Church Teaching
What follows are examples of the usual moral issues affecting us as individual persons
and the families we belong to. We are familiar with these issues already but here, we look at
them from a particular Christian moral perspective.
1. Premarital sex
Some adolescents in their need for intimacy or in their wanting to discover themselves,
in their growth process get involved in premarital sex. This is one flesh union between a male
and a female before marriage. It is mostly sex without commitment (Wostyn, 2004). It is often a
sort of exploration without real commitment and hence the fundamental option of the person is
not involved. We also have to consider the dangers of such rather irresponsible playing around
with sex. The boy often makes nice promises but is not planning to take responsibility for his
actions. The girl is tricked into sexual activity which may lead to her becoming pregnant, and to
the problems which will follow.
Church Response on Premarital Sex
Genovesi points out that only a truly loving relationship, as opposed to one marked by
infatuation or immature love, is able to establish the proper context for genital sexual
expression. He offers four strands of thought as contributing to the morality of premarital sex.
1. Any truly honest sexual intercourse is an act of mutual self-giving, by means of which
two people express their willingness to assume unconditional responsibility for each
other;
2. Premarital sex is not sufficiently appreciative of the fact that for human activity to be
moral, it must be socially sensitive. Marriage is an institution intended to enhance
personal relationships by offering some defense against human immaturity, self-
seeking, and false protestations of love.
3. Human sexual love in its full richness is to reflect the qualities of God's love for us.
Therefore, just as God’s love is creative and faithful, so also should sexual love, when
genitally expressed, be open to procreation and expressive of unity and permanent
fidelity. Marriage is the context in which this full richness can be best achieved.
4. Finally, insofar as chastity is honesty in sex and requires that physical sexual
relationships, in order to be truthful, must express the degree of personal commitment
that exists between two people. (Genovesi, 2003)
2. Cybersex/Cyberaffair
Cyberrsex is the engagement of internet users in sexual conversation and physical
participation to the level where it is possible to satisfy the urge for sexual pleasure on personal
computers or other internet enabled gadgets (TanimoonwoFasugba-Idowu and Hassan, 2013).1
1
https://www.readcube.com/articles/10.9790%2F1959-1436065
One of the phenomena that have come out of cybersex is cyber-affair.
Cyber-affairs are romantic or sexually-oriented relationships initiated via online
communication and maintained predominantly over electronic conversations that occur in virtual
communities (TanimoonwoFasugba-Idowu and Hassan, 2013). This kind of relationship can be
continuous between two or more people or it may be random instances of erotic chat room
encounters between or among strangers.
Church Response to Cybersex
It is crucial to realize that human desire is not simply the need for genital relations. Rollo
May makes the point that “for human beings, the more powerful need is not for sex, per se, but
for relationships, intimacy, acceptance, and affirmation.” When these greater or more powerful
needs are met, our lower needs are more manageable.
This makes us realize that cybersex and cyber-affairs are no guarantee for a sense of
closeness, belonging, and intimacy. Kathleen Fischer and Thomas Hart, a husband and wife
team, remark: “We can have sex with someone we hardly know, and it feels very good
physically yet leaves us still lonely when it is over. By contrast, we can share our very souls with
someone else and end by feeling wonderfully close and cared for, though there has been no
physical contact at all.”
The key to keeping the physical dimension of a relationship in proper perspective is to
develop the affective dimension of sexuality. It is possible to live fully, healthfully, and happily
without genital sexuality. It might also be said that the sexual passion of genital relations, is
truly human precisely insofar as it embodies and expresses the pervasive and perjuring quality
of sexual affectivity. But unfortunately, sex is an escape, because both inside and outside of
marriage it is far easier to “sleep with” someone than it is to live with and for someone in a
completely human way (Genovesi, 2003).
