The Roman Catholic Church believes that in sex outside marriage there is a risk of conceiving children without a stable environment to support and bring them up in. If children are conceived outside marriage then the couple could feel forced to enter into a marital relationship, which they may not be comfortable in and could therefore lead to marriage problems and divorce later on in life.
The Church considers that sex within marriage is when a husband and wife confirm their love for each other by creating a special, sexual bond that only exists between that couple. They argue that sex outside of a marriage cheapens the act of one of God’s greatest gifts to the human race. God has decreed that sexual intercourse should be confined to marriage because only then will its true meaning be reached.
In marriage two people become one flesh; they are united by marriage and complete the uniting ceremony by sexual intercourse. The Church argues that this unity cannot exist outside of marriage, “From a valid marriage arises a ‘bond’ between the spouses which by its very nature is perfected and exclusive” Catechism of the catholic church.
However I disagree, I believe that couples should have the right to be allowed to choose to have sex before they are in a marital relationship if they wish, even though the Catholic Church does not approve of this view.
One of the reasons I feel that couples should be allowed to perform sexual intercourse is because they are gaining a trial run of marriage in cohabitation without the legal commitment of a marriage. Cohabitation is when a couple live together and have sex before being marriage. Therefore if the couple have a sexual relationship before they are married they are making the bond between them stronger for the relationship to last longer. Then if the couple decide to take their love for each other further by involving themselves the sacred act of marriage, the marital bond will then legally be complete
Another reason why I believe a couple should be allowed to have sex before marriage is that it may stop adultery later on. This is because the couple will be able to form a special bond which will unite them. Adultery is when one member of the couple decides to be unfaithful and have sex with another person outside of the marriage it is called adultery. If people had sex before marriage it may help to stop them being unfaithful and committing adultery when in a marriage as they will be sure that they are happy with their partner before getting married. Committing adultery is one of God’s ten commandments “Do not commit adultery” and also “What God has joined together let no man put a sunder” Mk 10:9
In addition to the other reasons I believe that sex before marriage should be allowed because if the couple find they are incompatible they will be able to break off the relationship before they enter into the sacred bond of marriage. This would also save them having to go through the legal process of divorce later on, which the Roman Catholic Church condemns.
