Relationships

• The purpose of marriage

  • so that a couple can have a life-long relationship of love, companionship and faithfulness 
  • so that a couple can have the support and comfort of each other and enjoy sex with each other in the way God wants 
  • for procreation 
  • so that children can be brought up in a Christian family and became members of Christ’s church 
• The Catholic Church Teaches that (marriage):

  • marriage can only be between a man and woman because this is how marriage was established by God when he created humans 
  • in the sacrament of marriage God joins the couple in a band that humans have no right to break, so marriage is for life 
  • marriage isn’t for everyone - God calls some ppl to celibate life (priest/nun)
• Non-religious attitudes to marriage

  • humanists/aethists believe that its up to the individuals whether they marry or just live together(cohabit)​
  • relationships be exclusive​
  • many only marry as it involves stability and legal protection, especially if children are involved
  • most couples have sex before marriage and cohabit before marriage
• Catholic responses to non-religious attitudes

  • official response of the catholic church has been to condemn the non-religious attitude
  • insist that you should refrain from sex
  • 80% of catholics are in favour of pre-marital sex and 90% acrept of cohabitation
• SOWA - marriage

  • Mark - Jesus said that marriage was created by God at the beginning of the world
  • catechism - sex must always take place within marriage 
• The Catholic Church teaches that sex is important ‘cause

  •  it was a gift from God to be enjoyed by married couple 
  • sex was given by God so that children could be brought into the world