Basic Catholic Q and A's

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

1. What is the sixth commandment of God?
2. What did Jesus say about the sixth commandment?
3. What does the sixth commandment require of us?
4. What is chastity?
5. How important is sexuality?
6. How should the engaged observed chastity  
7. What are the main sins against chastity?
8. Why are homosexual acts contrary to the sixth commandment?
9. How should homosexual persons be treated?
10. What are the two purposes of marriage?
11. What is the Church's teaching on artificial contraception?
12. May the State make laws regulating births?
13. What does the Church teach concerning sterilization?
14. What may a sterile couple do about having a child?
15. Why is adultery forbidden?
16. What is divorce?
17. Is divorce ever permitted?
18. Are there other offenses against marriage?
19. Can we not act in sexual matters by our own conscience?
20.  How do we know the Church is right in its judgment on sexual matters

1. What is the sixth commandment of God?
The sixth commandment of God is:

You shall not commit adultery (Ex 20:14).

2. What did Jesus say about the sixth commandment?
Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery!" But I say to you that anyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Mt 5:27).

3. What does the sixth commandment require of us?
The sixth commandment requires us to be chaste and modest in behavior both when alone and with others.

4. What is chastity?
Chastity is that virtue by which we properly regulate our use of sexuality according to our state in life. Chastity consists in the inner harmony of one's body and soul, as well as "the successful integration of sexuality within the person." (2337-2345, 2348-2349)

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Gal 3:27).

5. How important is sexuality?
Our human sexuality is an extraordinary gift of God. It affects every other aspect of who we are. Through our maleness or femaleness we express our vocation to love and to community. It is important to understand and accept our sexual identity in order to assume our proper role in marriage, the family and society. (2331-2332)

So God created man in his own image, in the image o>f God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it..." (Gn 1:27-28).

6. How should the engaged observe chastity?
Those engaged to be married must continue to live the chastity of continence proper to all those not married. By saving the special expressions of marital love for after the wedding, they will strengthen their mutual love, fidelity and commitment. (2350)

7. What are the main sins against chastity?
The sixth commandment forbids sexual acts outside of marriage. Among the sins against chastity are:

•  lust-the inordinate desire and pursuit of sexual pleasure for its own sake,  which is contrary to the unitive and procreative ends of the sexual acts; (2351)
•  masturbation-the stimulation of one's genital organs to induce pleasure, which  is contrary to the self-gift and openness to life essential to such acts; (2352)
•  fornication-sexual intercourse between an unmarried man and an unmarried  woman, which is contrary to the dignity of those involved and to marriage itself.  It may also give scandal; (2353)
•  pornography-the display of sexual acts for profit, which harms the dignity of  the person and the marital act, and causes grave scandal. Pornography often  involves the abuse and exploitation of youngsters, and those who purchase it  participate in this grave evil; (2354)
•  prostitution-the use of one's body for the sexual pleasure of a client, which  reduces personal dignity to the level of a commodity. Poor economic and social  conditions may pressure persons into prostitution, and those who pay bear a  grave responsibility for perpetuating these evils; (2355)
•  rape-sexual force used against an unwilling victim, which violates the privacy  and integrity of another, often causing lasting injury to the victim. (2356)

Don't you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit within you, who comes to you from God, and that you do not belong to yourselves? You were bought for a price, so glorify God in your bodies! (1 Cor 6:19-20).

8. Why are homosexual acts contrary to the sixth commandment?
Homosexual acts, which are sexual acts of men or women with persons of the same sex, are contrary to this commandment, first of all, because the two persons are not married; second, these unions are not open to the gift of life nor do they build on the complementarity of the sexes, concepts essential to sexual activity. (2357)

Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another... (Rom 1:26-27).

