Inspired by this post, which led me to The Catholic Encyclopedia’s article on sacrilege, where I learned about all sorts of things, including the sin of “any consummated offence against chastity (including marital intercourse which is not necessary) . . . .” So if it’s necessary, you can do it in church? When is intercourse necessary?
(I considered calling this thread, “Catholics gotta have it,” but I wasn’t sure it would be taken in the same playfully affectionate but weird spirit it was intended. )
Translation: If it is fun or it feels good it must be evil. Pleasure must be punished. Make as many tricycle motors as you possibly can but don’t enjoy doing it.
Actually, modern Catholic theology recognizes the validity of both procreative and “unitary” motivations for marital sex. “Unitary,” one of the poorest word choices in some time, implies something like, “It’s fun and a bonding experience to have sex with your spouse.” Their only stipulation is that you should not take positive action to ensure it’s for only “unitary” and not procreative reasons.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, many years old, is fairly accurate on most aspects of Catholic doctrine but significantly out of date as regards quite a bit of ethical teaching, including the case here. I’d venture to guess that that “necessary” is a 1911 word choice, and that virtually no modern theologian or cleric would attach any meaning to it.
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