The Linacre Quarterly Volume 43 | Number 3 Article 5 August 1976 Sexual Ethics: Reaction and Critque Charles E. Curran Follow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq Recommended Citation Curran, Charles E. (1976) "Sexual Ethics: Reaction and Critque," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 43: No. 3, Article 5. Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol43/iss3/5 Sexual Ethics: Reaction and Critque Charles E. Curran The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on J an­ uary 15, 1976, officially released a "Declaration on Certain Ques­ tions Concerning Sexual Ethics," which was signed on December 29, 1975, after having been ap­ proved by the Pope. l A brief sum­ mary of the contents is in order, but one must study .the entire statement which is comparatively short in order to assess it proper­ ly. After noting the unbridled ex­ altation of sex and a licentious hedonism in our society, the docu­ ment points out that the true meaning and value of human sex­ uality is to be found in revelation and in the essential order of na­ ture where one finds the immuta­ ble principles of the divine law by which God directs the universe. These absolute norms are not changed by historical and cultural circumstances, since they are Father Curran, professor of based on the function and nature moral theology at The Catholic of the sexual faculty and act University of America, is a mem­ (n.1-n.5) . ber of LQ's Editorial Advisory The Declaration does not in­ Board. He is the author of nu­ tend to deal with all the abuses merous articles and books, in­ of the sexual faculty but to repeat cluding New Perspectives in Mor­ the church's teaching on some al Theology, Politics, Medicine particular points. Every genital and Christian Ethics: A Dialogue act must be within the framework with Paul Ramsey, and Ongoing of marriage so premarital sex, Revision: Studies in Moral The­ even when there is a firm inten- ology. August, 1976 147 tion to marry, is morally wrong ment ends with a recognition of (n.7). The document distin­ the importance of the virtue of guishes between homosexuality chastity by which one avoids the as transitory or as definitive and above mentioned faults and also incurable. For the definitive ho­ attains higher and more positive mosexual, homosexual acts can goals. Finally, the bishops are never be morally justified as urged to make sure that this right; but on the pastoral level teaching is properly imparted to such persons must be treated with the faithful. understanding and the moral culpability of their acts judged Reaction to the Document with prudence (n.8). On the basis Many national groups of bish­ of the nature of the finality of the ops either through their presi­ sexual faculty, masturbation is dent or as a body issued state­ condemned as an intrinsically and ments praising the document. The seriously disordered act. Although pages of Osservatore Romano in psychological and sociological fac­ the days immediately following tors cannot contradict this judg­ the release of the text contain in ment, psychology does help us to full or in part many of these re­ arrive at a more equitable judg­ actions from national hierarchies. ment on moral responsibility. For example, Archbishop Joseph Psychological imbalance and hab­ L. Bernardin, President of the it can reduce culpability in mas­ United States National Confer­ turbation and in other matters of ence of Catholic Bishops, stated: sexuality, but the absence of seri­ "The Holy See's declaration is a ous responsibility must not be welcome reaffirmation of tradi­ presumed (n.9) . tional Catholic teaching on sexual morality," and praised it for be­ The document points out errors ing "clear, pastoral, and timely."} that deny or minimize the reality In general these statements af­ of mortal or grave sin in sexual firm the allegiance of the bishops matters and in particular rejects to the teaching, point out the false concepts based on the theory prophetic courage involved in of fundamental option which as­ speaking out against poor under­ sert that sin exists only in the standings of human sexuality in formal refusal of God's love. The our society, and emphasize the Congregation repeats the teach­ need for the Catholic faithful to ing that in sexuality all direct vio­ be guided by this teaching. lations of the sexual order are grave-the traditional teaching In a few episcopal statements in the manuals that in sexual there were occasional doubts and matters there is no parvity of hesitations often using as an matter. However, in sexual mat­ opening wedge the following ters free and full consent is not as statement found in the document easily and readily present as in itself-"This traditional doctrine other matters. The Vatican state- must be studied more deeply. It 148 Linacre Quarterly must be handed on in a way ca­ Reaction in the secular press pable