Human Sexuality from Catechism for Filipino Catholics

A.

Christian View of Human Sexuality

1069. The first thing to be made clear to every Christian Filipino is the difference
between sexuality in general, and the sex act. The NCDP makes this point very well.
Sexuality is today understood in a more complete and integral sense than in the
past when the focus was almost completely on the sex act. Today sexuality
signifies an essential dimension of the whole person, by which he/she enters
into relationship with others. It thus touches every aspect of personal life, and has
to be developed by all men and women just as life itself must be (NCDP 287; cf.
CCC 2332).
1070. This wider meaning of sexuality is reaffirmed by the Sacred Congregation for
Education: Sexuality is a fundamental component of personality, one of its modes
of being, of manifestation, of communicating with others, of feeling, of expressing
and of living human love. Therefore it is an integral part of the development of the
personality(EGHL 4). It is, in fact, from sex that the human person receives the
characteristics which, on the biological, psychological and spiritual levels, make that
person a man or a woman, and thereby largely condition his or her progress toward
maturity and insertion into society (DCSE 1).
1071. The basis for this wider understanding of human sexuality is, of
course, creation. Man and woman constitute two modes of imaging God and they
fully accomplish such a vocation not only as single persons, but also as couples,
which are communities of love(cf. EGHL 26).
The first consequence of this fundamental truth of creation is that in creating the
human race male and female God gives man and woman an equal personal
dignity, endowing them with the inalienable rights and responsibilities proper to
the human person(FC 22; cf. CCC 2335).
PCP II forcefully opposed all forms of discrimination and exploitation of women
and emphasized the growing awareness of their dignity and equality with
men (PCP II 387).For the Filipino Christian, then, this basic equality of man and
woman grounded on Gods creation is the solid ground for an authentically Christian
view of sexuality and of marriage.
1072. But this equality as persons does not entail any unisex sameness that denies
all distinctiveness of the sexes. On the contrary, the second consequence of Gods
creative action is that by their distinctive sexuality, man and woman are
both different and complementary, not only in their physical and biological

being, but reaching down to the depth of their moral and spiritual being (cf. CCC
2333).
This complementarity is the ground for a third consequence: man and
woman are called to mutual gift of self, to a reciprocity (cf. EGHL 24). By and
through our sexuality we are called to live in a positive complementary relationship
with one another. The partnership of man and woman constitutes the first form of
communion between persons(GS 12), and constitutes the basic form of our cohumanity.
1073. Concretely, then, our sexuality is a relational power through which we
can show understanding, warmth, openness and compassion to others.
The fourth consequence, then, is simply that sexuality is for love __ either
married or celibate love (cf. NCDP 287). Sexuality orients every man and woman
toward interpersonal dialogue, and contributes to their integral maturation by
opening them up to the gift of self in love.
Sexuality, oriented, elevated and integrated by love, acquires truly human quality.
Prepared by biological and psychological development, it grows harmoniously and is
achieved in the full sense only with the realization of affective maturity, which
manifests itself in unselfish love and in the total gift of self (EGHL 6).
1074. John Paul II develops this in Familiaris Consortio by relating creation directly
with love. For love is the key to: 1) God, the personal loving Creator, 2) His creating
act through love, and 3) the human persons created in His likeness precisely as man
and woman for love.
God is love and in Himself He lives a mystery of personal loving communion.
Creating the human race in His own image through love, and at the same time for
love. . . . God inscribed in the humanity of man and woman the vocation, and thus
the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion (FC 11).
1075. But the affective life proper to each sex expresses itself in ways
characteristic of the different states in life. They are: 1) conjugal union for married
persons; 2)consecrated celibacy chosen freely for the sake of the Kingdom of
God; 3) Christian youths before choosing marriage or celibacy; and
4) single blessedness chosen by lay faithful (cf. EGHL 33). But in every
case, each one of us, man or woman, is called to a life of love which channels
the gift of our sexuality and its energies into positive, supporting relationships. Such
relationships build up a wholesome community wherein all persons are called and
helped to express their personal uniqueness through their sexuality, integrated
within their very persons.