News Scrapbook 1969-1971

THE SOUTHERN CROSS, THURSOAY, OECEMB.ER 17, 1970 Page 7

Prema rita I Sex- A Modern Term, Today's Problem By Father Francis Wieser, JCD

FATHER FRANCIS WIESER, a theologian on the faculty of the Religious Studies Department at the Universit of San Die o, here discusses the modern eo og1an s view oint regarding pre- marital sex. This is the second and final article explaining an earlier reply tQ an Answer Please! question regarding premarital sex.

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:-:·•••• _:_:_:_: XI took a very strong stand on this in his encyclical on Christian Marriage of 1930. Fornication in the traditional meaning of casual or promiscuous relations should be classified as gravely immoral. Because of the evidence from the Bible and the traditional teaching this matter ought to be a settled issue. St. Thomas used the interests of the child as the principal argument; the contemporary theologian wishes to add a more generic reason. IN SUCH relationships there is always the offense against another person involved because the partner is reduced to an object of pleasure. Concerning the moral malice of sexual expression strictly within the premarital context, the post-Vatican II theologian is unwilling to make an absolute judgment. The issue will require more debate before it can be theologically clarified. More information from psychology and sociology should be taken into account. FOR THE FUTURE theologian greater tolerance for ambiguity of situations might be necessary. This situation of ambiguity is not entirely without precedent. St. Augustine puzzled over the same situation. In his book on the Good of Marriage, he discusses the situation of a man and woman, not married, having sexual relations but with the pledge between themselves of not having relations with anybody else. • He concludes that "perhaps this may be considered a sort of marriage." On the other hand, he severely condemns this if it is merely a temporary their commitment made a difference in his judgment, and yet, he was not sure - note his" haps." II theologian can sympa·hize with Augustine's dilemma. arrang ent. THE QUALITY• of The post-Vatican

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theological assume there are not "degrees" of sin in matters of sex, like there is in any other transgression of the com- mandments. Moreover, this standard fails to differentiate situations. A prolonged kiss for one's fiancee would be just as much a mortal sin as making out with a prostitute. standard would be. No average couple could survive their courtship without being caught up in a spiderweb of mortal sins. BUT THE greatest weakness of this standard lies in its historical origin. Research has revealed that this standard originated in 1612 as a teaching policy set by the Jesuit General Claudius Aquaviva in order to stop any controversies during the rigoristic years of Jan- senism. The ruling has no biblical foundation or any backing of an official magisterial decree. The conclusion seems to be clear - neither the Bible, nor traditional moralists offer us any sure answers to the question on the moral malice of premarital sex. This is the principal reason why there seems to be so much controversy and confusion about the issue. foundation to that One must admit how unrealistic such a THIS LEADS to the question about the standards the post- Vatican II theologian might advocate. Some people are under the i111pression that the con- temporary theologian is like a "greased pig" one cannot get hold of, or pin down to any specific standards. I will at- tempt to specify the more ob- vious positions. Christian ethics must uphold marriage as the proper context for sexual relations. Any couple must strive toward this ideal. YOUNG COUPLES may not assume the right of living together on a temporary or experimental basis. Pope Pius

THIS RAISES the question whether physical expressions of deep emotions should be ex- cluded - or even can be ex- cluded - in this process of growing closer, and whether separation could impair the healthy growth of an intimate relationship. These are novel questions the traditional moralist did not trouble himself with because they had not arisen. Moreover, psychology made modern man very conscious of the personal dimension of sexuality. The old moralist viewed sexuality as something merely physical for the purpose of procreation. UP TO THE time of Thomas Sanchez (1610) they did not recognize any link between physical sex and personal love. Therefore, new questions are being asked in this vein: why are sexual relations in- trinsically evil if a genuine relationship exists between engaged people? Could this be a valid ex- pression of committed love? The traditional moralist was spared these questions. THEOLOGY ITSELF has broadened its standard of judging good and bad sex. The marriage contract previously set the standard. Any sexual rela lions within marriage were regarded morally legitimate. Today theology admits that even between married people sexual relations could be "unchaste" if they do not ex- press any personal love. The qua Ii ty of their in- terpersonal relation determines the moral value of their sex (cf. Vatican II). THE QUESTION could be asked whether, in the premarital context, a couple's relationship could reach such a degree of quality that sexual expression~ of love might receive some moral value.

traditional moralists of past centuries used the term in this meaning. a modern term and it refers to a contemporary problem, made possible only since the time of emanicpation of women in the western culture. The term refers to the specific situation of two persons who have reached the age of marriage, are deeply com- mitted to each other and con- template marriage. It has no resemblance to casual or promiscuous affairs. We believe that this problem is relatively new and raises many new questions for the moralist. SOCIOLOGICALLY it is a new phenomenon. In previous centuries marriages were social arrangements between two families whereby the parents took a decisive role in matching the partners. Dating in our sense was unknown and the two young people would be together alone only after the wedding. This relationship with such a feeble start only survived because of strong support by other members of the family. Today young couples rely entirely on personal contacts. Before two people think of marriage, they should have established a very close per- sonal relationship and must be assured of their personal, psychological and emotional compatibility. PREMARITAL sex is

