Oppressive Sexual Teaching? Leave it to conscience what can go wrong?

 

How do you respond with the truth of what the Church teaches to claims that the Church has a repressive view of human sexuality?

The Church approves of sexuality as long as it maintains human dignity and that which human dignity is owed. The intentional withholding of the marital right (total self-gift) is contrary to the dignity of either spouse because upon such action one or both spouses (is) are using the other for their gain of pleasure. “Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure: ‘The Creator himself . . . established that in the [generative] function, spouses should experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment. They accept what the Creator has intended for them. At the same time, spouses should know how to keep themselves within the limits of just moderation.’”[1]

These views do not use puritanical repression as their premise, rather the good of the other. Logically, no one should use something like themselves as a mere means to one’s end. Further, no one recommends the practice of cutting oneself or another to resolve mental health issues. Neither should one consider the expense of physical health for mental health nor physical for spiritual. However, the Church feels the health of the whole self should first be maintained, if one is unable to accomplish much in its entirety; then the foremost efforts are toward the good of the soul. The soul’s health can be affected primarily by oneself and God. By ordering oneself to God, spiritual health is maximized, mental health brought to equilibrium, and physical health finds its meaning even if unachieved. Thus, by own use of chastity we don’t repress, but increase the good in self, for others.

A fellow parishioner tells you, “Father told me that while the Church frowns upon the use of contraceptives, a couple must follow their conscience in deciding on the use of contraceptives.” How do you respond with the truth of what the Church teaches?

No one may rightfully/justly advise another against the Church’s Magisterium in any circumstance.[2] If one is knowledgeable about what the Church teaches, then they know that relativism is a tragic excuse for morality. To seek to do something apart of the Church is to do it apart from Christ.[3] Nothing in the direction of salvation may be accomplished apart from Christ, the Redeemer. (John 15:4-5) Concupiscence holds man in the tendency of seeking “good” apart from God.[4] Concupiscence and/or seeking to accomplish something without involving Jesus (via His Church) is the compromising element of all human activity. That which severely jeopardizes man’s moral faculty is the reason why moral relativism (morality defined by self) cannot produce reliably just/good results in some, if not all circumstances.

FN:

  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 2362.
  2. Matthew 18:6; CCC, 846-8.
  3. Cf. CCC, 830.
  4. CCC, 2545.

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