Preacher's Daughter | An Analysis of Sex in the Catholic Church
By Kitty Quinn, Photographed by Milan Lazovski, Makeup by Kitty Quinn, Model: Kitty Quinn
Of the several earthly pleasures, none are quite as infamous as sex. Regarded as a necessary evil by scholars and the church alike, sex has always been a topic to spark intrigue and controversy throughout history. Though society has become more accepting and has adjusted overall attitudes regarding this topic, the negative connotation can be largely attributed to religious beliefs. Western society is massively influenced by the Catholic church’s teachings and can be especially apparent regarding topics of sexuality and gender roles. It’s a tale as old as time and sex is the antagonist— it’s seen as sinful, gluttonous, and unnecessary unless as a means for procreation.
To take a look at the history of sex within the Catholic church, one must also see how the act became perceived in such a negative light. As stated by an early father of the church, Clement of Alexandria, “Our general argument concerning marriage, food, and other matters, may proceed to show that we should do nothing from desire. Our will is to be directed only towards that which is necessary”. Meaning that when a married couple comes together for the sake of having a child, there is no sin, as it is out of necessity rather than out of desire. With this theory, the act of sex for desire– even within marriage– is a sinful indulgence. Even so, several theologists have contrasting theories on why sex exists in the first place. For example, Augustine of Hippo believed that God created men and women with the intention of sexual reproduction, whilst John of Damascus believed that sex was a concession based on the knowledge that men and women would one day sin and need to create children. Nevertheless, although extreme asceticism from the early fathers of the church has since diminished, some of the puritanical belief systems continue to remain in less extreme ways.
Although the enjoyment of sex has been frowned upon by all parties, it was even more of a taboo for women. Within Western ideologies, the story of Eve in the Garden of Eden perpetrated the idea that women were temptresses and that men must resist in order to stay holy. Though sex before marriage has become more commonplace, there is a certain purity culture that has prohibited this action– specifically for women– in the past. It is said that if a woman was to remain pure and holy, her relationship with God would strengthen and she would then be led to the right kind of man. Though the teachings maintain the idea that women are equals, it seems that they are constantly being told what to do and what not to do in order to decrease their risk of tempting a man. These types of teachings have led to detrimental effects on how woman view their own body and sexuality; for instance, feeling guilty for physical interactions with men and repressing natural sexual thoughts. It’s an evil double standard that constantly punishes women for existing and continually gives men the benefit of the doubt. Society has moved onward, but the shameless policing of women and their bodies in the name of religion is far from over.
During the sexual revolution of the 1960s to the 1980s, sex was removed from the sole purpose of reproduction and in contrast, became more openly embraced in the aspect of pleasure. With the medical industry breaking away from the ideals of the Catholic church, tools for preventing a reproductive sexual life like the contraceptive pill proved to be groundbreaking for a more accepted social view on sex. These advancements also connected to the political movement of feminism, leading to the eventual decriminalization of abortion and the fight for more equal treatment between men and women. The once negative connotation began to be seen in a positive light through a change in mentalities, medical discoveries, and a plethora of other factors. These changing views were not only limited to engaging in the act of sex with another individual, as masturbation also began to be promoted as normal and healthy. Everyone– especially women– was granted a greater social and legal degree of freedom over their bodies that outdated religious beliefs had formerly limited. Though in modern times abstinence is encouraged to adolescents for presumably religious purposes, there have only been more advancements in the widespread acceptance of sexuality.
With the sexual revolution also came the sexualization of religious themes as a way to push back against the previously repressive views on sex. This was largely seen within nunsploitation films, which is a subgenre of exploitation film most popular in the 1970s. The plot line of these films focused on sexual topics with an overarching religious theme— usually centered on women in isolation that turn to perversity. Though mainly sexual in nature, the films did not lack criticism against the Catholic church and the idea of religion in general. By sexualizing the very thing that oppressed sexual freedom, the films served as a statement of protest against a narrow-minded society. Though nunsploitation is a mainly dead genre, the sexualization of Catholicism and general religious subject matters in opposition to beliefs about sex continues into the present day. Films like X (2022) directed by Ti West, are another great example of a filmmaker using a highly sexual storyline with a subplot of religion as a means to criticize it for its hypocritical beliefs. However this is not only limited to film; Generally, Halloween is known as a time when presumably “sexy” versions of priests, nuns, and other religious figures are commonly seen. While blasphemous to some, it can serve as a social commentary on what has become of the general population’s view on combining sexual themes in juxtaposition with the Catholic church. In turn, this type of satire shows that the public no longer wholeheartedly supports the church’s previously overbearing principles and attitudes toward fleshly pleasures, even if one is to consider themself religious.
Through centuries of push-and-pull resistance from the Catholic church and its followers, the world has seen an immeasurable amount of progress since ascetic times. It’s very easy to group extremists with a larger population who most likely do not share these same values. While religious absolutes continue to exist to this day, it's important to note that the Catholic church as a whole and many who practice the Catholic faith are beginning to become more progressive in their beliefs. The sexual revolution is said to have ended following the 1980s, but it can be argued that it has never ended in the first place. Until society is freed from the shackles of sexual shame, there continue to be more barriers to be broken in the destigmatization of sex and the human body— especially in relation to religion. Whether for sexual rights or sexual and reproductive health, the fight for sexual liberation is imminent.