Norman Pittenger significantly adds that living as a chaste person requires that the
physical and external expressions of our sexuality be “under the control of love, with tenderness
and full awareness of the other.” Thus, just because two people openly admit to each other that
they are in a relationship simply because of the fun or the pleasure involved, this does not mean
that they can therefore engage in sex (Pittenger, 1970).
Chastity is the virtue that “helps us to utilize the totality of our sexuality and put it at the
service of our becoming Christian, “according to Georgen. More specifically, a chaste person is
someone who places the intense pleasure associated with sex at the service of true love.
Simply put, “chastity moderates or orders one’s sexuality, and in doing so, it makes sexuality
neither the end of man nor the enemy of man” adds Georgen. The goal of any sex education is
to develop in people the ability to give and receive love (as cited by Genovesi, 2003).
Indeed cybersex is irresponsible, exploitative, coercive, or in some way hurt one or both
of the individuals involved. There is never any reason or excuse to exploit or take advantage of
others, even and especially if they sometimes act as though they neither deserve nor expect our
respect.
3. Divorce
Divorce is the dissolution of marital relations; in this process marriage is completely
broken down either in social or legal context. The Black Dictionary of law has defined divorce as
"the legal separation of husband and wife affected by the judgment of decree of a court and
either totally dissolving the married relations or suspending its effect so far as concern the
combination of the practices. In countries that allow divorce, divorcees are free to remarry after
divorce. Legal separation is different. Within Philippine legal jurisdiction, spouses who are only
legally separated cannot remarry.
Church Response on Divorce
The very nature of authentic conjugal love of the spouses argues for constant fidelity
(CCC 1646-51). “The intimate union of marriage, as a mutual gift of two persons, and the good
of the children, demands total fidelity from the spouses and requires an unbreakable unity
between them” (GS 48). CFC1916 adds that our response in faith must be that permanent
conjugal love is possible through Christ’s grace-filled presence in the Holy Spirit. Through the
sacramental grace of marriage, Christ gradually transforms the married couple in all the ups-
and-downs, trials and sacrifices of their married love, into their own unique creation of sharing in
His Paschal love.
Moreover, divorce introduces disorder into the family and into the society. This disorder
brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to the children traumatized by the separation of their
parents and often torn between them, and to society because of its contagious effect
(CCC2385).
For divorced Catholics, Pope Francis issued a powerful call for the church to embrace
Catholics who have divorced or remarried. Such couples “are not excommunicated, and they
absolutely must be treated that way,” Francis told a Vatican crowd. “They always belong to the
church.” He asked pastors to welcome Catholics who have remarried without an annulment,
even though such Catholics are currently barred in most cases from receiving the Eucharist.
4. Adultery
Adultery is a plain and simple marital infidelity. It is committed when two partners, of
whom at least one is married to another party, have sexual relationships-even transient ones.
Both the old and New Testament absolutely forbid adultery.
Church Response on Adultery
The prophets denounced the gravity of adultery; they see it as an image of the sin of
idolatry (Hos 2:7; Jer 5:7; 13:27). Christ is even far stricter when he condemns adultery of mere
desire. “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart” (Mt 5:27-
28).
Those who commit adultery inflict injustice to their spouse, fail in their marital
commitment, and shatter the covenant they entered into with God, with their spouse, and the
Christian community. They undermine the sacrament of matrimony thus, disregarding the
standard of Christian morality and welfare of their children who need their parents' stable union.
5. Suicide
The intent of suicidal behavior, whether consciously or unconsciously motivated, is to
permanently end one's life. Truly suicidal acts (or, as they are sometimes called, "gestures")
need to be distinguished from other self-harming, self-injurious, or parasuicidal acts and
gestures which are also deliberate, but not intended to cause death. Typical self-injurious acts
include cutting or burning oneself. The intention behind these behaviors is to cause intense
sensation, pain and damage, but not to end one's life. Self-injurious behaviors may lead to
accidental suicide if they are taken too far, but their initial intent and goal are not suicidal.2
Church Response on Suicide
The basic value behind the fifth commandment is that God alone is the ultimate Lord and
master of life. Life comes from God and belongs to God. As a result, we must respect our lives
and the lives of others. We believe that we are stewards of life. A steward is one who takes care
of something for someone else. In the case of life, we look after all that God has given and
entrusted into our care. Our judgment about life should always be in accordance with how we
are caring and valuing the great gift that God has given us. Our judgments about ourselves and
others should be made in the light of the basic dignity given to us by God himself, not by what
we do, or what we have, or how useful we are (Pennock, 1979).
