medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

>In this way I suppose that the same act could be described as either
>adultery or fornication depending which person was being accused and what
>their station in life was. Does anyone have a problem with this ?

I do. I believe that sex with a married person, not one's spouse, is
adultery regardless of the state in life of the person having sex with the
married person.

 

*********

 

Respondeo: Quite right too. Paragraph 2380 of the Catechism states: "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."

 

Note that it says THEY commit adultery, not that one commits adultery and the other fornication.

 

Bill.