9. How should homosexual persons be treated?
While homosexual acts must be considered gravely sinful, a homosexual person must be treated with the same love and respect we owe to everyone in Christ's name. (2357-2359)

10. What are the two purposes of marriage?
The two purposes of marriage are the love and fidelity of the couple, which bring them joy and fulfillment in their relationship, and fecundity, which is the transmission and nurturing of new life. (See also the section on the sacrament of Matrimony, pages 136-145.) (2360-2367)

You made Adam, and gave him Eve his wife as a helper and support (Tob 8:6).

11. What is the Church's teaching on artificial contraception?
The Church teaches that all forms of artificial contraception such as pills, drugs or mechanical devices are sinful because these are against the natural purpose of married love, the transmission or giving of life. If just reasons warrant the limitation of births, Catholics may practice natural family planning. Couples may consult a priest or Catholic natural family planning groups. (2368-2370)

12. May the State make laws regulating births?
No, the State may not make laws regulating births; neither may it coerce couples into limiting the size of their families. The State may make observations concerning its population, but may not impose its will. (2372)

13. What does the Church teach concerning sterilization?
If direct sterilization, to take away a person's power to have children, is performed for one's own satisfaction or economic or social needs, such actions are grievously wrong. If indirect sterilization is necessary for serious health reasons, no sin is involved since the intent is not to make procreation impossible. (2297, 2399)

14. What may a sterile couple do about having a child?
Couples who find that they are sterile may engage medical help which respects their marital relationship and the moral law. They must be aware that techniques such as sperm or ovum donation, surrogate motherhood, artificial insemination or fertilization are gravely sinful because they separate sex and procreation. The dignity and intimacy of the act has been violated and in some cases the child is deprived of natural family bonds. Rather than resort to such practices, the couple should be encouraged to adopt a child or to dedicate themselves to the service of other people. (2373-2379)

15. Why is adultery forbidden?
Adultery is a grave injustice to one's spouse. It violates the marital covenant, undermines trust and harms the children's welfare. (2380-2381)

For God called us to holiness, not to impurity (1 Thes 4:7).

16. What is divorce?
Divorce is a serious offense against the natural law because it is an attempt to break the permanent covenant pledged by the husband and wife to be faithful until death. It disregards the sacramental nature of marriage, inflicts suffering upon the deserted spouse and the children, and disrupts society. (2382, 2384-2386)

Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery (Mk 10:11-12).

17. Is divorce ever permitted?
When there is no hope of reconciliation, civil divorce may be allowed as a means of protecting oneself legally and of caring for the children. However, one is not free to remarry. (2383)

The wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband)-and that the husband should not divorce his wife (1 Cor 7:10-11).

18. Are there other offenses against marriage?
These are other offenses against marriage:

•  polygamy-having two or more spouses simultaneously. This offends the original  plan of God who made marriage an exclusive relationship. (2387)
•  incest or child abuse-having sexual relations with close relatives or with  children or adolescents. These grave violations of the moral integrity of the  victim cause serious emotional or psychological damage. (2388-2389)
•  "free union"-exercising marital rights with a partner without any commitments.  Such situations breed distrust, infidelity and irresponsibility, and weaken the  moral fiber of society. (2390)
•  "trial marriage"-living together as if married while having only a future intention  of marriage. This lack of a real commitment undermines the true nature of love  and marriage, which requires a total gift. (2391)

19. Can we not act in sexual matters by our own conscience?
We must certainly judge all our actions by our conscience, but first of all our conscience must be educated according to objective moral truth, that is, by the moral law our Creator gave us. This requires study of the Scriptures and Church teachings and sincere prayer.

Whoever keeps my commandments and obeys them- he it is who loves me, while whoever loves me is loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him (Jn 14:21).

20. How do we know the Church is right in its judgment on sexual matters?
We know the Church judges rightly on sexual matters because it has a divine mandate from Christ to guard and interpret his moral teachings, and the Holy Spirit aids the Church in this. We also know that Christian moral law is based on natural law, which is the law written in our hearts. (1954-1960)

Whoever hears you, hears me, and whoever rejects you, rejects me. And whoever rejects me, rejects the one who sent me (Lk 10:16)

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