““You shall not You shall not commit adultery.”commit adultery.”

Ex 20:14; Dt 5:17Ex 20:14; Dt 5:17

The Sixth Commandment The Sixth Commandment seems simple and direct. seems simple and direct.

It forbids married persons It forbids married persons from entering into sexual from entering into sexual union with someone other union with someone other

than their spouse.than their spouse.

But for the ancient Israelites, But for the ancient Israelites, this Commandment had more this Commandment had more social significance than social significance than sexualsexual. .

Its aim was to Its aim was to protect the protect the familyfamily, the absolutely , the absolutely

necessary basis for society.necessary basis for society.

The family and marriage were The family and marriage were viewed directly in terms of the viewed directly in terms of the

two Genesis creation narratives.two Genesis creation narratives.

God created man male and God created man male and female so that man would not female so that man would not be alonebe alone (cf. Gn 2:18), (cf. Gn 2:18), and to and to

multiply and fill the earthmultiply and fill the earth(cf Gn 1:27f)(cf Gn 1:27f)..

SexualitySexuality, therefore, is for , therefore, is for both both human completenesshuman completeness

and and procreationprocreation..

Thus while focusing on the Thus while focusing on the specific relationship of specific relationship of

marriage, the sixth marriage, the sixth commandment actually touches commandment actually touches upon the very nature of human upon the very nature of human sexuality, the entire range of sexuality, the entire range of

man-woman relationships, and man-woman relationships, and our common vocation to love our common vocation to love

and communion.and communion.(cf. CCC 2331)(cf. CCC 2331)

The first thing to be made The first thing to be made clear to every Christian clear to every Christian Filipino is the difference Filipino is the difference

between sexuality in between sexuality in general, and the sex act.general, and the sex act.

Sexuality is today understood in Sexuality is today understood in a more complete and integral a more complete and integral

sense than in the past when the sense than in the past when the focus was almost completely on focus was almost completely on

the sex act. Today the sex act. Today sexuality sexuality signifies an essential signifies an essential

dimension of the whole dimension of the whole personperson, by aspect of personal , by aspect of personal

life, and has to be developed by life, and has to be developed by all men and women just as life all men and women just as life

itself must be.itself must be.(NCDP 287; cf. CCC 2332)(NCDP 287; cf. CCC 2332)

This wider meaning of This wider meaning of sexuality is reaffirmed by the sexuality is reaffirmed by the

Sacred Congregation for Sacred Congregation for Education:Education:

““Sexuality is a fundamental Sexuality is a fundamental component of personality, one of component of personality, one of

its modes of being, of its modes of being, of manifestation, of communicating manifestation, of communicating

with others, of feeling, of with others, of feeling, of expressing and of living human expressing and of living human love. Therefore it is an integral love. Therefore it is an integral part of the development of the part of the development of the

personality.”personality.”((EGHLEGHL 4) 4)

“ “It is, in fact, from sex that It is, in fact, from sex that the human person receives the human person receives

the characteristics which, on the characteristics which, on the biological, psychological the biological, psychological and spiritual levels, makes and spiritual levels, makes

that person a man or a that person a man or a woman, and thereby largely woman, and thereby largely condition his or her progress condition his or her progress toward maturity and insertion toward maturity and insertion

into society.”into society.”(DCSE 1)(DCSE 1)

The The basisbasis for this wider for this wider understanding understanding of human of human sexualitysexuality is, of course, is, of course,

creationcreation. Man and woman . Man and woman constitute two modes of constitute two modes of

“imaging” God and they fully “imaging” God and they fully accomplish such a vocation accomplish such a vocation not only as single persons, not only as single persons,

but also as couples, which are but also as couples, which are communities of love.communities of love.

(cf. EGHL 26)(cf. EGHL 26)

The The first consequencefirst consequence of this of this fundamental truth of creation is fundamental truth of creation is

that “in creating the human that “in creating the human race ‘male and female’ race ‘male and female’ God God gives man and woman an gives man and woman an equal personal dignityequal personal dignity, , endowing them with the endowing them with the

inalienable rights and inalienable rights and responsibilities proper to the responsibilities proper to the

human person”.human person”.(FC 22; cf. CCC 2335)(FC 22; cf. CCC 2335)

But this equality as persons But this equality as persons does not entail any unisex does not entail any unisex sameness that denies all sameness that denies all

distinctiveness of the sexes. distinctiveness of the sexes.

