Originally published: London : SCM Press, 1992.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [215]-238) and index.

Sex and ethics -- The lustful eye -- The treatment of men -- The pleasures of the flesh -- Sexual purposes -- Sexual gestures -- The other half -- Sex and marriage -- Contraception -- Homosexuality.

Catholic teaching has sought to present Christian standards and values as reasonable, as standards, which anyone can see to be right if only they think about them in the right way. Arguments have been drawn from scripture and also from philosophy and experience, the latter being particularly important at a time when the church can no longer lay down the law, but has to be able to persuade. However, are the arguments used valid, or are they flawed? This is what Gareth Moore considers. His study covers such wide ranging topics as sexual pleasure, the purpose of sex, sexual gestures, marriage, contraception and homosexuality, and in these areas and the more specific sexual issues which he covers, he often finds the church's case defective. Though the church has valuable things to say, its supporting arguments can be unconvincing. Better arguments, he claims, are needed, or alternatively the possibility has to be faced that the church's teaching needs to be modified.