You are here
Traditional approach to sexual ethics is being challenged in major churches.
Primary tabs
Text transcribed from original caption.
For further info, pls. see Wk in Rel
PHOTO NUMBER:
PC-53526
Suggested for use with:
WEEK IN RELIGION 4/18/80
TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO SEXUAL ETHICS
IS BEING CHALLENGED IN MAJOR CHURCHES
Artist Joe Giacalone's cartoon, above, and its
humorous punchline, suggest the intense concern among Christians
for the complicated matter of human sexuality.
As churches continue to search for an answer to the question of whether
sexual practice is inherently sinful, the study panels of several
denominations have concluded that it is more appropriate to focus on
human relationships than in universal rules dealing with these concerns.
A task force of the United Church of God of Canada has aroused controversy
over its "contextual" recommendations, soon to be submitted to the church's
general council, in which it states: "That sexual intercourse may be right
for singles under certain circumstances; 'mature, self-accepting
homosexuals' should be admitted to the ministry; the church should stress
'intention to faithfulness' rather than 'sexual exclusivity' within
marriage and masturbation as a normal part of human sexuality." The
report urges that all sexual relationships be viewed in the light of
four criteria: "Are they creative and liberating? Are they mutually
supportive? Are they socially responsible? Are they joyous?"
In many ways, the Canadian task force document is similar to a disputed
1977 report by a commission of the Catholic Theological Society of
America. The commission, which included two priests, two laymen and a
nun, suggested that human sexuality be viewed from "personalist"
criteria, rather than an objective approach that categorizes certain
actions as "intrinsically evil." Their report, Human Sexuality,
published by Paulist Press, upholds the principle that "wholesome human
sexuality is that which fosters a creative growth toward integration."
The authors maintain that this is the standard against which acts
such as contraception, masturbation, pre-marital sex, adultery,
homosexuality, fornication, sodomy or bestiality --formerly held to be
"intrinsically evil" -- should be measured.
The doctrinal committee of the U.S. Catholic bishops denounced the
conclusions as "pastorally dangerous and contradictory to theological
tradition," and the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith reprimanded the authors "for the erroneous conclusions and the
potentially harmful impact these ideas can have on the correct formation
of the Christian conscience of so many people." In 1975, the traditional
Catholic Church's position had been reaffirmed by the Vatican Declaration
on Sexual Ethics -- which declared that "all extra-marital sex,
masturbation and homosexual acts are objectively evil in and of
themselves."
Other church bodies have indicated possible changes in their approaches to
human sexuality. A British Methodist panel concluded last year that
"Christian morality cannot be expressed in terms of approval or
disapproval of particular acts considered in isolation from the
circumstances in which they are performed and the persons who perform
them," and a proposed position paper of the American Lutheran Church --
while maintaining its traditional stand on most sexual practices -- admits
that the church has been guilty of much that is anti-sexual.
As churches apply the teachings of Bible, scholarship and scientific
research to their positions on human sexuality, they are facing the old
question of whether they can update traditional approaches without
compromising basic doctrines. On one point, however, both
conservatives and liberals seem to agree -- it is vitally important
for the church to address the issue.
Credit Must Read:
RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO
(Reproduction Rights Not Transferable) (CF-NY-4A-80-JH)