religious teachings on relationships and families in the 21st century

Question 1

What are the four qualities that should be in every marriage?

Answer 1

qualities of a marriage:

• loving
• lifelong
• exclusive
• fruitful - possibility of having children

Question 2

What four elements of a marriage make Catholics believe it is a gift from God?

Answer 2

marriage is a gift from God:

• unites a couple in faithful and mutual love
• opens a couple to giving new life
• a way to respond to God’s call to holiness
• calls the couple to be a sign of Christ’s love in the world

Question 3

What is the difference between the vows and the register?

Answer 3

The register is a legal contract that can be ended. The v vows are a sacrament and a covenant that cannot be ended.

Question 4

What are civil marriages?

Answer 4

Civil marriages are a public declaration of two people’s love and commitment, regardless of gender.

Question 5

What is cohabitation? Why do Catholics disapprove?

Answer 5

Cohabitation is two people living and being together without a legal binding contract or a sacrament. Catholics disapprove of this because it increases the temptation of premarital sex.

Question 6

What is the Catholic belief on same-sex relationships?

Answer 6

Catholics believe that homosexuality is not a sin, but homosexual relationships are.

Question 7

What is extramarital sex?

Answer 7

Extramarital sex is adultery, or having an affair.

Question 8

What is premarital sex?

Answer 8

Premarital sex is sex before marriage, which is completely wrong in the eyes of Catholics.

Question 9

What percentage of 17 year olds in recent times have had sex?

Answer 9

Above 50% of 17 y/o have had sex (premarital), as of 2001.

Question 10

What percentage of babies are born to unmarried parents in the UK?

Answer 10

47.5% of babies are born to unmarried parents in the UK (2013).

Question 11

How long has same sex marriage been legal for, and where?

Answer 11

Same sex marriage has been legal in England, Wales and Scotland since 2014.

Question 12

What does the Church believe about artificial contraception? Why?

Answer 12

The Church believes that artificial contraception is wrong because it undermines sexual relations as being unitive and procreative.

Question 13

What are four beliefs Catholics have about the family?

Answer 13

Catholics believe the family is:

• created by God
• where children should be brought up
• the principle place for teaching morals
• where children learn faith and pray

Question 14

What two factors influence the Church’s teachings about family?

Answer 14

influences for Church’s teachings about family:

• the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, they were faithful, obedient to God, protective and dedicated)
• influenced by the sacrament of matrimony (both should be lifelong, loving, supportive etc)
• seen as a vocation of the Church

Question 15

What is an extended family?

Answer 15

An extended family includes grandparents, aunts, uncles etc living together.

Question 16

What is a blended family?

Answer 16

A blended family is a couple where one or both have children from a previous relationship.

Question 17

What is a nuclear family?

Answer 17

A nuclear family is two parents of the opposite sex and their children.

Question 18

Which type of family does the Church believe is the best way to raise a Catholic family?

Answer 18

Whilst the Church does recognise different types of family (blended, single parent, same sex parents, extended), they believe the best way to raise a Catholic family is a nuclear family.

Question 19

What six things does the Church do to support families?

Answer 19

to support families:

• family worship
• groups for children
• classes for parents
• counselling
• family group movement
• charities / donations

Question 20

How does family worship support families?

Answer 20

family worship

• a time to be together
• encourages younger children to attend
• builds their faith together, unites them

Question 21

How do groups for children support families?

Answer 21

groups for children

• youth groups, mother and toddler groups, Guides, Scouts
• children’s liturgy in mass gives children a time to grow in their faith

Question 22

How do classes for parents support families?

Answer 22

classes for parents

• to train parents to be a good Catholic parent
• marriage preparation classes teaches family planning
• Catechesis for baptism and Holy Communion help them better understand the sacraments

Question 23

How does counselling support families?

Answer 23

counselling

• most parish priests are trained counselors
• organisations like Marriage Care provide free counselling
• this helps the family to stay together and become stronger

Question 24

How does Family Group Movement support families?

Answer 24

Family Group Movement

- parish friendship groups encourage people to support each other through low cost activities

Question 25

What is the Catholic approach on abortion?

Answer 25

Abortion to Catholics is forbidden as it is taking away the possibility of life, as in the sanctity of life, so they are pro-life.

Question 26

What are the laws in the UK and Ireland on abortion currently?

Answer 26

UK - abortion is legal under certain circumstances

Ireland - only allow abortion to save the mother’s life

Question 27

Why do some humanists and atheists believe contraception can be acceptable?

Answer 27

Some humanists and atheists believe contraception can be acceptable as it helps people to be responsible and regulate births.

Question 28

What is a humanist?

Answer 28

A humanist is someone who emphasises the value of human beings.

Question 29

What contraceptive methods may some Christians allow and why?

Answer 29

Some Christians may allow non-abortive contraception methods, which prevent pregnancy instead of terminating it (allow condoms, not the morning after pill etc).

Question 30

What does the Church of England say about contraception?

Answer 30

The Church of England says that contraception is not regarded as a sin or going against God’s purpose.

Question 31

What is situation ethics?

Answer 31

Situation ethics is deciding what is right or wrong depending on the circumstances.

Question 32

When does the Catholic Church believe life begins?

Answer 32

The Catholic Church believes life begins at conception.

Question 33

What is divorce? Do churches allow people to get remarried after this?

Answer 33

Divorce is the ending of a legal marriage by the court of law. You cannot get remarried in the Catholic Church, but other Christian Churches allow it.

Question 34

What is annulment? Do churches allow people to get remarried after this?

Answer 34

Annulment is a declaration that the marriage was never valid; this is rare. You can get remarried in the Catholic Church as long as a legal divorce is also obtained.

Question 35

What is remarriage? Do churches allow people to get remarried after this?

Answer 35

Remarriage is getting married after having been married before. This is only allowed in the Catholic Church if their old partner died.

Question 36

Why is divorce so strictly forbidden in the Church?

Answer 36

Divorce is strictly forbidden as a covenant is made at marriage, so it cannot be broken.

Question 37

What are non-religious attitudes towards divorce and remarriage?

Answer 37

non-religious attitudes towards divorce and marriage

• marriage is not considered sacred, so support liberal divorce laws
• don’t object to remarriage
• believe in situation ethics

Question 38

What do some Catholics believe when the marriage is bad or abusive?

Answer 38

Some Catholics believe that the effects of a bad marriage can be significant on the couple and children, so it is sometimes necessary to end the legal marriage, but the covenant must continue.

Question 39

What does the Church teach about the treatment of men and women?

Answer 39

The Church teaches that men and women should have equal roles and rights, but women cannot be ordained. They can be in other Christian Churches, like Church of England and Methodists.

Question 40

What are three similarities and two differences between men and women, shown in the Adam and Eve story?

Answer 40

similarities between men and women

• both were created in the image of God
• both disobeyed God
• both are cursed for their disobedience

differences between men and women

• woman is made from man’s rib, so they would compliment and fulfill each other’s needs
• cursed for their disobedience in different ways

Question 41

What does the Church teach about work at home?

Answer 41

The Church teaches that it is of equal importance to bringing in income, so whoever does it should not be judged by society or penalised economically.

Question 42

What us Jesus’ example towards prejudice and discrimination?

Answer 42

Jesus said to love everyone, and he said to treat everyone with respect and as individuals. He also helped several women and men.

Question 43

What are some divergent attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination in the Church?

Answer 43

divergent attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination

• Jesus only had male disciples
• in most branches of the Church, women can’t be ordained