Culture of Death

In March 1995, Pope John Paul II spoke of a profound "crisis of culture" which was against the world
... marriage & family. A mentality against life enhancing culture, which he called as "Culture of Death"
... The phrase "culture of life"
Is described by Catholic moral theologians as philosophy that human life,at all stages from conception through to natural death, is sacred. As such , a "culture of life" is claimed to be opposed to seen by it's proponents as destructive of human life.often including embryonic stem cell research, abortion , euthanasia, contraception, sex outside marriage,capital punishment,greed, degradation sadistic humiliation, narcissism, selfishness, poverty and war.
The "culture of death" degrades the human person and encourages a mentality that devalues the institution of marriage and family. When it comes to human relationships, the human person is degraded into an object of pleasure, and the sanctity of marriage is not valued thus giving approval to pre-marital sex and extra-marital affairs.

Changes in Language Instituted by the Culture of Death

•  Pre-Marital Sex is now called co-habitation
•. Contraception methods - reproduce health products
•. Abortion - woman's health issue
•. Euthanasia - death with dignity
•  Pornography - sexuality explicit material
•. Child molestation - Inter - generated love
•. Promiscuity - serial monogomy
•  Adultery - flexible monogomy
•. Partner in adultery - significant other
•. Bestiality - interspecies love

We are called to give witness to love and life in these challenging times when the "culture of death" mentality is challenging the very foundation of the Christian understanding of the human person,marriage and family.

The Church is a mother and loves her children and wants the best for you,as a mother she has a  duty to teach the Truth to her children.When we talk about Catholic Morality we need to keep these thoughts in mind that the Church teaches as a mother.

Our Fundamental Vocation is to Love

Catholic Morality should be understood in the context of our vocation to love. God created man in His own image and likeness: calling him in existence in love, through love and for love. Therefore LOVE is our fundamental vocation. Two specific ways of realizing this vocation to love : Single life (virginity/celibacy) or Marriage is the vocation of the Majority of the people.

Some terms:
There are certain terms we need to be familiar with when we talk about Christian Morality in Relationships
Chastity: Living in a world with a growing hedonistic mentality,we draw our attention to the value of Chastity. Chastity/Celibacy is not a value to be witnessed only by priests and nuns but all Christians. Catholicism defines chastity as the virtue that moderates the sexual appetite ( Summa Theologia I-II q. 60 a. 5).
Unmarried Catholics express chastity through sexual abstinence. Sexual intercourse within marriage is considered chaste when it retains the twofold significance of unity and procreation.(Human Vitae [HV]. 12)
Chastity as a moral virtue regulates the use of one's sexuality in such a way that the "I" can encounter the particular "thou" validly and lovingly, abstaining from sexual dealings which will harm the encounter.

Sexuality: Sexuality is not something related only to the body,but something that affects the whole person in the depth of his/her being, where his/her "I" is discovered. We have the genetic and the generic component of our sexuality, and Generic-affective and personal dimension.   

Christian view of the human body

° Gen. 1, 27: Human beings are created in the image of God
° Dignity of human person, God created man in his own image and likeness (Gen.1:27). Hence, body is the medium or sign that reveal God's love, power, goodness etc.therfore body is very sacred.
• In this context, the vocation and dignity of the human person should be clearly understood.
° Mature sexual behavior comes from a proper  understanding of the sacredness of our sexuality.
° Problem today- Morals have been corrupted, modern communication media only adds to this corruption- influence of films. T.V. serials, print media and opinion polls.
° We need to beware of the influence of "Hedonistic Culture".
° True human person is sacred and not for use and abuse.
° Sincere intention alone is not enough: life must be based on objective standards.
° All our relationships should be guided by the universal norm of love.
° The general and basic principles in this domain are: sex has a finality, which determines its morality.

Mutual self-giving and procreation make up the finality.
This finality is preserved only in marriage. Therefore, general sex is justified only in marriage and consequently the use of sex outside marriage is immoral.

Respecting Relationship Boundaries:

Every human relationship is moderated by "relationship boundaries". We need to respect persons & their boundaries. The Church teaches that sexual union is permitted only in a spousal relationship,all sexual encounters outside marriage are immoral. Under the given topic we are going to discuss briefly just three topics namely:
Premarital Sex
Extra-Marital Affairs
Contraception.

PRE-MARITAL SEXUAL RELATIONS

Entered by those unmarried or in preparation for marriage.
Why is Pre-Marital Sex is Wrong?
1. They behave as spouses before they become.
     Sexual intercourse is a "typical expression"
     and unique to marital Union. Hence to   
     perform it they should be married couples,
2.  They distort and reduce the marriage  
      commitment.
*     The decisive act of self-giving and   
       acceptance is valid if expressed in 
       particular moment of time (celebration or
       sacrament) This commitment is not a
       private affair but has to be made publicly.
3.    They point to a false language.
*.     Sexual act is a language which is deep and
       Expressed between two married people.
*.     Sexual interaction uses a deep and 
       exclusive language. In PMS they use a 
       language and do not mean it. Therefore, it
       is cheating. They give their bodies but not 
       themselves. Therefore, no self-giving. It is
       dissection of the person, they give their
       body but not their inner selves.
4.   They act intentionally against the 
      Procreative and of marriage - use of 
      contraception 
5.   One cannot use persons, but only things. 
      The sexual gesture is done without any
      interior meaning.
6.   Such actions leave in them a deep sense of
      psychological incompleteness.
*.    whole person not involved.
*.    develop a 'playboy and playgirl psychology'

For those preparing for marriage the Church
would say: Genuine Love is tested by its 
openness to make sacrifices.

     

EXTRA MARITAL AFFAIRS

Adultery can be Single or Double depending on whether one or    both are married. Why is Extra-Marital Affair wrong?

1. The word given on the wedding day is a serious word. They contradict the significance of  the sexual gesture performed with the spouse.
Sexual gesture points to a reciprocal gift and interior union. Relationship with a third party contradicts it.
2. Sexual act in Marriage  expresses a fundamental option  for the spouse.
Extra Marital Act directly compromises two persons in reciprocal                      choice and self-donation.
3. It destroys the  intimacy of conjugal dialogue and uniqueness of the sexual language.
* Human person uses several languages. The Sexual gesture is the secret language reserved only for spouses. Extra- Marital Affairs becomes a betrayal of a secret.
4. Contradicts the basic respect due for a Human person.
- Person unique and non-exchangeable
- We exchange things but not persons
- Extra Marital Affair - people regard others not as a person but as a partner.

How healthy would a marriage be if the couple were unfaithful to their wedding vows?

In the   domain of    sexuality what is Jesus Calling us to?

* Neither sexual slavery nor sexual repression
* But Sexual Redemption
* Lust blinds us to the true beauty of the  human  body & of the true marital love.

The SPOUSES are MINISTERS

* MINISTERS of love and life
* Marital COVENANT is a permanent bond
* The marital covenant mirrors the DIVINE Covenant: The Christ-Church Union 
* Married couple a living sign in the world.
* Marriage - a loving sign that communicates Permanence,togetherness & happiness.