Christians may expect many tribulations in this “vale of tears” through which they must
pass. If some are relatively unfortunate in this life, they need only to look at the misfortunes of
others or read the account of Job in the Old Testament. The recourse of the Christian is not to
take his or her life but to call on God for help during times of distress. Misery, although it is a
negative experience, can become the occasion for a closer union with God and with others. One
of the great Christian virtues is hope. Paul wrote: “we know that the whole creation has been
groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the
first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoptions as sons, the redemption of our
bodies. For in this hope we are saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for
what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” It is through
hope that another great virtue is sustained: fortitude.
6. Cyber and Mobile Game Addiction
Video games can offer players a much-needed escape from the daily grind involving
work, family, education, and other important life responsibilities. When enjoyed in moderation,
video games offer great entertainment, can improve cognitive skills and hand-eye coordination,
2
REISS, N. S., PH.D, & DOMBECK, M., PH.D. (2007, October 24). Defining Suicide. Retrieved June 12, 2018, from
https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/defining-suicide
and can even help you relax and wind down after a busy day. On the flip side, playing video
games too often for more than several hours per day can negatively impact one’s overall health
and livelihood, and lead to problems with finances, education, social relationships, and
addiction. Mobile game addiction is increasingly on the rise especially since mobile devices
have made it easy for users to access thousands of games with just a few taps.
Studies have shown that video game addiction can negatively alter one’s personality and
behavior, and lead to serious health conditions including ADHD, anxiety disorder, and
depression. Long-term effects of video game addiction may also include learning disabilities,
weight gain, and aggressive thoughts and behaviors that can become more dangerous with
time.
Video game addiction can often be prevented by limiting the amount of time one spends
playing video games, and by recognizing common signs and symptoms of video game
addiction. Parents can monitor their children’s mobile game usage, and encourage them to
participate in other activities such as outdoor games, exercise, and reading.3
Church Response on Cyber and Mobile Game Addiction
Titus 2:11-12 states “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all
people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-
controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” Titus is full of encouragement to be
self-controlled. It mentions that elders need to be self-controlled (Titus 1:8), older men should be
taught to be self-controlled (Titus 2:2), older women need to be self-controlled (Titus 2:5), and
younger men should be encouraged to be self-controlled, as well (Titus 2:6). So, basically, the
Bible says every age group of people really need to work on this character quality! And this
passage explains that it’s the grace of God that teaches us to say no to sin (because, I’m
certainly not strong enough to resist without His help!).4
The CCC (1767 – 1768) states that in themselves passions are neither good nor evil.
They are morally qualified only to the extent they effectively engage reason and will. Passions
are said to be voluntary, “either because they are commanded by the will or because the will
does not place obstacles in their way. It belongs to the perfection of the moral or human good
that the passions be governed by reason. Strong feelings are not decisive for the morality or the
holiness of persons; they are simply the inexhaustible reservoir of images and affections in
which the moral life is expressed. Passions are morally good when they contribute to a good
action, evil in the opposite case. The will that is upright orders the movements of the senses it
appropriates to the good and to beatitude; an evil will succumbs to disordered passions and
3
addictions.com/blog/a new addiction on the rise-mobile game addiction
4
https://soveryblessed.com/15-bible-verses-on-self-control/
exacerbates them. Emotions and feelings can be taken up into the virtues or perverted by the
vices.
