Catholic theology of sexuality

Catholic theology of sexuality, like Catholic theology in general, is drawn from "natural law", canonical scripture, divine revelation, and sacred tradition, as interpreted authoritatively by the magisterium of the Catholic Church. Sexual morality evaluates sexual behavior according to standards laid out by Catholic moral theology, and often provides general principles by which Catholics can evaluate whether specific actions meet these standards.

The Catholic Church teaches that sexual intercourse has a two-fold unitive and procreative purpose; According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "conjugal love ... aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul", since the marriage bond is to be a sign of the love between God and humanity.

Because Catholics believe God found everything he created to be "very good", the Catholic Church teaches that the human body and sex must likewise be good. Every person is created in the image of God and therefore has great dignity including their sexuality. Sexuality is not something purely biological; rather, it concerns the intimate nucleus of the person.

In cases in which sexual expression is sought outside marriage, or in which the procreative function of sexual expression within marriage is "deliberately frustrated" (e.g., the use of artificial contraception), the Catholic Church considers them a grave sin. According to the Catechism, among what are considered sins against chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices. Additionally, "adultery, divorce, polygamy, and free union are grave offenses against the dignity of marriage".

In the history of Catholic Church, there have been significant differing opinions on the nature of the severity of various sexual sins. In the present, there exists still wide opinions by theologians and much of the laity on official teaching on sexuality.