Catholic Sexual Morality: A New Start - Vol. 11, No. 3 - March-April 1973

Sep 21, 2026

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This journal article introduces a new beginning in Catholic sexual morality by examining a scholarly prolegomenon from theologian Stephen Pfuertner. It contrasts traditional sexual ethics framed as law with an ethics of responsibility rooted in values and their interaction. The piece explains how the 1960s controversy over birth control expanded theological freedom and prompted broader re-evaluations, including renewed attention to sexuality as a fully human reality beyond biology.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Catholic Sexual Morality: A New Start

From an ethics of law to an ethics of responsibility

Re-examination after the birth control controversy

Values, freedom, and judgment in moral teaching

A new theological reflection in the Catholic Church

More than biology: sexuality as fully human reality

FERIODICAL cO!IFT!OM A JOURNAL FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN UNITY Vol.11,No.3/March-April,1973 # CATHOLIC SEXUAL MORALITY:A NEW START priest,a well-known and respected moral theo-logian at the University of Fribourg,does notpretend to offer us a complete and systematictheology of sexuality.What he has produced is,rather,a scholarly prolegomenon to such a the-ology.Pfuertner takes up the various biblical,theological,philosophical and ecclesiologicalquestions that are raised for the Catholic theo-logian as he moves from an ethics of law(theformulation of sexual morality in terms of law)to an ethics of responsibility(the formulationof sexual morality in terms of values and theirinteraction).Pfuertner holds that the tradi-tional legal ethics is no longer adequate for theChristian living in the conditions of modern so-ciety. TT is not surprising that the controversy overLbirth control in the Catholic Church of thesixties has led to a more thoroughgoing re-ex-amination of sexual morality.The Catholictheologians who then favored the change ofthe Church's teaching on contraception did notwish to raise the wider issue at the time.Theytried to persuade their readers that it was pos-sible to adopt a new position on birth controlwithout questioning traditional sexual morali-ty.Pope Paul VI understood more clearly thanthese theologians that the approval of con-traception introduced new principles intomoral theology that would eventually lead to arethinking of sexual ethics in its entirety.Thismay have been one of the reasons why PopePaul VI reaffirmed the Church's traditional po-sition,despite the recommendation of his owntheological advisory commission.When thePope came out with his final decision,a greatnumber,if not the majority,of theologians inthe highly industrialized nations disagreedwith him.This public dissent,in turn,gave anew sense of freedom to theologians.They nowwere ready to examine various other doctrinaland moral issues,on which the ecclesiasticalmagisterium had made definitive pronounce-ments.Since the days of the controversy,then,Catholic theologians have raised new questionsin regard to sexual morality,adopted new ap-proaches and acquired some new insights,andwhile they tended to be cautious in their affir-mations and usually avoided drawing conclu-sions that seemed to follow from their ar-guments,they moved in the direction of aradical re-evaluation of Catholic sexual ethics. At the same time he rejects as inadequatean existentialist or situationist approach thattries to solve all moral questions simply interms of love.For Pfuertner human sexualitydeals with several human values,and themoral exercise of sexuality is based on a com-plex judgment,to be made by each person,ofhow an action,or a course of action,protectsand promotes these values in human life.Incontrast with the traditional legal approach,Pfuertner advocates greater sexual freedom.Atthe same time,the interrelation of personaland social values introduces a seriousness intohis moral teaching that makes greater de-mands on the individual than the traditionalmorality. Kirche und Sexualitaet is not meant to bea definitive study.Since it deals theologicallywith the various issues raised by the shift inmoral theology,it simply offers an outline of anew sexual ethics in the last chapter.The bookstands at the beginning of a new theologicalreflection in the Catholic Church.Despite theunfinished character of the project,the publi-cation of Kirche und Sexualitaet is a signifi- This movement has come to a head in Ste-phen Pfuertner's new publication,Kirche undSexualitaet(Rowohlt,Hamburg,1972).Thisbook adopts a radically new approach to sexualmorality.The author,a German Dominican cant event.It brings to the surface a hiddentendency operative in Catholic theology sincethe controversy over birth control.Catholictheologians have cautiously presented theirviews as an extension or slight modification oftraditional teaching,demanding exceptionsand making allowance

FAQs

What is the main shift proposed in the article regarding Catholic sexual morality?

The article emphasizes moving from an ethics of law to an ethics of responsibility grounded in personal and social values.

Why did the 1960s birth control controversy matter for later theological work?

Public dissent after official decisions gave theologians greater freedom to re-examine other doctrinal and moral issues and to pursue a more radical re-evaluation.

How does the article describe Pfuertner’s approach to moral decision-making in sexuality?

It presents sexuality as involving several human values, where moral judgment depends on how an action protects and promotes those values in human life.

Sep 21, 2026

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