The Catholic Church on Marital Intercourse

From St. Paul to Pope John Paul II

By (author) Robert Obach

Publication date:

16 December 2008

Length of book:

236 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9780739130872

The Catholic Church on Marital Intercourse traces the development of the Church's theology of marital sexuality from New Testament times to the present day. The early ecclesial leaders promoted a theology of sexuality based on Stoicism's biological perception that sexual activity was solely for the purpose of reproduction. Only in the early twentieth century did a few theologians begin to move beyond discussing "the purposes of marital intercourse" to discussing the meaning that the marital act might have for the spouses themselves. With the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), a new and positive view of marital sexuality emerged recognizing the Pauline view that the couple's marital acts express their love for each other along the lines of Christ's love for his church (Ephesians 5). In sum, The Catholic Church on Marital Intercourse treats the way in which the Catholic Church has moved away from an attitude of conditional acceptance of marital intercourse on the basis of its utility to recognition that the dynamics of sexual union are both good and holy, not only because that is the way children are conceived, but also because the marital act enhances the love of husband and wife for each other.

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Biblical Approaches to Marital Sexuality
Chapter 3 St. Paul's Unwitting Contributions to the Church's Negative Thinking on Marital Intercourse
Chapter 4 Early Church Leaders Defend Marriage against Gnostic Attacks
Chapter 5 Augustine: The Man Who Carved in Stone the Church's Conditional Acceptance of Marital Intercourse
Chapter 6 Monks, Theologians, Bishops, and Popes Disparage Marital Intercourse
Chapter 7 The Law of Clerical Celibacy Embodies the Bias against Marital Intimacy
Chapter 8 Canon Law Sees Nothing Spiritual in Marital Intimacy
Chapter 9 Marriage Recognized as a Sacrament
Chapter 10 St. Thomas Aquinas: Modifications and Qualifications
Chapter 11 Some Attempts to See Other Values in Marital Intercourse
Chapter 12 The Council of Trent: Motives for Marrying and Motives for Abstaining from Marital Intercourse
Chapter 13 A New Development: Spousal "Affection" Related to "Love"
Chapter 14 Confessing Sins Related to Sexual Activity
Chapter 15 Pope, Bishops, Theologians, and Canon Law Stress Procreation as the Primary Purpose of Marriage
Chapter 16 A New Vision: Love Related to Marital Intercourse
Chapter 17 The Teaching of Pope Pius XI: Procreation or Abstinence
Chapter 18 A Rejected Perspective: Bodily Union as the Direct Purpose of Marital Intercourse
Chapter 19 The Break with St. Augustine: Pope Pius XII Accepts the Rhythm Method
Chapter 20 The Effects of Papal Teaching: Frustration and Tears
Chapter 21 The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) Recognizes the Value of Marital Love
Chapter 22 The Post-Conciliar Work of the "Birth Control Commission" and Its Culmination in Humanae Vitae
Chapter 23 Pope John Paul II: Old Assertions and New Perceptions
Chapter 24 Conscience and Fidelity to Church Teaching
Chapter 25 Epilogue

From whence do the teachings of the Church about sex within marriage come? Why does the Catholic Church teach that the only form of sexual intercourse that is morally permissible between husband and wife is that which is open to the possibility of having children? These and other vital questions around the Church's teaching on sexuality have their roots deep within the history of the Church, of western philosophy and the theology that sprang from it. In his book, Robert Obach tackles these and other such questions with great thoroughness and insight. Set within the context of his own personal story and the existential questions and contradictions of growing up Catholic in the 1950s, Obach takes the reader on a journey of discovery and understanding. This book represents an important missing piece in our moral thinking about such a core aspect of our personhood as the meaning of our sexuality.