410. “….everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

YOUCAT Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 410

Ave Maria series

410  What is meant by “fornication”?

Fornication (from Greek porneia) originally meant pagan sexual practice, for instance, temple prostitution.  Later the term was applied to all forms of sexual activity outside of marriage. Today in English it generally refers to consensual sexual relations between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman.  [2353]

Paolo and Francesca whom Dantedescribes as damned for fornication. (Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1819).….. 410

Fornication is often based on seduction, lies, violence, dependency, and abuse.  Fornication is therefore a serious offense against charity; it harms the dignity of the person and fails to recognize the meaning of human sexuality. Civil authorities have the duty to protect minors especially from fornication.

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT

You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18.)¹¹³

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(Matthew 5:27-28.)¹¹⁴

Offenses against chastity

[2353]

2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.

Sin  Fornication Paolo and Francesca