Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Use of Viagra in Catholic Marriage	Ethyl	Sunday, September 19, 2004
Question: Is the use of Viagra and similar medications moral in a Catholic marriage? It seems to me that if a younger man with this kind of medical problem is prescribed this and the couple is trying to have children then that is OK, but just barely. However, from what I read, men in their 50's and 60's - or older - are frequently taking these drugs, and these men are not normally trying to have children, but only to extend their ability to have sex with their wives (hopefully). It seems to me that it is morally wrong for even a married man to continue carnal interests when age is God's way of turning his attention from the sins of the flesh to spiritual matters. Surely these men at the age of 50 or 60 are only interested in the physical pleasures in marriage, and I feel that doing this is seriously sinful. What does the Church say about this?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Ethyl: The purpose of sex in marriage is to procreate and to bond with each other. Even when a couple is beyond child bearing years, sexuality can still be vibrant and important. We know for a fact that Biblically very old people had sex. Abram impregnated his wife when his wife was about 85 years old I think it was. Age is not God's way to turn one's attention away from the sins of the flesh. To begin with the marital embrace is NOT a sin of the flesh. Marital sex is a God-ordained, beautiful, Godly, and even sacred act. The sexual faculty of married people is the image given for the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church. I am not sure how old you are, but if you think that people who are 50-60 have some sort of reducing libido, think again. I am in the age range and I can guarantee you that my sexual urges are just as strong as when I was 20, although I do not act out of those urges given the fact that I have taken a vow of perpetual chastity. St. Paul said that if a person is consumed with sexual desire, then get married. That is the only place where one can express those sexual urges, great or small. I see nothing wrong with using medication to help enhance the sexual experience between married couples if there is a problem that justifies such medication. In fact, there is very little that is morally taboo between mutually agreeable marital partners as long as they are always open to life and do not abuse each other. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with married couples enjoying each other in the marital embrace -- even if they are 100 years old. God bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Use of Viagra in Catholic Marriage

Ethyl

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Question:

Is the use of Viagra and similar medications moral in a Catholic marriage? It seems to me that if a younger man with this kind of medical problem is prescribed this and the couple is trying to have children then that is OK, but just barely. However, from what I read, men in their 50's and 60's - or older - are frequently taking these drugs, and these men are not normally trying to have children, but only to extend their ability to have sex with their wives (hopefully). It seems to me that it is morally wrong for even a married man to continue carnal interests when age is God's way of turning his attention from the sins of the flesh to spiritual matters. Surely these men at the age of 50 or 60 are only interested in the physical pleasures in marriage, and I feel that doing this is seriously sinful. What does the Church say about this?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Ethyl:

The purpose of sex in marriage is to procreate and to bond with each other.

Even when a couple is beyond child bearing years, sexuality can still be vibrant and important. We know for a fact that Biblically very old people had sex. Abram impregnated his wife when his wife was about 85 years old I think it was.

Age is not God's way to turn one's attention away from the sins of the flesh. To begin with the marital embrace is NOT a sin of the flesh. Marital sex is a God-ordained, beautiful, Godly, and even sacred act. The sexual faculty of married people is the image given for the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church.

I am not sure how old you are, but if you think that people who are 50-60 have some sort of reducing libido, think again. I am in the age range and I can guarantee you that my sexual urges are just as strong as when I was 20, although I do not act out of those urges given the fact that I have taken a vow of perpetual chastity.

St. Paul said that if a person is consumed with sexual desire, then get married. That is the only place where one can express those sexual urges, great or small. I see nothing wrong with using medication to help enhance the sexual experience between married couples if there is a problem that justifies such medication.

In fact, there is very little that is morally taboo between mutually agreeable marital partners as long as they are always open to life and do not abuse each other.

Certainly, there is nothing wrong with married couples enjoying each other in the marital embrace -- even if they are 100 years old.

God bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum