Published: 2020-12-31

Catholic sexual morality in the imaginings and assessment of Polish Youth from the perspective of the past thirty years

Józef Baniak
Academic Journal of Sociology
Section: Articles
https://doi.org/10.21697/ucs.2020.26.1.02

Abstract

In this article I present the views and attitudes of high school and university students in Poland towards sexual morality perceived in the light of the principles of Catholic ethics. These attitudes were manifested by the respondents in the second half of the 20th century and in the next two decades of the 21st century. The bases for the analysis of the attitudes of high school students and students are the results of many sociological studies carried out in both parts of the period. These studies show to what extent and scope Polish youth changed their own attitudes – views and opinions – regarding Catholic sexual morality during this period; towards Catholic ethical principles regulating people’s sexuality and the position of the Catholic Church in this matter. This question is also the main issue of this article. On the other hand, discussing the attitudes and behaviors of young people regarding Catholic sexual morality is its subject. A thorough presentation of sociological research and the analysis of its results is the method used in this study. The content of this study consists of the following issues concerning the attitude of Polish youth to Catholic sexual morality: 1) premarital sexual purity and its value; 2) sexual intercourse after a civil marriage and before a church wedding; 3) the role and importance of sexual intercourse in marriage; 4) contraception and natural regulation of conception; 5) abortion – its situations and circumstances as well as consequences; 6) in vitro fertilization and infertility treatment in marriage and other relationships.

Keywords:

catholic sexual morality, catholic ethics, premarital sexual abstinence, contraception, natural birth control, marital infertility, in vitro fertilization, medical conscience clause, high school students, university students

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Citation rules

Baniak, J. (2020). Catholic sexual morality in the imaginings and assessment of Polish Youth from the perspective of the past thirty years. Academic Journal of Sociology, 26(1-2), 7–34. https://doi.org/10.21697/ucs.2020.26.1.02

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