According to Catholic theology, could God permit someone to engage in unnatural sex acts?
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According to Catholic theology, could God permit someone to engage in unnatural sex acts (contracepted sex acts, sodomy, etc)? There is some background to this in McHugh, O.P., & Callan, O.P., *Moral Theology* , but unfortunately they use other examples:
>303. According to the manner in which they oblige, the laws of nature are twofold, namely, absolute and relative.
(a) Absolute laws are those that oblige for every case and condition, because the matter with which they are concerned is intrinsically good or bad in every instance (e.g., the laws forbidding marriage between parent and child, the law against polyandry).
(b) Relative laws of nature are those that oblige except in case of a most grave public necessity, because the matter with which they are concerned is generally and of its nature very becoming or unbecoming (e.g. the laws forbidding marriage between brother and sister, the law forbidding polygamy). >311. Is God able to make a decree which sets up a most grave public necessity opposed to the observance of a law of nature?
(a) If there is question of absolute laws (see 303), this cannot be done, for God cannot deny Himself by making a disposition contrary to His Eternal Law. Example: We do not read that God ever sanctioned polyandry or marriage between parent and child, and it seems that He could never permit such things as lawful.
(b) If there is question of relative laws (see 303), the decree in question can be made by God; for the unbecomingness of that which is forbidden by a relative law passes away in the face of a great need. Example: Since God desired the propagation of the human race from one man and one woman, marriage between brothers and sisters was not against the Natural Law at the beginning. Since God desired the speedy multiplication of the chosen people after the patriarchal era, polygamy was not repugnant to nature among the Jews of that period. So for example, God permitted the patriarchs to practice polygamy, but He could not have permitted them to use artificial contraception or engage in unnatural sex acts?
(a) Absolute laws are those that oblige for every case and condition, because the matter with which they are concerned is intrinsically good or bad in every instance (e.g., the laws forbidding marriage between parent and child, the law against polyandry).
(b) Relative laws of nature are those that oblige except in case of a most grave public necessity, because the matter with which they are concerned is generally and of its nature very becoming or unbecoming (e.g. the laws forbidding marriage between brother and sister, the law forbidding polygamy). >311. Is God able to make a decree which sets up a most grave public necessity opposed to the observance of a law of nature?
(a) If there is question of absolute laws (see 303), this cannot be done, for God cannot deny Himself by making a disposition contrary to His Eternal Law. Example: We do not read that God ever sanctioned polyandry or marriage between parent and child, and it seems that He could never permit such things as lawful.
(b) If there is question of relative laws (see 303), the decree in question can be made by God; for the unbecomingness of that which is forbidden by a relative law passes away in the face of a great need. Example: Since God desired the propagation of the human race from one man and one woman, marriage between brothers and sisters was not against the Natural Law at the beginning. Since God desired the speedy multiplication of the chosen people after the patriarchal era, polygamy was not repugnant to nature among the Jews of that period. So for example, God permitted the patriarchs to practice polygamy, but He could not have permitted them to use artificial contraception or engage in unnatural sex acts?
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Aug 23, 2025, 09:29 PM
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