of properly enlightening the especially in Europe was general­ consciences of those confronted ly negative even though the sex­ with new situations, and it must ual excesses of contemporary be enriched with a discernment society were often acknowledged.5 of all the elements that can truth­ In the United States the secular fully and usefully be brought for­ press reported the contents of the ward about the meaning and val­ document, but there was little or ue of human sexuality" (n.13). no editorial comment or discus­ Cardinal Doepfner, speaking for sion about the teaching. Many the German Episcopal Confer­ major papers also carried an ar­ ence, generally agreed with the ticle or two containing some nega­ document but criticized it for its tive comments on and reactions deductive methodology which to the Declaration from Catholics makes it more difficult to under­ including Catholic homosexual stand and also pointed out that groups, but there was no extend­ many will regret that some points ed discussion in the secular press.6 have not been treated in a more The New York Daily News print­ detailed and differentiated man­ ed one commentary of a critical ner.3 nature by John Deedy, the man­ Individual bishops have issued aging editor of the Commonweal, their own commentaries on the and later after some protest print­ pronouncement and in so doing ed a more favorable and positive some (e.g., Bishop Mugavero of commentary by Msgr. George A. Brooklyn, Bishop LeBourgeois of Kelly, former Director of the the French diocese of Autun and Family Life Bureau of the Arch­ president of the French bishops' diocese of New York and now committee on Christian unity) holding a chair in contemporary have proposed the teaching in a Catholic problems at St. John's much more positive and pastoral University.7 One ,grievous viola­ way.4 The pastoral letter of Bish­ tion of journalistic ethics must be op Mugavero develops in the first mentioned. Quotidien de Paris place the meaning and value of sent reporters to six different con­ human sexuality in the light of a fessors confessing the sin of mas­ permanent loving relationship; turbation and published what was emphasizes the respect for per­ the reaction of the different con­ sons which was mentioned in the fessors. Cardinal Marty of Paris original document; does not men­ vigorously protested this type of tion the questions of parvity of journalism.8 matter and mortal sin; in general Within the Roman Catholic proposes the teaching in a more press, the readers of Osservatore positive, pastoral and appealing Romano would never have known manner; and also calls for no legal there had been any criticism of discrimination against homosex­ the document except for laments uals. by some of their authors that the August, 1976 149 Declaration was either rejected or about moral guilt especially in the misunderstood by many in the light of social customs, cultural mass media and in society at prejudices, objectively difficult large. Osseruatore Romano faith­ situations, nonculpable personal fully reported the favorable re­ immaturity and other factors that sponses from most of the bishops' can blind the intellect and strong­ conferences in the world. In addi­ ly influence the will.9 tion, for over two weeks there In an article on homosexuality regularly appeared on the front Domenico Capone develops the page a comparatively long article notion of the prudent judgment on the Declaration including es­ which the Congregation calls for says by Roman theologians such in evaluating subjective guilt. The as Delhaye, Garofalo, Spiazzi, theology of the manuals replaced and Ahern as well as by various prudence with a science of cases, bishops. Some of the articles but the call to prudence echoes (e.g., those or Sardi and Capone) the approach of St. Thomas mark a definite improvement over Aquinas and St. Alphonsus Li­ the teaching proposed in the pro­ guori which takes account of the nouncement by the Congregation. contingent and allows for greater Paolo Sardi of the theological flexibility while striving for a syn­ faculty of Torino wrote a very thesis between the objective norm sensitive article on premarital sex­ and the subjective situation. 1O uality beginning with a discussion These two articles together with of the contemporary situation in the statements of some bishops which many people, for reasons as mentioned earlier show that other than bad will, find it diffi­ the teaching of the document can cult to accept the present church be presented in a more positive teaching on sexuality. Bourgeois and meaningful way. hyprocrisy, abnormal prolonga­ The Catholic press in the Unit­ tion of the prematrimonial period, ed States carried various articles social and cultural circumstances, on the Declaration as well as com­ and inadequate education and ments of some critics and sup­ motivation are among the factors porters of the document.