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Sexual intercourse is a gift created by God to be used and enjoyed by a couple who have pledged themselves to each other "in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, til death do us part." The Church believes that sexual intercourse belongs within the sacrament of matrimony (marriage) because sexual intercourse is the very intimate way that a man and a woman give themselves - body, soul and mind - to each other as a gift and a true gift is "forever," and not premature or temporary. It is a covenant, or a sacred agreement, that binds two people together and is a mirror of God's "forever" love for us. To share this gift before marriage or outside of marriage is contrary to Church teaching.
If someone understands that teaching, has reflected upon it and freely chooses to engage in intercourse outside of marriage, it would be a serious sin in the eyes of the Church. |