Christian Views on Pre-marital Sex

1. Roman Catholic Response

1.1. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that sex is only acceptable within marriage where 'A man and a woman belong to each other in a permanent, exclusive, sexual partnership.'

1.2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church rejects all forms of sex outside marriage

1.3. "Human love does not tolerate "Trial marriages""

2. Anglican Church Responses

2.1. They believe that marriage is a gift from God to have a proper setting for a sexual relation ship and is the best environment to bring up children

2.2. They recognize there are different 'family' relationships in todays society but regrets that increasing number of people are choosing to have sex before marriage and have family breakdowns before marriage

3. Christian Response

3.1. Christians believe that sex is an act of love and commitment that should only be part of a meaningful, loving relationship.

3.2. Christians will accept pre-marrital sex where marriage is likely to follow

3.3. Promiscuity is not acceptable to any Christians as it reduces sex to a human instinct without meaning

3.4. Christians are told in the Ten Commandments that adultery is unacceptible and Jesus condemned it in the Gospels and adultery breaks one of the vows in the Christian marriage ceremony

4. Other Christian Responses

4.1. Protestants agree that sex outside of mariage is wrong as the Bible says so. 2 Timothy 2:22 and Matthew 5:27-8 agree with this

4.2. Some Liberal Christians accept pre-marital sex saying that love is the most important element in a sexual relationship as Jesus said that love is the most important element.