On the contrary, the On the contrary, the second second consequenceconsequence of God’s creative of God’s creative

action is that by their distinctive action is that by their distinctive sexuality, man and woman are sexuality, man and woman are

both both differentdifferent and and complementarycomplementary, not only in their , not only in their physical and biological being, but physical and biological being, but

reaching down to the depth of reaching down to the depth of their moral and spiritual being.their moral and spiritual being.

(cf. CCC 2333)(cf. CCC 2333)

This complementary is the This complementary is the ground for a ground for a third third

consequenceconsequence: man and : man and woman are called to woman are called to mutual mutual gift of selfgift of self, to a , to a reciprocityreciprocity..

(cf. EGHL 24 )(cf. EGHL 24 )

By and through our sexuality we are By and through our sexuality we are called to live in a positive called to live in a positive

complementary relationship with one complementary relationship with one another. “The partnership of man and another. “The partnership of man and

woman constitutes the first form of woman constitutes the first form of communion between persons” communion between persons” (GS 12),(GS 12), and constitutes the basic form of our and constitutes the basic form of our

co-humanity.co-humanity.

Sexuality, oriented, elevated and integrated Sexuality, oriented, elevated and integrated by love, acquires truly human quality. by love, acquires truly human quality.

Prepared by biological and psychological Prepared by biological and psychological development, it grows harmoniously and is development, it grows harmoniously and is

achieved in the full sense only with the achieved in the full sense only with the realization of affective maturity, which realization of affective maturity, which

manifests itself in unselfish love and in the manifests itself in unselfish love and in the total gift of self”total gift of self”

(EGHL 6)(EGHL 6)

John Paul II develops this in John Paul II develops this in Familiaris Familiaris Consortio Consortio by relating creation directly by relating creation directly with love. For love is the key to: with love. For love is the key to: 11God, God,

the personal loving Creator, the personal loving Creator, 22His His creating act through love, and creating act through love, and 33the the

human persons created in His likeness human persons created in His likeness precisely as man and woman precisely as man and woman for lovefor love..

God is love and in Himself He lives a mystery God is love and in Himself He lives a mystery of personal loving communion. Creating the of personal loving communion. Creating the human race in His own image through love, human race in His own image through love,

and at the same time for love… God and at the same time for love… God inscribed in the humanity of man and inscribed in the humanity of man and

woman the vocation, and thus the capacity woman the vocation, and thus the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion.and responsibility, of love and communion.

(FC 11)(FC 11)

But the affective live proper to each sex But the affective live proper to each sex expresses itself in ways characteristic of the expresses itself in ways characteristic of the

different states in life. They are: different states in life. They are: 11conjugal unionconjugal union for married persons; for married persons; 22consecrated celibacy consecrated celibacy

chosen freely for the sake of the Kingdom of God; chosen freely for the sake of the Kingdom of God; 33Christian Christian youths youths before choosing marriage or before choosing marriage or

celibacy; and celibacy; and 44single blessednesssingle blessedness chosen by lay chosen by lay faithful.faithful.

(cf. EGHL 33)(cf. EGHL 33)

But in every case, each one of us, man or But in every case, each one of us, man or woman, is called to a life of love which channels woman, is called to a life of love which channels

the gift of our sexuality and its energies into the gift of our sexuality and its energies into positive, supporting relationships. Such positive, supporting relationships. Such

relationships build up a wholesome community relationships build up a wholesome community wherein all persons are called and helped to wherein all persons are called and helped to

express their personal uniqueness through their express their personal uniqueness through their sexuality, integrated within their very persons.sexuality, integrated within their very persons.

By word and exampleBy word and example, , Jesus revealed Jesus revealed the true nature of our human the true nature of our human

sexuality and of marriagesexuality and of marriage. More . More importantly, through his own importantly, through his own

ResurrectionResurrection, Jesus , Jesus redeemed our redeemed our whole personswhole persons, with all our instincts, , with all our instincts, powers and relationships, powers and relationships, including including

our sexualityour sexuality..

Vatican II brings out this Vatican II brings out this redemptive force of Christ’s redemptive force of Christ’s

love:love:

Authentic married love is caught up into Authentic married love is caught up into divine love and is directed and enriched divine love and is directed and enriched

by Christ’s redeeming power and the by Christ’s redeeming power and the saving activity of the Church. Thus the saving activity of the Church. Thus the spouses are effectively led to God and spouses are effectively led to God and are helped and strengthened in their are helped and strengthened in their

lofty role as fathers and mother.lofty role as fathers and mother.(GS 48)(GS 48)

Sexuality and marriage,Sexuality and marriage, then, are then, are not just biological facts for Christians. not just biological facts for Christians.

