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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Sterile still have sex.	John A	Friday, May 4, 2007
Question: If a wife or husband has a situation due to a cyst or tumor where they have to get a operation that makes them sterile then can they still have sex?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear John: Yes. The sexual expression in marriage has two purposes: 1) procreation; and 2) the bonding of love between the mutual self-giving of the marriage bed. While the former is no longer operable through no fault of their own, the second is still part of their marriage. If one or the other spouse develops a condition or has an injury in which they are no longer able to have sex, the marriage is still intact. The bonding of love between them is found in other ways, but the marriage remains intact. Once a marriage is validly performed nothing can undo it -- even an injury or illness that prevents further sexual intercourse. If a man or the woman who is not married yet, but wish to be married, may do so if one or even both of them are sterile. The 2nd purpose of sex is still possible in that case. If a man or the women who is not married yet is impotent (permanently unable to have sex) then that person cannot legally enter marriage. "Permanent" impotency is a barrier to a valid marriage because then neither of the two purposes of the marital bed can be realized. 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

Sterile still have sex.

John A

Friday, May 4, 2007

Question:

If a wife or husband has a situation due to a cyst or tumor where they have to get a operation that makes them sterile then can they still have sex?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear John:

Yes. The sexual expression in marriage has two purposes: 1) procreation; and 2) the bonding of love between the mutual self-giving of the marriage bed.

While the former is no longer operable through no fault of their own, the second is still part of their marriage.

If one or the other spouse develops a condition or has an injury in which they are no longer able to have sex, the marriage is still intact. The bonding of love between them is found in other ways, but the marriage remains intact. Once a marriage is validly performed nothing can undo it -- even an injury or illness that prevents further sexual intercourse.

If a man or the woman who is not married yet, but wish to be married, may do so if one or even both of them are sterile. The 2nd purpose of sex is still possible in that case.

If a man or the women who is not married yet is impotent (permanently unable to have sex) then that person cannot legally enter marriage. "Permanent" impotency is a barrier to a valid marriage because then neither of the two purposes of the marital bed can be realized.

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