Why Does The Catholic Church Have Such Warped Views About Sex?

Question

According to what I was taught, premarital sex was against the law of God because it was possible to get pregnant out of wedlock.
When condoms were invented and pregnancy out of wedlock was no longer a large concern, the Church said that premarital sex with condoms was still against the law of God because having a barrier degraded the act of intercourse.
When birth control was invented and having a physical barrier was no longer necessary to preventing pregnancy outside of wedlock, the Church said that premarital sex with birth control was still against the law of God because each act of intercourse had to be open to the chance of creating life.
So... this meant that married but infertile couples couldn't have sex? That married women past menopause couldn't have sex with their husbands?
if a couple is purposefully having sex on a night where the woman is not ovulating, isn't that the same as having sex that is not open to creating life?
It's all warped if you ask me.

Answer 1

The short answer is: the founders of the church were warped, frustrated little men; and because god's law is supposed to be "immutable" and "eternal", they're kinda painted into a corner now...

Answer 2

The Catholic Church considers sex to be a holy act, one in which we receive two gifts: ultimate physical pleasure and the ability to authentically create life in the image of our Creator through the conception of a child. This is not *warped* in any way. It's awesome.

You were taught in correctly if somebody told you that out-of-wedlock pregnancy was the only reason premarital sex is wrong. The Church has ALWAYS stated that the ONLY way to have holy sex is within the bounds of a permanent, holy, God-sanctioned union that is open to the possibility of creating life.

I can't help the fact that somebody taught you incorrectly. You should have looked into the situation more thoroughly and made sure you understood it fully, once you became an adult (if you weren't already).

Anyway, the entire premise of your question is wrong, so you need to try to figure out the facts and adjust your view accordingly.

As to infertile couples, many couples do not know they are infertile until they try to have a baby (that happened to me & my husband), so it's perfectly okay for them to have married and had sex. Also, there are several cases in the Bible (and more in Church history) of infertile couples later having babies, so it's perfectly okay for them to keep trying and praying that God will bless them with the opportunity to create new life.

Women in the Bible and Church History have also conceived well after menopause years -- Sarah and Elizabeth are two fine examples; Mary's mother Anne is another. So menopause doesn't disqualify a couple from enjoying licit and holy sexual activity.

The couple who is having sex when the woman is not ovulating most certainly IS open to creating a life if they aren't using artificial birth control. That happened to me, too -- thought I wasn't ovulating and now I have a beautiful, funny, smart, joyous 3.5-yr-old.

So what's the real deal with you -- you just want to be able to have sex without procreating, is that it? And that means you can't abide the Catholic Church's teachings, so you have decided it's "warped" -- is that right? I mean, let's be honest here.

Answer 3

No, your understanding is not correct.

You say: "So... this meant that married but infertile couples couldn't have sex? That married women past menopause couldn't have sex with their husbands? "

This is not true at all. An infertile couple is not doing anything to prevent life. A post menopausal woman and her husband are not doing anything to prevent pregnancy either. Both couples are open to the will of God. Their sexual union is seen as the expression of love the way God intended.

You say: "if a couple is purposefully having sex on a night where the woman is not ovulating, isn't that the same as having sex that is not open to creating life?"

Many have said this, they liken NFP (natural family planning) to Catholic birth control. But nothing is further from the truth. Each sacramental marriage should be open to life. If a couple has a valid reason to not want a child, then they choose to abstain during fertile times. Abstaining from sex is not the same as having sex but preventing pregnancy. Couples who use NFP are still open to God's will in that, if he decides to give them a child they welcome it into their love and family. Each and every sexual act is open to life. The couple is doing nothing to interfere with the sexual act to prevent life.

When you use contraception you are uninviting God in your maritial union. He joined you together but you tell him he is not invited into the sexual part of your marriage. You marriage is a vow between three persons...you, your spouse and God. Being open to life is allowing God to decide the size of your family. If you and your spouse pray about your decision to abstain from sex or only have sex during infertile times, and believe that this is a good decision, you have included God in that decision. All the while letting him know that if he gives you a child anyway...then you are open to his will and will loving accept that child as God's gift.

Contraception renders the sexual act self-serving instead of life-giving.

The pill tricks a woman's body into thinking it's pregnant all the time. It causes health issues, weight gain, moodiness, irritability and is an abortificient. Every month its possible that a woman using the pill does get pregnant but the new life is unable to implant in the uterus and is then expelled from her body.

Each and every act of sacramental sex should include the will of God.

You should read "Humane Vitae" by Pope Paul VI - when you read it you will understand that the Church is against contraception because of it's love for God and for all of humanity. It is her job to shepherd Christ's people to heaven and that is what she does, even when the right way is unpopular. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html

In the encyclical Humane Vitae, Pope Paul VI predicts that contraception will undermine the morals of our society. That there will be an increase in adultery, fornication, and abortion. Wow...he was so right.

Did you know that others were against contraception to?

Sigmund Freud predicted that contraception would cause damage to society.

Ghandi was against birth control. He said: The union is meant not for pleasure, but for bringing forth progeny . and union is a crime when the desire for progeny is absent. He had many other quotes:
http://www.mkgandhi.org/momgandhi/chap59.htm

http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=721
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2964/birthcontrol.html

Answer 4

It is the world's view of sex, not the Church's view, that is thoroughly warped. Notice that the Church's teaching on sex has not changed, regardless of what innovations and deviations the world comes up with. Truth cannot change.

Answer 5

I agree.. The view is warped and there is so many priest who have turned out to be predators. My mom knew a woman who committed suicide because she had so many kids becuz her husband said the Church would not allow birth control. It's the craziest view ever...Couples having 9 kids because of the Church rules and yes, not having sex on the night a woman was ovulating is on purpose not creating life so thats a sin also. That concept could go on and on and drive a person in sane! Also people say well the Church said this and the Church said that but did God really say this or did the Church put their own twist on it.. Thats the issue

Answer 6

not having sex before marriage isn't just to insure that you wont get pregnant ,it goes way deeper than that,having sex isn't just so a couple can become pregnant,its so they can show there love for one another by pleasing ther spouse the key word here SPOUSE, sex is something that should wait until marriage that's what the church is trying to say

Answer 7

It is not only the churches view it is also God's so take it up with God if you have a problem with His Commandments concerning sex.

Answer 8

what is warped is your understandng of the Church's teaching on sex. Go to a Catholic website and study. It would take far too long to discuss your misunderstandings here.

Answer 9

You go from permiscuity to prude in a few short years & see ifr your idea of sex is warped or not LOL!

this sounded like a Joke & i do have to laught but it is also true!

Answer 10

The Church cannot have a warped sense of sex as it clings to the values of the Bible, the problem is when permissive people do not like what the church teaches.

Answer 11

If one is made to feel shame and guilt about natural desires, then one is more susceptible to follow religion to expiate the shame and guilt.

There is nothing bad about any form of sexuality unless it is injurious to some party (note--sex with minors is always injurious to the development of the minor).