Unit 10 - Religious Teachings on Relationships and Families in the 21st Century

Question 1

Purposes of marriage

Answer 1

Loving - relationship with faithfulness and love
Lifelong - having mutual, lifelong support and comfort
Exclusive - being committed to only one marriage
Fruitful - procreate and have a family

Question 2

Catholic teachings on marriage

Answer 2

Gift from God as united people
Way to live a holy life
Gives opportunity of new life (shows love of Christ)
Vows reinforce above teachings

Question 3

Other attitudes towards marriage

Answer 3

Not all people believe in sacramental nature of marriage
Other types of marriage are accepted e.g. same sex and legal ceremonies
Many people cohabit and have children before getting married

Question 4

Catholic teaching on sex

Answer 4

Should be:
Marital
Unitive
Procreative

Question 5

Catholic no-no’s to sex

Answer 5

Premarital sex
Cohabitation
Same-sex
extramarital

Question 6

Divergent attitudes to sex

Answer 6

Sex should be whenever one wants it to happen, but must be with consent (non-religious)
Contraceptives can be used as doesn’t have to be procreative (non-religious)
Modern views changing (48% of children born outside of marriage)

Question 7

Catholic beliefs on family

Answer 7

Family was created by God
Basis of society 
Where children learn faith and morals
Stems from Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, Jesus)
Family is a vocation agreed in marriage

Question 8

Types of families

Answer 8

Nuclear
Extended
Same sex
Single parent

Question 9

Non-religious attitude to marriage

Answer 9

All forms of family are important as long as the basis is love
Marriage is not essential

Question 10

How Church supports families

Answer 10

Groups (e.g. youth groups)
Classes (e.g. marriage preparation or catechisms)
Counselling

Question 11

Why family is important to the parish

Answer 11

Where faith can be developed and continued in multiple ways

Question 12

Catholic teaching on contraception

Answer 12

Against all forms of artificial contraception

Promotes only natural forms of contraceptions e.g. family planning and abstinence

Question 13

Why Church is against artificial contraception

Answer 13

Promotes promiscuity

Some are abortive (life begins at conception)

Question 14

Other Christian attitudes

Answer 14

Most support contraception that don’t end life
Others believe sex doesn’t have to be creative but is also unitive
Ethically, contraception may be necessary

Question 15

Other attitudes to contraceptives

Answer 15

Non-religious people advocate it as it allows responsible family planning
Also gives choice to parents and couples

Question 16

Catholic teaching on divorce

Answer 16

Goes against Jesus’ teaching
Divorce breaks sacramental and covenantal bond with God
Civil divorce can happen but not divorce in eyes of the Church
Annulment only happens with Church’s permission
Remarriage only happens if partner dies or commits adultery

Question 17

Other Christian attitudes to divorce

Answer 17

Sometimes it is more loving to divorce than to stay together
Matthew 5:32 Jesus allows divorce due to adultery
Second chances should always be allowed, so couple can be forgiven and remarry

Question 18

Other attitudes to divorce

Answer 18

Non-religious people don’t see marriage as a sacrament and allow divorce
Re-marriage is often the most loving thing to do

Question 19

Catholic attitude to roles of men and women

Answer 19

God made everyone in imago dei
Roles in the home should be respected
Men and women are equal in all ways except becoming priests as Jesus and his disciples were all men

Question 20

Other Christian attitudes to roles and men and women

Answer 20

Most other Christians believe both men and women are equal and even allow women priests
Dignity should be shown in the home
Minority of Christians believe wives should be subservient to their husbands and obey them

Question 21

Catholic attitude to gender prejudice

Answer 21

Catholic follow teachings of Jesus (e.g. Samaritan woman at well)
St. Paul says we are all equal, all part of the body of Christ

Question 22

Other Christian attitudes to gender prejudice

Answer 22

Some evangelicals think women should keep silent in church and obey their husbands
Some Christians permit ordination of women and use contraception, giving them control of their own bodies