Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 5-6-2016 Understanding Human Sexuality in John Paul II’s Theology of the Body: An Analysis of the Historical Development of Doctrine in the Catholic Tradition John Segun Odeyemi Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Odeyemi, J. (2016). Understanding Human Sexuality in John Paul II’s Theology of the Body: An Analysis of the Historical Development of Doctrine in the Catholic Tradition (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1548 This One-year Embargo is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. UNDERSTANDING HUMAN SEXUALITY IN JOHN PAUL II’S THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF DOCTRINE IN THE CATHOLIC TRADITION. A Dissertation Submitted to Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By John Segun Odeyemi May 2016 Copyright by John Segun Odeyemi 2016 UNDERSTANDING HUMAN SEXUALITY IN JOHN PAUL II’S THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF DOCTRINE IN THE CATHOLIC TRADITION. By John Segun Odeyemi Approved on March 31, 2016 _______________________________ __________________________ Prof. George S. Worgul Jr. S.T.D., Ph.D. Dr. Elizabeth Cochran Professor of Theology Associate Professor of Theology (Dissertation Director) (Committee Member) ________________________________ ________________________________ Rev. Dr. Gregory I. Olikenyen C.S.Sp. Dr. James Swindal Assistant Professor of Theology Dean, McAnulty College and Graduate (Committee Member) School of Liberal Arts iii DEDICATION In honor of my dearly beloved parents on the 50th anniversary of their marriage, (October 30th, 1965 – October 30th 2015) Richard Tunji and Agnes Morolayo Odeyemi. I thank you for your many years of sacrifices for us your children and many, many extended family members and friends. Thank you for your forthrightness, fortitude, love of God and dedication to family. AND In ever loving memory of “a man for all seasons”, The Very Reverend Father Neil McCauley of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, USA. Born: Nov. 22, 1939 Ordained to the Catholic Priesthood: May 14, 1966 Entered Eternal Life: June 28, 2014. A man who showed me through the simplicity of his own life and service, how to be a servant to God’s people through acts of kindness and to be a brother to other priests in such a selfless manner. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT “Levabo oculos meos in montes; unde veniet auxilium mihi? Auxilium meum a Domino, qui fecit caelum, et terram” – Ps. 121:1 I thank the almighty God and Father, creator, He who makes all things possible. I thank Jesus who redeemed us with His unfailing love. I thank the Holy Spirit who inspires goodness and continues to lead us into all truths. I thank the blessed Mother of God whose love for me is undeniable. To my local ordinary, Most Rev. Ayo Maria Atoyebi OP, my brothers of the diocesan Presbyteral family of the Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, Nigeria. To my family; my dad and mum, my older sister, Tina Olaoye, my younger sisters, Pauline Odeyemi and Angelina Salako, my two brothers, Emmanuel and Peter Odeyemi and their families, sincere thanks for your prayers, moral support and unflagging encouragement. To Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, especially the faculty members of the department of theology. Special recognition must be accorded Prof. George Worgul Jnr, who admitted me into the program and who was my chair of theology for three years. Dr. Marie Baird, a most capable and energetic director of doctoral program in theology, Dr. Maureen O’Brien, current Chair of theology, Dr. Elizabeth Agnew Cochran, Rev. Dr. Gregory I. Olikenyi C.S.SP my first and second readers respectfully and members of my dissertation committee. To our beloved ‘elder’ Rev. Dr. Eugene Elochukwu Uzukwu C.S.SP and ‘senior brother’ Dr. Marinus Iwuchukwu. I am eternally grateful for the fraternal charity and support of Very Rev. Fathers Louis Vallone, Carmen D’Amico, who both have been truly a source of inspiration and encouragement all through the good and not so great moments of this journey. Very Rev. Frs. Ezekiel Ade Owoeye, Anthony Taiye Fadairo, and Frs. Anselm Jimoh Ph.D, Francis Adedara Ph.D, Emmanuel Ogundele Ph.D, Stephen Ogumah (Ph.D ABD), Msgr. Paschal Nwaezeapu and so many others too numerous to mention. And some of the many people sent by God to give me a helping hand all through this journey, morally, spiritually and financially; Grandma Jean Szermer (who turns a 100 years old on May 19, 2016), my friends Bernadette and Gary Butler, whose friendship and support over these years has never once waivered, Michele Fagan, Irene Lahr, Dr. Yinka Aganga Williams, Andrew and Diana James, Toritseju Omaghomi (Doctoral student at University of Cincinnati, Ohio), Mr. Cyril Okolo and family. And all the good people of St. Benedict the Moor Church, Church of the Epiphany, St. Mary of Mercy, St. John of God Parish and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, all Churches within the diocese of Pittsburgh where I have had the good fortune of serving the people of God in the last couple of years. To my fellow travelers on this wonderful journey; Mark Otwein Ph.D, Rufus Burnett Jr. Ph.D, Ximena DeBroeck (ABD), Martin Ahiaba (ABD), Fr. Emmanuel Ahua C.S.SP (ABD), Joyce Konigsburg (ABD), Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu CMF (Doctoral Candidate), Fr. Felix Onyebuchi Okeke (Doctoral Candidate) v and everyone else who in one way or another ‘pushed’ and ‘nudged’ me when I was tired, slow or became lethargic, to all of you I extend my sincere appreciation and extend God’s abundant blessings in all things and in all ways. Finally and to all who in so many different ways push me to be the best version of myself and to live and act In persona Christi Capiti, may God bless you all. John Segun Odeyemi vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................................1 Chapter One: Official Documents and Encyclicals in Historical time line: ............................17 Leo XIII. ARCANUM DIVINAE SAPIENTIAE: Encyclical letter on Christian Marriage. Feb. 10, 1880 ..................................................................................19 Pius XI. CASTI CONNUBII: Encyclical Letter on Christian Marriage. Dec. 31, 1930 .................................................................................................26 Paul VI. HUMANAE VITAE, Encyclical Letter on The Regulation of Birth, July 25, 1968...........................................................................33 From Humanae Vitae to Theology of the Body/Theology of Life: John Paul II. FAMILIARIS CONSORTIO: Synodal Exhortation on the Christian Family in the Modern World. Nov. 22, 1981 ......................................43 John Paul II. VERITATIS SPLENDOR: Encyclical letter on The Splendor of Truth. Aug. 6, 1993 .............................................................................46 John Paul II. EVANGELIUM VITAE: Encyclical letter on The Gospel of Life. Nov. 25, 1995 ................................................................................57 Chapter Two: John Paul II’s Theology of the Body: ...............................................................69 JP II’s Theology of the Body: An Overview ..................................................................69 Faith and Love in St. John of the Cross ..........................................................................78 Biblical and Exegetical Foundations: .............................................................................90 “Male and Female, He created them”: The Genesis Account. .......................................95 The Sermon on the Mount: The Mathew Account .........................................................99 The Marriage of the Lamb: Ephesians 5 Account ........................................................102 Sexuality and Marriage in JPII’s TOB. .........................................................................106 Critical Evaluations of JP II’s TOB ..............................................................................109 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................125 Chapter Three: The Natural Law in Contemporary Thinking (Marriage as Basic Good): ...127 A brief overview of traditional understanding of the Natural Law Theory ..................127 Thomas Aquinas ...........................................................................................................140 Germain Grisez, John Finnis.........................................................................................151 Critique of the NNLT....................................................................................................159 Marriage as a Basic Good in NNLT School .................................................................169 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................172 vii Chapter Four: Interactions: Contemporary Thinkers on Sexuality within Marriage: ...........178 John Grabowski ............................................................................................................178