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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.
Answering a Reader’s Questions about Anal Stimulation, Sexting, and Sexy Photos/Videos Within Marriage
Some of the questions you as our readers ask are so valuable that we would like to take the opportunity to broaden the audience for their answers. In this article, we are answering a reader’s questions about anal stimulation, sexting, and the exchange of sexy photos and videos within marriage.
Another Renowned Moral Theologian on Sexual Morality in Marriage
Thomas Slater, SJ (1855-1928) was an English Jesuit and one of the most respected moral theologians of his generation in the English-speaking world. His Manual of Moral Theology was the first of its kind in native English, ran to five approved editions, and was written for priests who heard confessions. Trained in the tradition of St. Alphonsus and subsequent moralists, he knew the sources of moral theology very well. On questions as delicate as marital chastity, there are few safer guides available in English. Few writers in English are better placed to tell you what the Church’s confessors actually held on marital chastity.
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.
Should Intimacy Be Sought While the Other Spouse Is Upset With You?
In this article, we explore how the desire for intimacy should be handled during periods of emotional distance between spouses.
Does the Marital Debt Apply to Foreplay?
While we at the Apostolate have tackled many questions having to do with the marital debt, we wanted to address whether sexual acts besides intercourse could also be requested through the marital debt by spouses. This article gives a thorough answer rooted in Catholic tradition and pastoral wisdom.
Can Catholic Spouses Sext Each Other?
A Catholic moral analysis of whether sexting between spouses can be licit, exploring conditions, risks, and how mutual, ordered intimacy can deepen marital love.
Ask Your Catholic Sexual Ethics Questions!
If you have a moral question about Catholic sexual morality, whether it’s about what can and can’t be done in the bedroom, NFP, premarital do’s and don’ts, or anything of this nature, ask it in the comments!
Answering Various Moral Questions About the Wife’s Orgasm
A thoughtful look at the moral dangers that can arise when using marital aids. Learn how to avoid misuse, maintain virtue, and protect authentic marital intimacy within a Catholic moral framework.
Can Catholic Spouses Ever Have Sex For Pleasure? And Did the Church Change Her Teaching on This?
Can Catholic spouses ever have sex primarily for pleasure? This question has long stirred debate among theologians and married couples alike. While the Church condemns pursuing pleasure as an end in itself, she also affirms that sexual delight when united with love and the true ends of marriage is both good and holy.
Answering a Reader's Moral Question about the Wife's Orgasm
Physical challenges in intimacy can leave Catholic couples unsure about what’s morally permitted. This article addresses common questions about climax and ejaculation, offering reassurance grounded in Catholic teaching. It helps couples approach these issues with honesty, love, and faith.
Is it Sinful for Catholics to Initiate Sex for Pleasure
Catholic couples often wonder: is it wrong to desire sexual pleasure in marriage? This article explores Church teaching, the dangers of hedonism and scrupulosity, and how pleasure when rightly ordered deepens spousal communion and holiness.
Is All Sexual Pleasure Immoral Outside Sexual Intercourse: Refuting a Common Objection
Is all sexual pleasure outside intercourse immoral according to Catholic teaching? This article refutes the common objection that any genital stimulation outside the marital act is intrinsically disordered by clarifying the crucial distinction between complete and incomplete sexual acts. Drawing on Pius XII, St. Alphonsus Liguori, and traditional moral theology, discover how spouses can legitimately express intimacy without violating Church teaching.
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.