Issues of Relationships

Question 1

Views on Divorce: Roman Catholic Church

Answer 1

Not allowed
‘Become one flesh’
Technically till death do you part, any other sexual intercourse is adultery
You got married and ‘became one flesh’ if you get divorced, according to the church you will always be one flesh until one of you dies, so if you divorce while your ex is alive, to the roman catholic church you are committing adultery. Divorce is not allowed.

Question 2

Views on Divorce: Church of England

Answer 2

Allows remarriage after divorce in exceptional circumstances
However it leaves it to up to each individual priest to decide what exceptional circumstances are.
Up to individual priest
It allows forgiveness and flexibility but not so much leeway that people who clearly aren’t committed can remarry
But it isn’t applied uniformly, because its up to the individual priest it means the rules vary from church to church.

Question 3

Views on Divorce: Quakers

Answer 3

Allow and believe in divorce and remarriage after divorce as long as they believe that person is ‘approaching remarriage with the intention of making a genuine lifelong commitment’.

Question 4

Contraception

Answer 4

Methods used to prevent a woman becoming pregnant during or following sexual intercourse

Question 5

Thomas Aquinas Natural Law

Answer 5

He set our five primary precepts
Self-preservation/ preservation of the innocence
Continuation of the species through reproduction
Education of children
To live in society
To worship God

Question 6

Contraception: Roman Catholic Church

Answer 6

Takes an absolutist view of Aquinas’ Natural law - it should always be followed. The roman catholic church would argue that artificial contraception should never be used to prevent pregnancy. Natural contraception is the only form of contraception that is acceptable.

Question 7

Contraception: Anglicans, Methodists, Quakers

Answer 7

Might argue that humans were given free will and conscience to help them decide what to do, and that using contraception might sometimes be the moral and right thing to do, from a Christian standpoint.

Question 8

Christian argument for contraception

Answer 8

Ephesians - families should try to be loving; there might be times when the most loving thing is not to have a child
We have freewill and conscience - we should exercise it.
Genesis I - We have a duty of stewardship
Christians are called to be loving, and prevent harm where they can - the use of contraception can prevent diseases e.g. HIV/AIDS

Question 9

Women in the catholic church:

Answer 9

Procreation (w/ husband)
Bringing up children in the catholic church
Can’t be priests
Nuns

Question 10

Should women be Priests?

Answer 10

Some christians believe women shouldn’t be able to, but it is shown in the bible that women had very important roles early on
In 2010, the Vatican declared that to ordain a woman was a serious sin

Question 11

Gender Equality

Answer 11

Men + women equal
Peace
Voting rights - 32% of MP’s are women
Gender pay gap
For full time work women get paid less
For part time work men get paid less
Custody rights
Jobs - still single gender dominated industries
Emotions - gender stereotypes, men=tough, women=emotional

Question 12

Same-sex marriage: Church of England

Answer 12

Marriage act does not permit the church of England or the church of Wales to carry out same-sex marriages

Question 13

Same-sex marriage: Roman Catholic Church

Answer 13

Remains opposed to same-sex marriage

Question 14

Same-sex marriage: Quakers

Answer 14

For same-sex marriage, will carry out ceremonies
All love is equal
Nature and quality of relationship not the couple that is crucial
“we believe all are born equal and our love is equal too. It is the nature and quality of the relationship not the couple that is crucial, not wether they are opposite sex or same sex”