From a Catholic perspective, marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman, instituted by God to reflect His love and foster life (CCC 1601).
The Church teaches that marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, established by God for their mutual good and the procreation of children (CCC 1601). It’s both a natural institution and a sacrament, reflecting Christ’s union with the Church.
Genesis 2:24 states, “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Jesus reaffirms this in Matthew 19:4-6, emphasizing God’s original design for marriage as a union of male and female. The Church sees this as a divine blueprint, rooted in creation and upheld by Christ’s teaching.
Marriage mirrors God’s love—faithful, fruitful, and permanent—as seen in the complementarity of man and woman (CCC 1604). Their union reflects the Trinity’s communion and Christ’s self-giving love for the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32). This design reveals a purpose beyond human preference, aligning with God’s intent for humanity.
The Church teaches that men and women, created differently yet equal in dignity (Genesis 1:27), bring unique gifts to marriage (CCC 1605). Their physical, emotional, and spiritual differences enable a complete union—body and soul—that can generate new life. This complementarity is seen as God’s intentional design, not a cultural construct.
Procreation is a primary end of marriage, as God commanded, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). The Catechism (CCC 1652) emphasizes that the openness to children is intrinsic to the marital bond between man and woman, reflecting God’s creative love. While not every marriage bears children, this potential underscores its unique nature.
The Church holds that marriage’s essence—its unitive and procreative purposes—requires the complementarity of man and woman (CCC 2357). Same-sex unions cannot fulfill this divine design.
Marriage becomes a sacrament when a baptized man and woman freely vow lifelong fidelity, receiving grace to live out Christ’s love (CCC 1601). This grace sanctifies their union, making it a visible sign of God’s covenant. The Church sees this as exclusive to male-female marriage, rooted in biblical and natural law.
The Church defends marriage as between man and woman because it believes this truth is timeless, not cultural (CCC 1603). Amid modern shifts, it sees this union as foundational to family and society, preserving God’s plan. John Paul II called it “the primordial sacrament,” essential to human flourishing.
This union provides a stable foundation for raising children, uniting biological parents in a complementary bond (CCC 1652). It models mutual sacrifice and love, fostering virtues that strengthen communities. The Church views it as a natural good, beyond religious belief, supporting the common good.
The Church invites dialogue with charity, affirming all persons’ dignity while holding to its teaching (CCC 2358). It acknowledges differing views but maintains that marriage’s definition comes from God, not human consensus. Its stance aims to uphold truth, not exclude, offering love and respect to all.