Religious education Themes B

• Human beings as sexual, male and female

  Created in the image of God and so are of equal dignity
• Be fruitful and multiply

  1. Procreative (open to creating new life)

  2. Unitive (for marriage)
• Men and women are expected to procreate
• Men and women are complementary parts
• Marital sex (sex within marriage)


  An expression of self-giving and love
• Extramarital sex (sex outside of marriage)


  A form of exploitation for personal pleasure
• Adultery breaks the marriage vows and shows no commitment to a spouse
• Adultery is a sin and distorts God's original plan for human beings
• Adultery can lead people to think of others as sex objects rather than individuals with dignity and value
• Through sex God creates new life
• The Catholic marriage ceremony contains the commitment to accept children lovingly from God
• Every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life
• Contraceptives close the couples love for each other
• Adultery with a married person and a person who is not their spouse is forbidden because it destroys the unity of marriage
• Other Christian denominations agree that sex should be treated with respect and consideration, and intercourse should only take place within marriage
• Catholic teaching says that sex should be open to the creation of new life
• Many people in Britain, including some Christians, view using contraceptives as a responsible way of preventing sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies
• Pope John Paul II's teaching shows that Catholics should respect the body and relationships
• Pope John Paul II says sexual intercourse should only take place within marriage


  Because it is a sacred, unitive and procreative act
• Same-sex marriages are not recognised as valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church, as they do not allow for the acceptance of children from God
• Conditions for a valid Catholic marriage


  • Both people must be free to marry
  • Both people must be getting married of their own free will
  • The couple must declare they are willing to accept children
  • The consent (the moment when the couple commit themselves to each other for life) must be made in the presence of a Catholic priest
  • The couple must not be closely related
• The consent is the most important element of a Catholic marriage
• The Catholic Church is right not to allow same-sex marriages


  Because same-sex couples cannot have children naturally and so cannot meet the requirements for marriage
• The Catholic Church is right not to allow same-sex marriages


  Because marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman
• Many people in British society (including some Christians) believe homosexuals should have the same rights as heterosexuals and so should be able to marry


  Because they do not see being able to have children as an essential part of marriage
• Cohabitation, though many people believe it is acceptable, is not approved by the Catholic Church
• The Catholic Church does not accept the possibility of remarriage in a valid sacramental marriage after a divorce
• The Catholic Church will allow an annulment (a statement by the Catholic Church that there was no valid marriage in the first place)
• The Catholic Church does not allow remarriage if the original spouse is still alive
• Catholics should stick by their marriage promises


  Because the couple knew what they were committing to and the marriage promises were made before God
• Catholics should be allowed to get divorced


  Because sometimes people make a serious mistake and cannot continue to live together
• the first mariage is annulled, so is not classed as remarriage
• not allowed to remarry in church if the original spouse is still alive
• People can live together without being married to one another
• If the relationship works out, or live together their lives. Others are in same-sex partnership or get married
• it breaks the sanctity of marriage
• it may reduce effort to make the relationship last
• it removes commitment from the sexual union
• Catholic view


  • People should stick by their marriage promises
  • The couple knew what they were committing to
  • Should not happen if the original partner is still alive as Catholics believe in the sanctity of marriage
  • A new union cannot be recognised as valid as the first marriage was
• The couple will not be able to receive communion