Persona Humana

Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith1975-12-29Current

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Overview

Applies Catholic moral principles to sexuality, chastity, premarital relations, homosexual acts, masturbation, conscience, pastoral care, and moral formation.

Why This Document Matters

It is an important doctrinal reference for Catholic sexual ethics and must be read with later magisterial teaching and pastoral guidance.

Historical Context

Issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in response to rapidly changing sexual norms and moral theories after the council.

Authority and Status

Genre: Doctrinal Declaration
Authority class: Doctrinal Declaration of the Church’s doctrinal dicastery, approved or authorized by the Roman Pontiff as stated in the document
Juridical force: Doctrinal or disciplinary according to the document’s stated scope
Current status: Current
Promulgated: 1975-12-29

A doctrinal-dicastery text whose authority is determined by its genre, contents, papal approval, and the authority of the teachings it reiterates.

Key Points

Moral TheologyHuman Dignity & LifeMarriage & Family

Major Themes

Moral TheologyHuman Dignity & LifeMarriage & Family

Related CatholicG33k Resources

Official Text

Persona Humana

The official document text is hosted by the Holy See. CatholicG33k provides contextual and educational material but does not reproduce the complete Vatican text here.

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