Learning Objectives for Students: to develop an understanding of Catholic teaching on non-marital relationships; to develop an understanding of Catholic teaching on sexual orientation and homosexual acts; to grow in awareness that unjust discrimination is wrong.

True or False Civil partnerships are just the same as being married Homosexuality is a sin You cannot be a Catholic if you are homosexual We cannot choose our sexuality Some people do not feel comfortable with their sexuality Feeling attracted to someone of the same sex does not mean that you are homosexual It is better to live together with someone before you marry them People have sex to make babies Sex should only take place within marriage People in same-sex relationships should be allowed to adopt children

Church teaching on Sexual Relationships What do these statements have to say about sexual relationships? Do you agree/disagree with what the statement says? Why? Do you think the statement discriminates against anyone? Why? Why do you think this is part of Church teaching? Why does the language seem so stark? How might some people react to the language? Why do you think it might be easy for the statements to be easy for the statements to be misinterpreted or misquoted? Church teaching on Sexual Relationships

“Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction towards persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, Tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’ They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.” CCC, 2357

“The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfil God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.” CCC, 2358 and 2359

“Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of the persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young. (CCC, 2353

“Adultery refers to marital infidelity “Adultery refers to marital infidelity. When two partners, of whom at least one is married to another party, have sexual relations – even transient ones – they commit adultery. Christ condemns even adultery of mere desire . . . Adultery is an injustice. He who commits adultery fails in his commitment. He does injury to the sign of the covenant which the marriage bond is, transgresses the rights of the other spouse and undermines the institution of marriage by breaking the contract on which it is based. He compromises the good of human generation and the welfare of children who need their parents’ stable union.” CCC, 2380-81

“We condemn the sin, not the sinner” Discuss

Compare how sexual relationships are portrayed in the media Compare how sexual relationships are portrayed in the media. How does this challenge the Church’s view? Extension