From Catholic sexual ethics to biology to foreplay to positions, our articles are a reference point for all your Catholic sexual queries.
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Did St. Thomas Aquinas Teach Against Oral Stimulation in the Summa Theologiae? Taking a Closer Look
Was St. Thomas Aquinas actually opposed to oral stimulation within marriage? This article examines what St. Thomas truly taught about marital intimacy, the “natural manner of copulation,” and whether his writings can legitimately be cited to condemn oral stimulation between spouses.
Am I Using My Spouse for Pleasure?
What does it really mean to “use” your spouse as a means to an end during sex? This article brings John Paul II’s personalistic language into conversation with traditional Catholic moral theology to clarify when the pursuit of sexual pleasure remains within conjugal love—and when it risks reducing a spouse to an instrument.
Must Couples Intend to Conceive Each Time They Have Intercourse?
Must Catholic married couples intend to conceive every time they have sex? This article examines recent magisterial teaching on procreation, conjugal love, and why openness to life does not require an explicit intention to achieve pregnancy in every marital act.
Why Should You Trust Our Apostolate on Catholic Sexual Ethics?
With conflicting Catholic voices offering competing views on sexual morality within marriage, finding a trustworthy source can be difficult. This article explains how our Apostolate grounds its guidance in Church teaching, rigorous moral theology, and the wisdom of trusted Catholic moralists.
The Moral Significance of Aftercare after Sex
Aftercare after sex is more than emotional intimacy; it can carry serious moral weight in marriage. This article explains how tenderness after the marital act helps safeguard spouses from treating one another as mere sources of pleasure, a disposition that can risk grave sin.
Another Renowned Moral Theologian on Sexual Acts Outside Intercourse
Periodically, we plan on dropping excerpts from highly esteemed traditional moral theologians on questions pertaining to marital chastity and sexual morality. Many of these are taken from our Compendium which you can access here. Today’s excerpt is from renowned moral theologian Benedict Merkelbach, O.P.
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Can Spouses Engage in Any Oral Stimulation Outside the Conjugal Act?
In the past, our Apostolate has tackled whether or not oral stimulation can be done as preludes to the conjugal act. But in this article, we want to answer whether limited expressions of oral stimulation could be done even outside the conjugal act itself, outside a proximate danger of orgasm.
Will You Go to Hell for Disagreeing with St. Alphonsus on a Moral Issue? Correcting a Common Myth
In this article, we debunk a common myth circulated by certain voices online which states that disagreeing with Alphonsus on a matter of marital chastity necessarily puts your soul in jeopardy.
A Traditional Catholic Moral Theologian’s Pastoral Advice on Avoiding Sin During Marital Foreplay
Monsignor Antonio Lanza’s teaching reassures couples that traditional Catholic moral theology allows affectionate and even moderately sexual expressions in marriage when they do not involve intentional orgasm outside intercourse. He explains that tender acts pose little moral risk, that more stimulating acts can be used with proportionate reasons or when spouses intend to complete the marital act, and that only actions which directly initiate intercourse require clear intent to consummate it. His framework shows that married love naturally includes varied expressions of closeness, and that moral discernment rests on intention and consent rather than fear.
Are Sexual Fantasies Permissible in Marriage?
Are sexual fantasies permissible in Catholic marriage? Discover the nuanced moral guidance on whether spouses can enjoy sexual fantasies within the bounds of Catholic teaching. Learn how sexual thoughts about one's spouse, when grounded in real intimacy and free from sin, can be a healthy part of married life, according to Church doctrine and moral theology.
Can Catholic Spouses Use “Dirty Talk” in the Bedroom?
Can Catholic spouses use “dirty talk” during sex without sin? This article explores the moral theology behind vulgar language in the bedroom, drawing on Scripture, St. Thomas Aquinas, and traditional Catholic teaching. It offers guidance to married couples seeking clarity on what’s permissible in private intimacy while avoiding scrupulosity.