From Catholic sexual ethics to biology to foreplay to positions, our articles are a reference point for all your Catholic sexual queries.
Articles
Mission Sponsors
-
Truth & Fertility Project
-
Walther Institute for Marital Intimacy
-
Married Dance
-
Become a Sponsor
We are a nonprofit!
Our team is made up of a handful of part-time staff. Donations are the lifeblood of our work. The more that you donate, the more we can produce. So, if you appreciate our work, help us to create more articles like these.
Open Floor! Ask Your Catholic Sexual Morality Questions Here!
Every so often we like to open the floor to your questions!
Have a question about Catholic sexual morality? Ask anything from challenging marital intimacy questions to moral questions about NFP, or even about chaste dating. All questions will receive a thoughtful, faithful reply.
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.
Can an Orgasm Outside of Sex Be Permitted if the Other Spouse Asks?
Can a Catholic spouse ever permit an unintended orgasm outside of sex when the other spouse asks for sexual affection? This article examines a difficult question in marital chastity, the principle of double effect, and why Catholic moral theology distinguishes between deliberately procuring orgasm and tolerating an unintended one for a proportionately serious reason.
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.
The Morality of Multiple Orgasms During Sex For Both Men and Women
In this article, we discuss the morality of either the husband or wife experiencing multiple orgasms in a single session of conjugal intercourse.
The Marital Act as a Human Act
This lesson introduces moral theology in the context of marital intimacy, exploring St. Thomas Aquinas' distinction between human acts and acts of man. It covers the eight stages of a human act, the three moral elements (object, intention, and circumstances), and how ignorance and fear affect moral responsibility. Learners will gain a theological framework for ensuring intimacy aligns with God’s plan, fostering virtue, love, and unity in marriage.
How Important is a Wife's Sexual Satisfaction?
The response should be obvious, but based on the statements of some online personalities, I think that it bears discussing.
Masturbation in Marriage
Masturbation is per se (i.e., in and of itself) gravely sinful. This means that it is always sinful, including in marriage. Since we started Catholic Intimacy, many people have contacted me to ask whether one or another act was masturbatory or if masturbation would be allowed in x, y, or z situations. So, hopefully, if you are here with a question like that, this article will clarify things.
The Marital Act, Cardinal Rule, and Pleasure Principles
“In necessary things unity, in doubtful matters freedom, in all things charity.” Augustine
As Humanae Vitae teaches, “it is necessary that each and every marriage act remain ordered per se to the procreation of human life.” Following the example of Dr. Popcak, I have referred to this as the One Rule. Now, however, I prefer to refer to this as the “Cardinal Rule”. I have this preference because a cardinal rule is a rule upon which others depend, not to the exclusion of other rules. Calling the rule that every marital act must be open to procreation the “One Rule” gives the unfortunate impression that there are no other rules.