What did he just say?

The Pope is calling on all couples to abstain from having sex before marriage and that chastity has a time and place in true love.

Earlier this week, he put out a 97-page document called ‘Catechumenal Itineraries for Married Life’.

In it, he writes: “At the origin of many difficulties that married couples face is the hedonistic mentality that distorts the beauty and depth of human sexuality.

“The Church must never fail to have to propose the previous virtue of chastity, even though this is now in direct contrast with the common mentality. Chastity must be presented as an authentic ally of love, not as its negation.

“Chastity teaches married couples the times and ways of time, delicate and generous love, and prepares them for the authentic gift of self to be lived for the whole of their life in marriage.”

What Pope Francis is missing here is that sex is not primarily for procreation. It is a sensory pleasure and a key part of a union, particularly between younger adults.

If that part is good, it certainly helps with the other aspects of the partnership.

Time and time again the church discounts sex and totally misunderstands its role in human nature.

Father Alberto Maggi is of the opinion that the Catholic Church has got it wrong here.

“It should listen more to the reality of young people today, of how they live before reissuing the doctrine they have always proposed,” he wrote in an Italian newspaper in response to the Pope’s document.

Sex in marriage is encouraged by Pope Francis and the Catholic Church all the better to have children and build families.

“Fecundity is a gift, an end of marriage, for conjugal love naturally tends to be fruitful,” he wrote.

The Pope places little stock in intimacy, passion, and sex drive.

With so many broken marriages and couples going their separate ways at the slightest encounter with difficulties, the Pope is calling for a ‘renewed pastoral commitment’.

For many people, sex is an important part of a romantic relationship and want and need to form a sexual connection.

Sex allows one to bond with their partner. It is an opportunity to show love and affection.It is pleasurable and fun.

What Pope Francis fails to grasp is that sexual compatibility is important but doesn’t have to be the ultimate determinant.