Sexuality and the World's Religions

CME Information: Sexual Health and Religion: A Primer for the Sexual Health Clinician (CME)

“…Catholic doctrine teaches that sexuality should be governed by its accordance with “natural law.” Although the human conscience is considered a source of personal moral responsibility, natural law is considered the definitive measure of objective good in terms of sexuality [1,2].…”

“…Catholics believe God created human beings in His image and everything he created is good, therefore, the human body and sex are also good. Catholics consider sex to be chaste within the context of marriage; intercourse is called the nuptial act and is seen as an act of love between two married persons, which leads to the formation of new life and which gives glory to God [1–3].…”

“…Between 1962 and 1965, Catholic Church leaders convened The Second Vatican Council a series of meetings to discuss the “modernizing” of relevant teachings to the “modern world.” In the teachings of Vatican II, sexual acts within marriage were acknowledged as serving both unitive and procreative roles. This concept introduced sexual pleasure as providing support and stability for Catholic marriage [1–4]. The sex therapist can emphasize the Church's position on the restorative/unitive purpose of sex within marriage when working with Catholic couples who are engaging in sensate focus exercises, exploring noncoital pleasuring techniques, or while dealing with issues such a vaginismus and desire discrepancies.…”

“…Contraception is considered intrinsically wrong by the Catholic Church. The vast majority of Catholic laity (an estimated 63%) differs from strict interpretation of this Church doctrine and believes that it is possible to use external birth control methods and still practice the Catholic faith [2,4]. When a contraceptive is used to treat a medical condition, such as the use of combined hormonal contraception to treat pelvic pain, it is considered acceptable by the Church.…”

“…Homosexual sexual acts, however, are considered “contrary to natural law” as they do not fulfill the procreative purpose of sex and are therefore seen as wrong. Controversy exists whether the unitive purpose of sexuality applies to same‐sex couples and whether their sexual unions nourish the relationship and give glory to God [2].…”