Folia Theologica 19. (2008)

Hámori Antal: Human dignity in church Teaching

HUMAN DIGNITY IN CHURCH TEACHING

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who pays sins gravely against himself: he violates the chastity to which his Baptism pledged him and defiles his body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.46 Prostitution is a social scourge. It usually involves women, but also men, children, and adolescents (The latter two cases involve the added sin of scandal.). While it is always gravely sinful to engage in prostitution, the imputability of the offense can be attenuated by destitution, blackmail, or social pressure.47

8. Man as a husband and father

„Within the conjugal and family communion-community, the man is called upon to live his gift and role as husband and father. In his wife he sees the fulfillment of God's intention: »It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a helper fit for him,« (Gen 2:18) and he makes his own the cry of Adam, the first husband: »This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.« (Gen 2:23)."48

„Authentic conjugal love presupposes and requires that a man have a profound respect for the equal dignity of his wife: »You are not her master,« writes St. Ambrose, »but her husband; she was not given to you to be your slave, but your wife... Reciprocate her attentiveness to you and be grateful to her for her love.« With his wife a man should live »a very special form of personal friendship.«49 As for the Christian, he is called upon to develop a new attitude of love, manifesting towards his wife a charity that is both gentle and strong like that which Christ has for the Church."50

„Love for his wife as mother of their children and love for the children themselves are for the man the natural way of understanding and fulfilling his own fatherhood. Above all where social and cultural conditions so easily encourage a father to be less concerned with his fami46 Cf. 1 Cor 6:15-20.

47 CCC 2355. See CCC 2356; 2357-2359 (cf. Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9- 10; 1 Tim 1:10; PH 8); 2380-2381 (cf. Hos 2:7; Jer 5:7; 13:27; Mt 5:27-28,32; 19:6; Mk 10:11; 1 Cor 6:9-10); 2382-2400 (cf. Mt 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mk 10:9; Lk 16:18; 1 Cor 5:1,3-5; 7:10-11; GS 47; CIC, cann. 1141,1151-1155; FC 11,19, 80- 81, 84; PH 7; Lev 18:7-20).

48 FC 25.

49 HV 9.

50 FC 25. Cf. Eph 5:25.