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Impotence in the eyes of the Church does NOT mean sterility.Hi kage_ar, the Catechism is available online, no need to buy it.
Or do you think that there is something wrong with the online version?
Thanks Just Lurking for noting that the Church does care enough to define the terms used in Church teachings and to point out that the definitions are revised to keep up with knowledge of the times.
For those of you who can to see it, others, not me, are posting that the teachings of the Church are being refined to reflect the increased understanding of the world that mankind acquires. If you folks are really awake you might also notice that at least one other person has stated that impotence, in the eyes of the Church, used to mean sterility and to some extent still does.
I am not interested in trying to say anything about what is the teachings if the Church on this point, but it would be absurd for the Church to tell someone they cannot marry because the guy cannot have an erection and his girlfriend is pregnant with his child.
As another issue. This is a logic point.
Suppose you have a if b and c are true. Do you have a if b is false and c is true? Or if b or c is false can you never have a?
Now b is sterility, c is not having an erection, a is marriage.
If you were the priest that was advising the couple I mentioned what would you advise them to do?
1ke, thanks, I very much expected you to respond the way you did. It is clear you have a great knowledge of the Catechism and other resources. Some of you demonstrate a great understanding of the history and teachings of the Church.
But, you do not demonstrate a great understanding of the Church, or its mission, or what Jesus Christ was all about. The Church is an institution with the purpose of helping people love God. Jesus demonstrated His Divine anger at people in His time that used the teachings of the Jewish faith to make it difficult for people to love God.
Yes, the teachings of the Church are good. But they must be used with love and not as a collection of law. That is why priests encourage people who haven’t gone to church in years to come back and receive communion without going to Confession. I hope you all realize that. Some people understand that when you sit down and talk to someone and you inform them of all the teachings of the Church they do not follow you are discouraging them from continuing to go to the Church. So they go elsewhere.
Also, theology is not limited to the written teachings of the Church. You all need to pay attention at Mass sometimes. Mass is a long way from what is required in the writings of the Church. Now Mass has what is required, but often it has much more as well. So does our faith. When you only discuss what was written down by the organized Church you miss all the extras that is also very much the Church.
Now I don’t mean to imply that any of you have a problem with your relationship to God, or the Church. What I will observe, not from your behavior, but your writings, this that you do lack an understanding of the Church.
We all seek God and I hope you all find God in whatever way He chooses to reveal Himself to you.
Impotence in the case of a man means he cannot achieve an erection. Impotence in the case of a woman means the vaginal opening is so small that penetration is impossible. In both cases if this is known prior to a marriage and it is untreatable and permanent then marriage is forbidden.
Sterility (infertility) on the other hand is not a bar to marriage.