Rather, renewed by God's love Rather, renewed by God's love through Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit, through Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit, they are a real personal power and a they are a real personal power and a

perduring state perduring state for lovefor love, a love , a love which develops, heals, and creates.which develops, heals, and creates.

““In the light of the mystery of In the light of the mystery of Christ, sexuality appears to us Christ, sexuality appears to us

as a vocation to realize that love as a vocation to realize that love which the Holy Spirit instills in which the Holy Spirit instills in the hearts of the redeemed”.the hearts of the redeemed”.

(EGHL 30)(EGHL 30)

The Sixth CommandmentThe Sixth Commandment, , then when viewed through then when viewed through

the eyes of faith in the Risen the eyes of faith in the Risen Christ, far from restricting us, Christ, far from restricting us, actually actually liberates from two liberates from two

“tyrannies”“tyrannies”..

The The firstfirst is the is the tyranny of tyranny of puritanical attitudes and puritanical attitudes and

misguided taboosmisguided taboos regarding regarding sexuality.sexuality.

The The secondsecond is the is the tyranny of tyranny of “indecency” “indecency” promoted by the promoted by the so-called “new morality” that so-called “new morality” that

exalts casual sex while exalts casual sex while rejecting commitment and rejecting commitment and

moral obligation.moral obligation.

In rejecting fornication, and the forced In rejecting fornication, and the forced violation of sexual integrity in rape, the violation of sexual integrity in rape, the Commandment is clearly protecting the Commandment is clearly protecting the

personal dignity of both men and personal dignity of both men and women, and recalling their social women, and recalling their social

responsibility against scandalizing the responsibility against scandalizing the young.young.

(cf. CCC 2353, 2356)(cf. CCC 2353, 2356)

For the married, the For the married, the commandment enjoins a commandment enjoins a free free and responsible fidelity to and responsible fidelity to

a conjugal union that is a conjugal union that is life-longlife-long..

(cf. CCC 2364f)(cf. CCC 2364f)

This means, This means, firstfirst, a joining of , a joining of a man and a woman in the a man and a woman in the

fullness of their personal lives fullness of their personal lives – a real, complete – a real, complete

communion at all levels.communion at all levels.

SecondlySecondly, it means a , it means a permanent, enduring bond permanent, enduring bond

that is “for keeps”.that is “for keeps”.

That is why it is right that the total That is why it is right that the total giving of self in sexual intercourse be giving of self in sexual intercourse be

reserved for this state of marriage as a reserved for this state of marriage as a permanent covenantal bond of permanent covenantal bond of

personal love. For only within such a personal love. For only within such a communion does sexual union take on communion does sexual union take on

its full meaning and become truly its full meaning and become truly human and creative.human and creative.

The high human costs of The high human costs of adulteryadultery and of and of divorcedivorce are often covered are often covered up by the phrases like “having an up by the phrases like “having an affair.” In reality, adultery gravely affair.” In reality, adultery gravely

injures the life and character of the injures the life and character of the individual married persons involved, individual married persons involved,

as well as of the community.as well as of the community.

Commitments are broken, suspicion Commitments are broken, suspicion and anger aroused, personal trust and anger aroused, personal trust betrayed, relationships destroyed, betrayed, relationships destroyed, children threatened and the whole children threatened and the whole

social fabric of the community social fabric of the community weakened.weakened.

(cf. CCC 2380-86)(cf. CCC 2380-86)

Despite all sexist propaganda in the mass Despite all sexist propaganda in the mass media, real human freedom and love are not media, real human freedom and love are not

found in the “free sex.” In rejecting found in the “free sex.” In rejecting polygamy, incest, and uncommitted free polygamy, incest, and uncommitted free unions (“living-in), the Commandment unions (“living-in), the Commandment

guides us away from such false, ruinous guides us away from such false, ruinous attempts to fulfill our yearning for true love attempts to fulfill our yearning for true love

and communion.and communion.(cf. CCC 2387-90)(cf. CCC 2387-90)

But Christ is ever mindful of our human But Christ is ever mindful of our human frailty, and the many temptations frailty, and the many temptations

constantly bombarding us. His grace is constantly bombarding us. His grace is ever present. God’s fidelity to the ever present. God’s fidelity to the

Covenant holds firm and with it our Covenant holds firm and with it our human covenants; in them alone will human covenants; in them alone will we find our true human freedom and we find our true human freedom and

love.love.