorce was exclusively a male prerogative

The Church’s ban on adultery had made it impossible to have concubines and the ban on divorce has stopped men abandoning women

Question 4

Since when has the age of consent for heterosexual sex been 16?

Answer 4

1885

Question 5

Since when has the age of consent for homosexual sex been 16?

Answer 5

2001

Question 6

When did the first same-sex marriage take place?

Answer 6

2014

Question 7

What does Leviticus say?

Answer 7

Any man who lie with another man like he doth a woman is an abomination and shall surely be put to death

Question 8

What does Gareth Moore argue?

Answer 8

Some Christians selectively promote parts of the Bible

Inconvenient rules are ignored while the pursuit of attacking minorities is supported

E.G.: Homosexuality is a sin, but they do not forbid the wearing of garments made by two kinds of material (Leviticus)

Question 9

What does the Church of England argue about homosexuality?

Answer 9

Opposes same sex marriage

There is a place for homosexuals in the Church and some people should be ashamed and repent for the way they have treated homosexuals

The General Synod had a majority rejection vote against homosexuality

Question 10

What does the Catholic Church argue about homosexuality?

Answer 10

There is no sin involved in being homosexual- this inclination is not freely chosen and is a trial

Question 11

Pope Francis quotes?

Answer 11

There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions … remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family

If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?

Question 12

What does the Methodist Church say?

Answer 12

We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends.

Question 13

What does Aquinas say in Summa Theologica?

Answer 13

The natural style of intercourse is to be observed

Question 14

What does Aquinas’ Natural Law say?

Answer 14

The telos of sex is procreation

Thus,
- homosexual sex
- extramarital sex
- contraception
- masturbation
are wrong

Question 15

Can sex be an apparent good?

Answer 15

Yes, because sex might feel good but this is an apparent good as (using contraception) wont lead to contraception

Question 16

How could Aquinas’ Natural Law promote extramarital sex?

Answer 16

Extramarital sex may be a way of resolving infertility, leading to the primary precept of procreation

E.G.: Abraham and Hagar, IVF involves masturbation

Question 17

What is Fletcher’s example of the Christian Cloak and Dagger?

Answer 17

Spy has sex with an enemy agent in order to blackmail him and ultimately end a war

Question 18

What is Fletcher’s example of Sacrificial Adultery?

Answer 18

arrested by Soviet troops whilst foraging for food
- This is unbeknown to her husband & children, who search for their mother & are starving
- Mrs Bergemeir learns about this from a sympathetic commandant, the only way she can leave the camp is through serious illness or pregnancy, so asks a camp guard to impregnate her which he does
- She is sent back to to Berlin & welcomed back by her family & the child is loved more than all the rest