From Catholic sexual ethics to biology to foreplay to positions, our articles are a reference point for all your Catholic sexual queries.
Articles
Beyond Makeup Sex: Using Intimacy to Navigate Grief and Conflict
Most couples are familiar with make-up sex, but what about grief sex? Or intentionally using sexual intimacy to calm conflict before a difficult conversation? This evidence-based guide explores how sexual connection affects bonding hormones like oxytocin, reduces stress and cortisol, and strengthens marital intimacy during seasons of grief and relational tension. Learn how practices like grief sex, fight sex, and make-up sex can support emotional resilience, conflict resolution, and deeper connection in marriage when approached with consent, communication, and maturity.
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.
Sensate Focus: A Gentle Way to Reduce Pressure and Restore Presence in Marriage
Sensate Focus is a simple, structured way to reduce pressure and anxiety around physical intimacy in marriage. Rather than focusing on performance or outcomes, it helps couples return their attention to the body and the present moment. This article introduces how Sensate Focus is used carefully in marital coaching and why it can be a helpful support for couples seeking greater ease, trust, and connection in their physical relationship.
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.
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.
Understanding the Practical Basics of Marital Chastity: Complete vs Incomplete Sexual Acts
In this article we walk you through some key terms and concept that will help you understand the fundamentals of marital chastity which may help illuminate our articles a bit more.
Can Spouses Watch Pornography Together?
This article provides a theologically rich answer to whether spouses can watch porn together within marriage. The Church’s teaching against pornography is very clear, but most of what the Church has taught addresses pornography outside of marriage. Here, we address whether it can ever be watched inside marriage.
Reflection on the Day of Prayer for the Unborn
A reflection and call to prayer for the unborn
Pornography and Marriage
In this article, we discuss the dangers of pornography in marriage and mention some resources on how to begin tackling this scourge.
Ask Any Catholic Sexual Ethics Questions You Have!
An open invitation for our readers to ask any questions they may have about Catholic sexual ethics or marital chastity
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.
My Spouse Uses Porn. What Now?
The article offers practical guidance for spouses who discover pornography use in their marriage, helping them understand why the experience is so painful and how to respond in a healthy way. It validates the betrayed spouse’s emotions, clarifies that the betrayal is not their fault, and encourages concrete next steps such as taking time to grieve, seeking support from priests, therapists, and trusted friends, and accessing reputable recovery resources. By framing pornography use as both a serious moral failing and a destructive coping behavior, the article equips spouses with a realistic framework for pursuing healing, compassion, and possible marital restoration.
Moral Guidelines for Catholic Dating: Kissing Before Marriage?
What does the Church teach about kissing before marriage? This article provides a nuanced perspective, drawing from the Church’s magisterium and pastoral wisdom.
When Can Sex Be Interrupted? A Moral Reflection for Catholic Spouses
When can sex be interrupted without committing sin? This article provides practical and concrete moral parameters, showing that the Catholic teaching on marital chastity is both livable yet uncompromising.
Rules for Avoiding Scrupulosity Over Sexual Ethics in Marriage
This article provides practical guidance on avoiding the scourge of scrupulosity when navigating through difficult moral questions pertaining to marital intimacy. It provides peace of mind without compromising the demands of the Gospel!
Looking Ahead to 2026: Gratitude, Growth, and the Work Before Us
As we enter 2026, we reflect briefly on the growth of the past year and share what is now taking shape, including new coaching programs, expanded formation, and renewed opportunities for prayer, teaching, and support.
Low Libido Support (LLS): A Structured Coaching Program for Couples
Low libido is a common source of tension in marriage, but it is rarely just a lack of interest. Low Libido Support (LLS) is a structured coaching program that helps couples reduce sexual pressure, understand how desire works, and rebuild sustainable intimacy through guided practice.
Job Posting: Fundraiser & Grant Writer (Part-Time Independent Contractor)
The Apostolate for Marital Intimacy is seeking a part-time Fundraiser & Grant Writer to help advance our mission of renewing marital intimacy in faithful obedience to the Catholic Church. This independent contractor role is results-driven and donor-facing, with clear benchmarks, significant autonomy, and the opportunity to grow into a long-term leadership position. Candidates must have prior fundraising and grant-writing experience and a demonstrated track record of success.
Advanced Sexual Practice in Marriage: Skill, Depth, and Discerned Growth for Sexually Established Couples
Advanced Sexual Practice in Marriage (ASPM) is a high-end, long-term coaching program for married couples with an already strong and active sex life who want intentional growth rather than repair. It focuses on skill, depth, and discerned novelty within clear moral and relational boundaries.