SHHS unit 3 Marriage and Family Life Cards

Question 1

3.1 What did people expect from marriage and family life in the 1960s?

Answer 1

1. Young people would not have sex until marriage
2. Most people would be marriage in church by 25 Marriages would last a lifetime
3. Most families would consist of a husband, wife and children (nuclear family)
4. Homosexuals would not be seen in public because homosexual sex between adult males was a criminal offence.

Question 2

3.1 How have attitudes changed towards marriage and family life?

Answer 2

1. Most people have sex before marriage
2. It is now socially acceptable for couples to cohabit rather than marry and a greater % are doing so.
3. Only a minority of marriages happen in a church (60% in 1970, 34% in 2006)
4. Divorce is accepted as a normal part of life, there has been a great increase in the number of divorces.
5. The extended family is becoming more popular.
6. Single-parent families have increased considerably as more couples divorce.
7. More children being brought up by cohabiting parents (11% in 2006)

Question 3

3.1 Why have attitudes have changed? Cohabitation and marriage

Answer 3

1. The increased availability of effective contraception made it safer to have sex without becoming pregnant.
2. Christianity lost its influence and so people were not encourages to refrain from sex until they married.
3. There was increased media publicity of celebrities which made cohabitation appear respectable and led to it becoming more popular.
4. The presentation on television and in films of sexual relationships outside marriage as the norm led to more people regarding sex outside marriage as acceptable.

Question 4

3.1 Why have attitudes have changed? Divorce

Answer 4

1. In 1969 new laws made divorce cheaper and easier.
2. Expectations of what marriages should be like have changed.
3. Before the equal rights legislation, married women were often dependent on their husbands for financial support.
4. There has also been a change in how long people are likely to be married.

Question 5

3.1 Why have attitudes have changed? Family Life

Answer 5

1. The increase in the number of cohabiting couples means there are now many more families where the parents are not married.
2. The increase in divorce has led to an increase in remarriage. This means there are many more reconstituted families.
3. The extended family is becoming more popular.
4. The increase in the number of divorces has led to an increase in the number of single-parent families.

Question 6

3.1 Why have attitudes have changed? Homosexuality

Answer 6

1. The various changes in the laws on homosexuality..
2. Medical research has shown that homosexuality is most probably genetic.
3. Society began to realise that at least 5% of the population is homosexual, so people began to accept equal status .
4. The increased openness of gay celebrities has led to a greater acceptance of all gay people.

Question 7

3.2 What are the Christian attitudes to sex outside marriage? (MOST Christians)

Answer 7

MOST Christians believe that sex outside marriage is wrong because:

1. Christianity teaches that sex was given to humans by God to bond a married couple together and for the procreation of children.
2. The Bible says that fornication(pre-marital sex and promiscuity) is sinful and Christians should follow the teachings of the Bible.
3. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that pre-marital sex is wrong.
4. All Christians are against adultery because it breaks the wedding vows to be faithful to each other.

Question 8

3.2 What are the Christian attitudes to sex outside marriage? (SOME Christians)

Answer 8

Some Christians accept that couples may live together before marriage, but they would expect them to marry when starting a family and would only accept a sexual relationship between two people in a long-term relationship.

Question 9

3.3 What are the purposes of marriage in Catholic Christianity?

Answer 9

1. So that a couple can have a life-long relationship of love and faithfulness.
2. So that a couple can have the support and comfort of each other.
3. For the procreation of children For the bringing up of a Christian family.
4. Marriage is one of the 7 sacraments of the church and is a sign of grace and strength given through God.

Question 10

3.3 How is love and faithfulness shown in the wedding ceremony?

Answer 10

1. The exchange of vows committing the partners to lifetime marriage and restricting sex to each other
2. The exchange of rings symbolizing the unending nature of marriage
3. The priests introduction to the service which emphasizes the fact that marriage is a special sacrament which cannot be broken by husband or wife.
4. Readings from the Bible and a sermon or homily given by the priest or deacon on the nature of Christian marriage as a life-long relationship of love and faithfulness.

