Sex and Roman Catholic Church

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Teachings on human sexuality by the Roman
Catholic Church, and the resulting conflicts

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In many faith groups -- particularly those in the conservative end of the religious spectrum -- the regulation of matters related to human sexuality appears to be a primary concern. The Roman Catholic Church is one of these groups.

Conflicts exist among the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, most of the laity of the Church, other religious groups, and secular groups over matters related to:

• female ordination,
  
• medically assisted fertility procedures like in-vitro fertilization and artificial insemination,
  
  
• masturbation,
  
  
• sexual activity outside of marriage,
  
  
• contraception,
  
  
• emergency contraception
  
  
• abortion,
  
  
• sexual abuse of children and youth by priests and religious,
  
  
• cover ups of such sexual abuse,
  
  
• the use of condoms to prevent conception and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases,
  
  
• family planning,
  
  
• sex education in schools,
  
  
• same-gender sexual activity,
  
  
• Transgender persons and transsexuals
  
  
• sexual reassignment surgery,
  
  
• marriage, including prohibition of marriage by same-sex couples, and by physically disabled persons,
  
  
• divorce,
  
  
• remarriage,
  
  
• erotic images,
  
  
• pornography, and
  
  
• probably many others that have escaped our attention.

It is very important to recognize that conflicts occur between the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and the laity. For example, the rate of abortion among Roman Catholic laity is slightly greater than average for all women of reproductive age, and support for same-sex marriage is higher than among other Christian groups, in spite of extreme opposition by the hierarchy. The personal use of artificial methods of contraceptives by Catholic laity is similar to that of the rest of the U.S. population.

A public opinion survey was conducted by the Pew Research Center during 2014

The following Catholic Church teachings are covered in this section:

	Abortion: Pagan & Christian beliefs 400 BCE -1980 CE Evolution of Roman Catholic positions on abortion: Overview Current Roman Catholic church teaching Instructions in bioethics: "Dignitas Personae, (2008) Exceptions to the Roman Catholic ban on abortion Cases where the Church policy may cause death
	Divorce The church's historical position on divorce About annulments
	Homosexuality Religious pressure on Canadian legislators by the Church Priests with a homosexual orientation
	Contraception and birth control "A hard pill to swallow: Catholic contraception policy" An essay donated by Bjorn Philip Beer Birth control coverage in medical plans: Religious liberty & freedom, the HHS mandate, the Church's 2012 "Fortnight of Freedom" campaign, and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case.
	Masturbation
	Ordination of women
	Transgender persons and transsexuality: Part 1  Part 2

Copyright © 2006 to 2014 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally posted: 2006-FEB-05
Latest update: 2014-JUL-15
Author: B.A. Robinson

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