In discussing premarital sex I do not, in any way, question the traditional standards most people honor. The conviction that sexual relations should strictly be reserved to the marital state is a perfectly viable and trouble-free stand ard, and morally the best. Yet, this does not answer the question about the moral predicament of those who do not unconditionally accept this traditional standard, as is the case with many of our young people. The scope of this article is a very limited one. I wish merely to introduce you to the theological issues involved and, thereby , make you realize why this topic is so frequently discussed by contemporary theologians. I INTEND to raise three points. What the theological issue about premarital sex really amounts to. Why traditional answers seem so unsatisfactory. What standards the post- Vatican II theologian might try to suggest. In order to grasp the issue the contemporary theologian is talking abo . it will be essential that the term for- nication be clearly dis- tinguished from premarital sex. Fornication is a traditional term and it refers to either casual or promiscuous relations. The Bible and all

HE CONSIDERS an act of fornication as a mortal sin because of the injustice which would be done to a child born from such relations. In the course of his arguments he paraphrases fornication as "intercourse without com- mitment" (concubitus vagus) or "promiscuous intercourse." Thus Thomas addresses himself only to the problem of casual or promiscuous sex. A committed re.lationship before marriage was not feasible in the social context of his time. The official Manuals of Moral Theology which were in use since the days of St. Alphonsus Liguori ( + 1787) hold a single standard: ALL VOLUNTARY sexual pleasure is mortally sinful outside of marriage, even if it be ever so brief or insignificant (Jone, Handbook of Moral Theology, 1963). This standard would seem to take adequate care of the problem of premarital sex. But the question is raised by the contemporary theologian ~hether this is a theologically viable standard. Their answer is an unequivocable No!

pagans. Sexual abuses took place in the social context of prostitution and promiscuous relations. Scripture scholars conclude that the Bible condemns prostituted and promiscuous sex. The contemporary theologian has no problem with such a verdict. BUT A VERY different question is whether the same verdict can simply be trans-

The contemporary theologian claims that the moralists of the classical tradition did not know these questions, let alone could they furnish us with answers. LET US examine this assertion in the light of the best traditional answers of the past. The Bible condemns for- nication in several passages, mostly in the letters of St. Paul. The most revealing passage we find is 1 Cor. 6:9-20.

ANSWER PLEASE! will not be published this week to make room for this special article based on the reply and repercus- sions to a previous Answer. The regular feature will appear next week.

ferred relationship between two engaged people preparing for marriage. Scholarship insists that biblical statements must not be quoted out of their historical context lest we become guilty of theological dishonesty. In the classical tradition we find the clearest exposition on the morality of fornication in St. Thomas' Summa of Theology 2a, 2a, 154. to the

Indulgence in fornication is classified as one of the vices which excludes from the kingdom, the equivalent to our concept of mortal sin. The Apostle goes on to explain the theological reasons for it, and in doing so, he indicates what he means by fornication: "Anyone who links himself with a harlot becomes physically one with her." St. Paul speaks of prostituted sex. . IN THE OTHER passages of his letters, St. Paul merely lists fornication as one among many other vices. In these lists of vices, St. Paul condemns immoral practices of his time especially among the

IS absolutely no

THERE

These are merely questions which are being asked. But they point to th fact that premarital sex poses a new l:em'-and produces many new questions.

News from University of Son Diego and Son Diego Stole College. Classes hove ended for the holidays of United States Inter- notional University and the University of Co/iforn1a at Son Di- ego. Their columns will resume next month. UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO T By OSCAR RODRIGUEZ / 1. I " • ) v Finals started today and will continue until Tuesday. Classes will not start again until Feb. 1, 1971, when the spring semester begins. USD School of Law graduates taking the State Bar exam- ination in August for the first time passed at a record rate. Sixty percent of the graduates passed as opposed to the state average of 52.6 percent, a bar spokesman said. A total of 118 law graduates took the test in August and 62 passed. For the School of Law, this has also been a record year in

enrollment. The present 715 law students makes the school the fourth largest among accre- dited law schools in the state. There are 204 applicants for the presidency of USD, accord- ing to a spokesman for the school's presidential search committee. The candidates are from 32 states, Canada and England, and three of them are women. The committee hopes to have the top candidates selected by spring, so the Board of Trustees can make a choice by June. Every Saturday morning in Camino Hall, student volun- teers tutor children enrolled in

OSCAR RODRIGUEZ the program for the deaf. This program is one of the many projects of the Community Devel- opment Board, moderated Domini Collins. The purpose of the program is t ovide deaf children with personal rcligiou Instruciiorr. --'fhere cil l lne d at children age four o 12 enrolled m thr program. SAN DIEGO STATE COLLEGE By STEVE KARMA The Black Student Council of San Diego State College has scheduled a Christmas dance and show from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 24 at El Cortez Hotel Century Room. The dance, entitled "A Black Christmas," will feature the music of the Dynamic Body and Soul, and Deetta Little. Reservations can be made by contacting David Blevins, BSC chairman, at San Diego State. A two-day conference and seminar on juvenile justice, will be conducted by the Administration of Juvenile Justice, Friday and

Saturday at the Howard John- son restaurant al Waring Road and Interstate 8. The conference offers one unit of upper division credit, and will be held from 2:20 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. , Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Regis- tration will take place Friday at the restaurant. State is boasting a new fra- ternity since the Sigma Delta chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi was installed as a national fra- ternity recently. ' The fraternity, headquar- t red at 5544 Hardy Ave. , is in its fourth year of existence. A special bulletin board has been set up in Aztec Center for those holiday travelers that are

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STEVE KAR',IA~

for a ride or willing to give one.