Christian Principles of Human Sexuality and Corresponding Educational Goals

The following principles and corresponding goals have been extracted from the Archdiocese of Vancouver’s booklet “Sexuality Education Guidelines”.  The booklet is a thorough and complete description and explanation of the Church’s teachings on how to educate children on the issue of sexuality.  If you wish to receive a booklet, please contact the ORE and one will be provided for you.

Christian Principles of Human Sexuality

PRINCIPLE ONE: Each person is created in the image of God.

PRINCIPLE TWO:  Despite original sin, all human life in its physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions is fundamentally good.

PRINCIPLE THREE:  Each person is created to be loved and to love, as Christ, loved the by the Father, loves us.

PRINCIPLE FOUR:  Human love is expressed in a way that is enfleshed and sexed.

PRINCIPLE FIVE:  Human sexuality carries the responsibility to work toward Christian sexual maturity.

PRINCIPLE SIX:  Mature Christian sexuality, in whatever state of life, demands a life- enriching commitment to other and the community.

PRINCIPLE SEVEN:  Conjugal sexuality is an expression of the faithful, life-enriching love of husband and wife and is ordained toward the loving procreation of new life.

Corresponding Educational Goals

GOAL ONE: The person, made in the image of God, will develop a deep appreciation of his or her unique creation and inestimable worth.

GOAL TWO:  The person will acknowledge and understand the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of his or her nature and appreciate them as fundamentally good, though imperfect.

GOAL THREE:  The person will be open to love and will love others in accord with his or her level of maturation.

GOAL FOUR:  The person will be open to the growth that takes place within interpersonal living, and will participate in relationships as a sexual person in accord with his or her own state in life.

GOAL FIVE:  The person will appreciate the responsibility demanded in the transition from immature self-centeredness to mature Christian caring and generosity.

GOAL SIX:  The person will appreciate the role played by sexuality in establishing relationships of commitment and faithfulness.

GOAL SEVEN:  The person will appreciate the fundamental purposes of Christian marriage by affirming the inseparably related unitive and procreative end of this relationship.