Question 11

3.3 How is having the support and comfort of each other shown in the wedding ceremony?

Answer 11

1. A preparation course which the couple must take before the ceremony. This is religious counselling between the bride, groom and a priest or deacon.
2. The priest asking the couple if they will honor and love one another as husband and life for the rest of their lives.
3. The marriage vows and exchange of rings.
4. The readings and homily are also likely to refer to the need for support and comfort.
5. The prayers and nuptial mass give the couple God’s grace and strength to support and comfort each other.

Question 12

3.3 How is having children shown in the wedding ceremony?

Answer 12

1. The priest asking the couple if they will accept children from God lovingly and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church.
2. He asks this before the marriage vows and the couple must agree to this for the wedding ceremony to continue.
3. The readings, homily and prayers all refer to the acceptance of children as an essential feature of Catholic marriage.

Question 13

3.3 How is bringing up children in a Christian family shown in the wedding ceremony?

Answer 13

1. The preparation course.
2. The priest asking the couple if they will accept children from God lovingly and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church.

Question 14

3.4 What is the Catholic attitude to divorce?

Answer 14

1. Does not allow religious divorce or remarriage.
2. Marriage is a sacrament made before God. The only way to dissolve a marriage is through death or annulment.
3. The Catholic church does allow for the legal separation of spouses if they find it impossible to live together and even a civil divorce if that will ensure the proper care of children and the safety and security of the married partner.
4. The church does allow annulment if it can be proved the marriage was never consummated or it was not a true Christian marriage.

Question 15

3.4 Why does the Catholic Church not allow re-marriage?

Answer 15

The couple are always married in the eyes of God and Church and so cannot re-marry. This is because:

1. Jesus taught that divorce is wrong in Marks Gospel and Christians follow the teachings of Jesus.
2. The couple have made a covenant with God in the sacrament of marriage and that covenant cannot be broken by an earthly power.
3. The church teaches very clearly in the Catechism that a marriage cannot be dissolved and so religious divorce is impossible.
4. As there can be no religious divorce there can be no remarriage because that would be the same as bigamy and adultery.

Question 16

3.4 What is the attitude of non-Catholic Christians on divorce?

Answer 16

Most non-Catholic Churches think that divorce is wrong, but allow it if the marriage has broken down. They allow divorce because:

1. Jesus allowed divorce.
2. They believe that there are certain situations where Christians must choose ‘the lesser of two evils’.
3. Christians are allowed forgiveness and a new chance if they confess their sins and are truly repentant. This forgiveness should apply to divorce and remarriage.

Question 17

3.5 Why is family life important for Catholics?

Answer 17

1. Catholicism teaches that the family was created by God as the basic unit of society and as the only place in which children should be brought up.
2. Catholic teaching on divorce makes it clear that Catholic parents should stay together wherever possible.
3. The family is the place where children learn the difference between right and wrong, without this there would be more evil in the world.
4. Having a family is an expected outcome of Catholic marriage.

Question 18

3.6 How do Catholic parishes help with the upbringing of children?

Answer 18

1. Most parishes have a local Catholic school connected to them. These provide Catholic education and worship in addition to the standard education.
2. Parishes run classes to prepare children for their first communion, confession and confirmation.
3. Some parishes run children’s liturgies to help young children understand the Church and the Mass, and to allow parents to be at Sunday worship.
4. Some parishes also run youth clubs and youth activities so that children are kept off the streets and away from bad influences.

Question 19

3.7 How do Catholic parishes help to keep families together?

Answer 19

1. During mass the priest may remind parents of the vows they made in their marriage ceremony and also of other reasons not to divorce.
2. The parish priest is always available to give help and advice to couples having family problems.
3. The church has produced a series of leaflets – ‘what is life like?’ to help parishes understand and meet the needs of families facing specific challenges.
4. Many parishes also provide financial support if for example, the family wage-earner is ill or made redundant.

Question 20

3.8 What is the Catholic attitude to homosexuality?

Answer 20

• The Catholic attitude towards homosexuality is that being a homosexual is not a sin. Homosexual relationships are a sin.
• The Catholic church asks homosexuals to live without any sexual activity
• The church condemns all forms of homophobia.
• It believes it is sinful to harass homosexuals or attack their behaviour.

