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The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Vatican published this Tuesday a document in which it defends monogamy and recalls the indissolubility of marriage for Catholics in the face of "the multiplication of divorces, the fragility of unions, the trivialization of adultery and the promotion of polyamory".
The prefect of what was the Holy Office, the Argentine cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, presented this dense document, approved by Leo XIV and titled: "A caro. Elogio de la monogamia" in which he reviews "the value of marriage" based on philosophical, theological and cultural reflections.
The document, as explained by the Argentinian cardinal, arose after the request of several African bishops "in the face of the phenomenon in many communities of the practice, still common, of polygamy in some regions of the continent", but it is also a response to a time when the Catholic Church sees "the sacrament of marriage" threatened.
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"Our era, in fact, is experiencing various trends regarding love: the multiplication of divorces, the fragility of unions, the trivialization of adultery, the promotion of polyamory," explains the document, which notes that, however, "in the face of all this, it must also be recognized that the great collective narratives (novels, films, songs) continue to exalt the myth of the one and only 'great love'." "The paradox is evident: social practices undermine what the imagination celebrates. This reveals that the desire for monogamous love remains inscribed in the deepest part of the human being, even when behavior seems to deny it," they assure from the Vatican. The document explains that "education" is needed: "the universe of social networks, where modesty fades and symbolic and sexual violence proliferates, demonstrates the urgent need for a new pedagogy" because "love cannot be reduced to an impulse: it always calls for the responsibility and capacity for hope of the whole person." In addition to reiterating, supporting itself with biblical quotes and reflections from theologians, that for Catholics marriage is indissoluble, it also focuses on sexual relations within the couple. And concludes that "sexual union, as a way of expressing conjugal charity, must naturally remain open to the communication of life, although this does not mean that it should be an explicit objective of every sexual act", he emphasizes. The Vatican report cites documents from Pope John Paul II that discuss legitimate situations regarding sex within a couple without reproductive purposes, including that the marriage may not have children, and even considers it licit to "take into account the natural rhythms inherent in generative functions for the use of marriage only in infertile periods." The text also gives advice on preventing marital breakdown, including having space for each spouse at work, personal projects, and opportunities for learning and development outside of the marriage. Other recommendations include the procreative sense of marriage and, for those who cannot have children, adoption or other forms of stable support for the children of other couples; as well as shared time with other married friends to help in difficult times and seek ways to serve society.
