Expert: Tom Schott - 1/20/2009

Question
Hello. I understand sex within a marriage is welcomed and honoured in the catholic faith. I am also under then impression that sex is meant for procreation. I would like to know if everytime a couple has sex, should it be for procreation? If so, is it expected that a women should fall pregnant whenever one has sex? And if not, what are the ways to prevent pregnancy?

Answer
Emmanuel,

Sex in the context of the Catholic marriage has a dual, not single, function. It is for procreation and for mutual benefit of closeness and love for the married couple. Obviously not every time the couple has sex is it expected that pregnancy will result. In the vast, vast majority of cases this will not happen.

The Catholic church holds that each and every act of love in marriage should be open to the transmission of life.