Loving union and procreation: the essential significations of the conjugal act. A moral-theological reflection in occasion of the jubilee year of „Humane vitae”

Abstract

Following the jubilee year 2018 of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae vitae (1968), the invitation of Pope Francis in Amoris laetitia should be accepted to rediscover the message of Humanae vitae. In this context it seems important to grasp the intimate conjunction of the significations of the marital act, namely loving union and procreation. In this way the fundaments for an adequate understanding of the normative dimension are laid, by pointing to the dignity of the person and the marital acts. The application of those methods of family planning which ground on the natural times of fertility might be encouraged.

Keywords

• human dignity
• human sexuality
• Humanae vitae
• fertility
• contraception