Scriptural Testimony & Sex

The Catholic community believes in two fonts of revelation, the Scriptures and the Tradition which in our practices, teachings, sacraments, etc. come down to us from the apostles. The teaching office or Magisterium, the Pope and the Bishops in union with him, interpret these sources under the continuing direction of the Holy Spirit for the edification of the Church. The place of the Scriptures is essential in our understanding of ourselves as Christians. Although certain situations have changed, there is no clear challenge from revisionists that the moral teachings in the Word of God have been abrogated. They still speak to us today. About fornication, or genital activity outside of marriage, it is decisive and prohibitive. Some of the most ancient of these writings are penned from St. Paul who tells the brethren that they are not to be in the company of fornicators (1 Cor. 5:9). Indeed, he quite blatantly exclaims that they shall not inherit the kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9). The Church has no authority, even if it wanted, to soften these admonitions. Consequently, the Church urges conversion lest brothers and sisters be lost from our ranks.

St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles has St. James speaking in Jerusalem regarding the Gentile converts that they should be told to abstain from illicit sexual unions (Acts 15:20). The Christians set themselves apart from their pagan neighbors by their beliefs and their moral behavior. Over and over again, the prohibition is repeated: "...the body is not for fornication, it is for the Lord,..." (1 Cor. 6:13); "...flee fornication..." (1 Cor. 6:18); "...nevertheless, to avoid fornication..." (1 Cor. 7:2); fornication is called one of the "works of the flesh" cutting one off from God's kingdom (Gal 5:19); "Make no mistake about this: no fornicator, no unclean or lustful person--in effect an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with worthless arguments. These are sins that bring God's wrath down on the disobedient; therefore have nothing to do with them." (Eph. 5:5-7); repeating much that was stated in Ephesians, the Colossians are also called to mortify themselves against fornication (Col. 3:5); it is the "will of God that you abstain from fornication..." (1 Thes. 4:3). The pain which St. Paul expresses in 2 Corinthians 12:21 might be that of any minister: "I fear that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over the many who sinned earlier and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and sensuality they practiced."

The Scriptures also held on to the stigma of illegitimacy which would mark a child born through fornication. Indeed, in light of the marriage covenant between Christ and his Church, we are seen, not as a bastardy people, but as the adopted sons and daughters of God given new life from the womb of the baptismal font. Any violation of this marriage covenant in our own lives distorts the image of Christ's fidelity to us; it becomes in effect, idolatry.

Time and space would not allow a full recital of all the biblical witness against this sin of fornication; however, the following citations might be noted for later personal investigation: Mat. 5:32; 1 Cor. 7:2; 2 Chr. 21:11; Isa. 23:17; Ezek. 16:29; Mat. 5:32; 19:9; John 8:41; Acts 15:20; 29; 21:25; Rom. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:13,18; 7:2; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1 Thes. 4:3; Jude 7; Rev. 2:21; 9:21; 14:8; 17:2,4; 18:3; 19:2; Ezek. 16:15; Mat. 15:19; Mark 7:22; 1 Cor 5:11; Heb. 12:16; 1 Cor. 5:9,10; 6:9.