Is only having sex to procreate allowed?

[Donna29]

My husband and I have been married for almost 3 years, we have no children yet, we are both in our mid-twenties, and our marriage has been sexless for about the last 6 months. We have discussed sex, I am always the one to propose making love, and he always refuses. Both of our jobs include a lot of evening and weekend commitments, and I understand that he doesn’t have the energy for sex. But when we talk about having children, he agrees that we will have sex when we are ready to have children.

Is is logical/Catholic/theological for a sexless marriage to produce children? I would think that if the marriage is sexless, then it would be weird to have sex just to bring about new life. I really feel like if we’re not having sex already, then it would be unnatural to have sex just to have children.

Thoughts?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear friend,

It is simply not normal for a husband to not want to have sexual relations with his wife. Something is very wrong. He could be having some physical or psychological problems. It could be stress. It could be infidelity or an internet porn problem. But something is wrong.

Having sex just to have children is ignoring the on-going love life between husband and wife that not only fulfills and sustains their relationship, but is the context God designed for the procreation of children. I suggest that you read “Good News About Sex and Marriage” by Christopher West. You are in our prayers.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.