Pope Francis, Marriage, and Same-Sex Civil Unions: Foundations for the Organic Development of Catholic Sexual Doctrine

Todd A. Salzman and Michael G. Lawler argue for the organic development of Catholic sexual teaching to recognize the morality and sacramentality of opposite-sex and same-sex marriage, based on Pope Francis' support of the legal protection of same-sex civil unions, "new pastoral methods," theological anthropological, and ethical methodological developments.

Format: Hardback
Length: 286 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2024
Publisher: Lexington Books

Pope Francis, Marriage, and Same-Sex Civil Unions: Foundations for the Organic Development of Catholic Sexual Doctrine, by Todd A. Salzman and Michael G. Lawler, advocates for the organic development of Catholic sexual teaching to recognize the morality and sacramentality of opposite-sex and same-sex marriage. They base their argument on Pope Francis's support of the legal protection of same-sex civil unions, "new pastoral methods," theological anthropological, and ethical methodological developments. The authors examine the historical development of sexual and marital ethics in the Catholic tradition, the impact of virtue ethics, the emphasis on the authority and inviolability of an informed conscience, and a revised understanding of sexual complementarity on defining human dignity and the method for doing Catholic ethics. They also consider the sacramental nature of opposite-sex marriage as an upper-case Sacrament and same-sex marriage as a lower-case sacrament, the widespread and growing phenomenon of cohabitation before marriage, and sociological and experiential data that supports the overwhelming positive impact on children of opposite-sex and same-sex parents. These issues are considered in the light of the theological and pastoral changes that Pope Francis is introducing into the Catholic tradition, with widespread support and minority opposition.

Weight: 542g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666949407