Fasting and Intercourse?

[IcePrincessKRS]

I read on another forum I've been reading (a pregnancy forum) a post by a Catholic woman. The thread was started by a Muslim woman talking about fasting for Ramadan and the Catholic woman was asking questions about their beliefs. The Catholic woman said

[quote]I do know that in my faith, when we fast we are supposed to abstain from intercourse, food, and the indulgences of life.
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Now, I've always been taught and read all sorts of things about abstaining from food/meat, and how we're supposed to limit our partying and all... but are we really REQUIRED to abstain from sex? I'm guessing she was talking about Lent, Good Friday, and Ash Wednesday. I tried doing a couple quick searches and didn't really turn up anything that said specifically that we are required to do that. I want to correct this woman if she's wrong but I want to make sure before I open my mouth. Any help would be greatlt appreciated.

The closest thing to what she said that I have been able to find is this:

[url="http://www.cpats.org/CPATSAnswerDirectory/Answers_to_Questions/2003_11NovermberQuestions/2003NovWhyDoCatholicsFastDuringLent.cfm"]http://www.cpats.org/CPATSAnswerDirectory/...tDuringLent.cfm[/url]

[quote]When Paul warned of those who "forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods" he has in mind people with the Manichean belief that sex is wrong and certain foods, like meat, are intrinsically immoral. (Thus the spiritual ideal for many modern New Agers is a celibate vegetarian, as in the Eastern religions.)

We know that Paul has in mind those who teach sex and certain foods are intrinsically immoral because he tells us that these are "foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer" (1 Tim. 4:3b-5).

Sex and all kinds of food are good things (which is why the Catholic Church has marriage for a sacrament and heartily recommends the practice eating to its members), and this is precisely why it is fitting for them to be given up as part of a spiritual discipline. Thus Daniel gave up meat (as well as wine, another symbol of rejoicing) and Paul endorses the practice of temporary celibacy to engage in a special spiritual discipline of increased prayer (1 Corinthians 7:5). By giving up good things and denying them to ourselves we encourage an attitude of humility, free ourselves from dependence on them, cultivate the spiritual discipline of being willing to make personal sacrifices, and remind ourselves of the importance of spiritual goods over earthly goods.

In fact, if there was an important enough purpose, Paul recommended permanently giving up marriage and meat. Thus he himself was celibate (1 Corinthians 7:8), he recommended the same for ministers (2 Timothy 2:3-4), and he recommended it for the unmarried so they can devote themselves more fully to the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32-34) unless doing so would subject them to great temptations (1 Corinthians 7:9). Similarly, he recommended giving up meat permanently if it would prevent others from sinning (1 Corinthians 8:13).

Thus Paul certainly had nothing against celibacy or giving up meat -- even on a permanent basis -- so long as one wasn't saying that these things are intrinsically evil, which is what he was condemning the "doctrines of demons" passage.

Since the Catholic Church only requires abstinence from meat on a temporary basis, it clearly does not regard meat is immoral. Instead, it regards it as the giving up of a good thing (which in less economically developed regions -- including the whole world until very recently -- was expensive and thus eaten at festive occasions, making it a sign of rejoicing) to attain a spiritual goal.
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[BLAZEr]

When the Church talks about fasting and abstinence, she is referring to food. It is not necessary to refrain from sexual intercourse on the days of mandatory fasting and abstinence unless you want to.

Actually, come to think of it, on Good Friday, why wouldn't you?

Ah, but that's just a personal opinion.

So when it comes to fasting and abstinence, the Church is calling for your stomach . . . she leaves the areas south of that stomach to your discretion.