“this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery”
What is adultery? “Adultery refers to marital infidelity. When two partners, of whom at least one is married to another party, have sexual relations – even transient ones – they commit adultery. Christ condemns even adultery of mere desire. The sixth commandment and the New Testament forbid adultery absolutely. The prophets denounce the gravity of adultery; they see it as an image of the sin of idolatry.”[i] As the Catechism says the sixth commandment goes deeper into the human sexuality of a person and adultery. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”[ii] “The tradition of the Church has understood the sixth commandment as encompassing the whole of human sexuality.”[iii]
What about two non-married people? If a man and a woman who neither are married and they have sex before they are married then they have committed the sin of fornication. “Fornication is carnal union between and 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.”[iv]
Why is adultery bad? When two spouses get married they promise to give of themselves fully, freely, faithfully, and fruitfully. They also make a covenant between themselves and God. By going outside of the marriage, the husband/wife who is committing adultery is breaking the vows and covenant made between their spouse and God. Moreover, adultery is not using the gift correctly. Those that commit adultery are not fully giving themselves to that person because they had already promised someone else of fully giving of themselves. They are not faithful because they are not even faithful to their spouse; they are not faithful to God or their spouse so why would any think they would be faithful the other person. Finally, they are not fruitful or try to purposely not be fruitful because they would not want to have a child as a result from their adultery. As it has already been stated, no matter how you look at adultery it is never okay, and it is extremely bad.
Search: Life and Marriage
“Adultery is an injustice. He who commits adultery fails in his commitment. He does injury to the sign of the covenant which the marriage bond is, transgresses the rights of the other spouse, and undermines the institution of marriage by breaking the contract on which it is based. He compromises the good of human generation and the welfare of children who need their parents’ stable union.”[v]
Adultery is a moral evil. That means given any circumstance or intention that may be given, it is always wrong. There is never a situation or excuse that would make adultery good. The Catechism teaches, “One may not do evil so that good may result from it.”[vi] Adultery is also a Mortal Sin. Why is adultery a mortal sin? To constitute something as a mortal sin it must consist of the following: Full knowledge, deliberate consent, and it is a grave matter.[vii] Adultery is a grave matter because it is violating one of the Ten Commandments; A spouse knows that he/she is married and about to engage in sex with someone other than their wife/husband; and to have sex is to consent to it.
What if someone has sex with a married person without the married person knowing or consenting? If this were the case then this would not be adultery, but would be rape. The married person in this case is the victim because they did not have control of the circumstances.
Why does Jesus forgive the women caught in adultery? Jesus came seeking on earth for what was lost, us.[viii] Jesus forgives her because He thirsts for souls. Jesus comes for everyone. This woman was caught in adultery. Another person had married multiple husbands (John 4:42), He ate with tax collectors (Matthew 9:10), and had followers that would leave Him at His hour of need. Yet, Jesus forgives them all. Jesus does not say He comes for only the righteous and the holy, but for all of Mankind.
Does Jesus forgive our past sins, even if it is serious like adultery? Yes. As we read from the gospel reading, “go, and do not sin again.”[ix] We see here Jesus acknowledges what she had done was sinful, but He forgives her of the sin, “Therefore, the Lord also condemned sin, but not the woman”[x] Finally, even when we have committed past sins, if we have gone to confession, made contrition and penance, then yes, God has forgiven your Sin. He instructs the woman, as well as all of us to go and sin no more.
Search: Marriage
[i] CCC 2380
[ii] Mt. 5:27-28
[iii] CCC 2336
[iv] CCC 2353
[v] CCC 2381
[vi] CCC 1756
[vii] cf. 1857
[viii] cf. St. Augustine, In Ioann. Evang., 33, 5
[ix] Jn. 8:11
[x] St. Augustine, In Ioann. Evang., 33, 5