SPEAKING OF PARADIGM SHIFTS

Vatican's Secretary of State, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, stated that Pope Francis’ teaching on Marriage and the family found in his 2016 controversial Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, arose from the Pope’s “new paradigm” for the Catholic Church.  

Cardinal Parolin stated: “ultimately Amoris Laetitia arose from a new paradigm that Pope Francis is carrying out with wisdom, prudence and even patience.”

The Exhortation certainly has been controversial with many neoconservative reactionary groups claiming that it is a contradiction of Catholic teaching concerning divorce and remarriage. 

Specifically, the Exhortation has been interpreted by a number of Bishops and Cardinals as allowing Catholics in an invalid second “marriage” to receive Holy Communion.

When asked why the Exhortation caused such a heated confrontation, Cardinal Parolin responded: “Probably the difficulties that have arisen and still exist in the Church are due, to this change in attitude that the Pope asks of us.A change in paradigm, inherent in the text itself, that is asked of us: this new spirit, this new approach!” 

Well, speaking of paradigm shifts, I thought I would offer some comments about the “paradigm shift” relative to the present-day sexual morality embraced by so many in our secular culture.

What are the elements of this “paradigm shift” regarding sex?

First, sexual acts have no intrinsic meaning or purpose. They are not governed by any deeper natural order, which is inviolable.  Their meaning is defined and determined by society in general as well as by the persons engaging in them. Sexual relations between a man and a woman need not involve the natural significance of making them “one flesh,” with all that entails. “Meaningless or recreational” sex is a genuine reality. 

Second, sexuality itself is purely subjective. Provided no harm is caused to others, we have a duty of care for ourselves to realize and express our desired sexual identities.  Society has an obligation to ensure the sexual identities of our neighbors are affirmed and supported. 

Third, human beings are autonomous, rights-bearing individuals.  Appropriate sexual relations presuppose the partners are equal in their agency and there are no significant imbalances of power between them. For those who have developed this principle, traditional forms of marriage are unacceptable since they presuppose a fundamental inequality in the roles of husband and wife. 

Fourth, freely given consent is the watchword for sexual relations. Where a relationship between given parties is consensual, few if any reasonable objections can be raised against it. 

Fifth, beyond the prevention of harm, sexual relations should be freed from social policing and constraint, from norms and from stigmas. While marriage may grant public recognition and affirmation to a couple, each couple should be freed to practice marriage as they choose, and no couple should be expected to get married.

This “paradigm shift” is the sexual morality of modern society.  And it is so pervasive that traditional Catholic teaching has shown itself incapable of presenting a challenge to it.

Cardinal Parolin, the Pope and the Church in general has seen the replacement of Christian sexual morality by an alternative form:  the elevation of the individual will over against the natural order and divine and social norms, rendering individual self-realization a more central moral end.

Until the Church leaders admit and confront this new sexual morality head on and provides an intelligent and positive response to each and everyone of its underpinnings, Church teaching will continue to be irrelevant and ignored.