Question 21

3.8 Why is this the Catholic attitude to homosexuality?

Answer 21

1. The Bible condemns homosexual activity.
2. It is the tradition of the church that sexual activity should be creative as well as to unite a couple and it is not possible for homosexuals to have procreative sex.
3. It is the teaching of the Magisterium found in the Catechism that Catholics should follow.
4. The Church teaches that people cannot help their sexual orientation, therefore discriminating against people because of their sexual orientation is wrong.

Question 22

3.8 What is the Evangelical Protestant attitude to homosexuality?

Answer 22

• Homosexuality is a sin.
• They believe that there should be no homosexual Christians and hold special prayer meetings to give homosexuals the power of the Spirit to change their sexual preference.

Question 23

3.8 Why is this the Evangelical Protestant attitude to homosexuality?

Answer 23

1. They believe that the Bible is the direct word of God and as the Bible condemns homosexuality in some passages it must be wrong.
2. They believe that the salvation of Christ can remove all sins, including homosexuality.
3. They believe it because all the churches has taught it, even though some now say homosexuality is acceptable.
4. However, they say that they would call on churches to welcome homosexuals the same as they would any other person.

Question 24

3.8 What is the Liberal Protestant attitude to homosexuality?

Answer 24

• Many Liberal Protestants have the attitude that lifelong homosexual relationships are acceptable.
• Homosexuals are welcomed into the Church, but homosexual relationships cannot be equal to Christian marriage.
• It is accepted that ministers may have a homosexual orientation but they must not take part in homosexual sex.

Question 25

3.8 Why is this the Liberal Protestant attitude to homosexuality?

Answer 25

1. Teachings of the Bible need reinterpreting in the light of modern knowledge and that the anti-homosexual texts in the Bible are a reflection of the Jewish culture a the time rather than the word of God.
2. Christian belief in love and acceptance means that homosexuals must be accepted.
3. Many believe that inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit as well as the Bible and if Christians feel the Spirit approves of homosexuality, it cannot be denied.
4. They believe that Christians should be open and honest and refusing rights to gay Christians encourage them to be dishonest and hypocritical about their nature and life.

Question 26

3.9 What are the different methods of contraception?

Answer 26

Natural Methods and Artificial Methods

Question 27

3.9 Can you give an example of Natural Methods of Contraception?

Answer 27

Natural Family Planning (Planning sex around when the female is most fertile)

Question 28

3.9 Can you give an example of Artificial Methods of Contraception?

Answer 28

Condoms, the pill, the injection, the coil, the morning after pill and the implant are some examples.

Question 29

3.9 Why would people want to use contraception?

Answer 29

• The health of the mother
• To provide more food for the family unit
• To provide a better standard of living for the family unit.
• So as not to have children.
• 90% of people in the UK of childbearing age use some form of contraception.

Question 30

3.10 What is the Catholic attitude towards using contraception?

Answer 30

• The Catholic Church has always taught responsible parenthood.
• The Church teaches that sexual intercourse is a gift from God as a source of joy and pleasure to married couples as well as a means of creating a family.
• Catholics believe that you can plan your family using natural contraception, like the rhythm method

Question 31

3.10 Why do Catholics have that attitude towards using contraception?

Answer 31

1. Pope Pius XI condemned all forms of contraception
2. In 1951, Pope Pius XII said that Catholics could use natural methods of contraception as these are natural and so part of God’s creation.
3. The Catholic Church regards contraception as a major cause of sexual promiscuity, broken families, the rise in divorce rate and sexually transmitted diseases,
4. Artificial methods of birth control i.e. condoms or the Pill separate the unitive and creative aspects of sex, which is not what God intended.

Question 32

3.10 What is the non-Catholic Christian attitude towards using contraception?

Answer 32

• Almost all non-Catholic Christians believe that all forms of contraception are permissible as long as they are used to restrict the size of the family
• Not simply to stop having children altogether.

Question 33

3.10 Why do non-Catholic Christians have that attitude towards using contraception?

Answer 33

1. Christianity is about love and justice and contraception improves women’s health and raises the standard of living of children as families are smaller.
2. God created sex for enjoyment and to cement the bonds of marriage. Within marriage, contraception allows the role of sex to be separated from making children and this is not against God’s will.
3. They believe that it is better to combat AIDS/HIV by using condoms than by expecting everyone to follow Christian rules about sex and marriage.