Typical Aussies, one track minds...

[Gob]

A devout Catholic Australian couple, who have been married for 55 years, stumped the Vatican this week when they gave a speech about the importance of sexual intimacy in marriage.





Ron and Mavis Pirola, from Coogee in Sydney's eastern suburbs, addressed more than 182 bishops and the Pope during the synod in which they spoke about the importance of family life and shared their belief that 'sexual intercourse' is the fullest expression of marriage. 'That attraction that we first felt and the continued bonding force between us was basically sexual,' the chair-couple of the Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council said in their speech.

'The little things we did for each other, the telephone calls and love notes, the way we planned our day around each other and the things we shared were outward expressions of our longing to be intimate with each other. 'Gradually we came to see that the only feature that distinguishes our sacramental relationship from that of any other good Christ-centred relationship is sexual intimacy and that marriage is a sexual sacrament with its fullest expression in sexual intercourse.' The synod, which will be held over a fortnight, will see a total of 13 couples speak about their experiences in an effort to help the Catholic Church approach the subjects of family with their modern day followers.

Following the Pirola's speech, British cardinal, Vincent Nichols told the Guardian: 'That's not what we bishops talk about mostly, quite honestly.'

'But to hear that as the opening contribution did, I think, open an area ... and it was a recognition that that is central to the well-being of marriage often.' But an unconcerned Mr Pirola told Daily Mail Australia that there was nothing controversial about his speech. 'There was nothing we said that is not fully in keeping with the church's teaching,' he said. 'In regard to sex it should be fairly obvious – were a married couple why else would you get married? You want to be intimate with each other because you are in love and that leads to children and that's what marriage is all about; loving each other and wanting to spread that love.


People seem surprised but it's just common sense. It's just natural and all of the bishops we've spoken to are quite supportive and happy.' Further along in their speech, the Pirolas also told the Vatican of their Christian friends whose 'gay son said he wanted to bring his partner home' to a Christmas gathering. 'They fully believed in the Church's teachings and they knew their grandchildren would see them welcome the son and his partner into the family. Their response could be summed up in three words, "He is our son".'

Despite admitting that he and his wife were careful when wording the anecdote, Mr Pirola again insisted that the opinion their voiced was in keeping with the church's teaching. 'The general point we were making was in context of a broader point… The church is trying to promote clear values to society and so it has rules, regulations and doctrines – but the overarching thing about the church is that it must spread love.

'How do you show love to a person and at the same time uphold a different values - this is something parents face all the time with their children. We don't think parents should agree with everything their children want to do, they must uphold certain values but but most of all their children need to feel their love.'

[TPFKA@W]

Like it or not men feel loved and appreciated through sexual expression. If you are female and you want a happy marriage you cannot neglect the sex. If you are unwilling or unable to participate it is time to step back and figure out why. If you can't fix it then get the hell out of the marriage and live single.

[liberty]

Like it or not men feel loved and appreciated through sexual expression. If you are female and you want a happy marriage you cannot neglect the sex. If you are unwilling or unable to participate it is time to step back and figure out why. If you can't fix it then get the hell out of the marriage and live single.

Would that not be where the Muslims culture, with their total of five wives, have an advantage? Where one wife is lacking, another could fill in with the necessary attention.

[TPFKA@W]

Like it or not men feel loved and appreciated through sexual expression. If you are female and you want a happy marriage you cannot neglect the sex. If you are unwilling or unable to participate it is time to step back and figure out why. If you can't fix it then get the hell out of the marriage and live single.

Would that not be where the Muslims culture, with their total of five wives, have an advantage? Where one wife is lacking, another could fill in with the necessary attention.

[BoSoxGal]

I wish I'd married the guy I had the greatest sex with - I have certainly found over the years that @w's statement is very true, and in my own experience, it's a whole lot easier to have sex when you might not feel like you are 'in the mood' if the person you are having sex with is a really good lover.

And ultimately, assuming one isn't abused or some other really significant dysfunction in the relationship, good/great sex on a regular basis DOES make a relationship MUCH better - it's the oxytocin effect.

I think it's great that this couple was so frank with the Catholic leadership.

[Lord Jim]

Would that not be where the Muslims culture, with their total of five wives, have an advantage? Where one wife is lacking, another could fill in with the necessary attention

I have a suggestion for you lib...

Why don't you run that one by the missus?

[BoSoxGal]

What's funny is his assumption that it's the wife who would be 'lacking'; in my experience, many men who think they are hot shit in bed really aren't.

[MajGenl.Meade]

That's happened to me - damned embarrassing and hell on the laundry

[TPFKA@W]

What's funny is his assumption that it's the wife who would be 'lacking'; in my experience, many men who think they are hot shit in bed really aren't.

My first long term relationship was with a sexually clueless man. I GOT OUT. I know a lot of women who think sex is icky. It does not have to be.

I urge everyone to have premarital sex, I don't give a rat's ass how young you are. Get a condom and get it on.

You would not buy a new car without a test drive.

If you don't have sexual chemistry it will not work in the long term.

[BoSoxGal]

If you don't have sexual chemistry it will not work in the long term.

Or, you will have the kind of marriage that makes single people grateful for their lonely nights!

[liberty]

Would that not be where the Muslims culture, with their total of five wives, have an advantage? Where one wife is lacking, another could fill in with the necessary attention

I have a suggestion for you lib...

Why don't you run that one by the missus?

I have Jim and what can I say; It was exhilarating and a good test of the reflexes. But she is an American Christian woman if she had been perhaps a Moslem woman from say Iran her reaction might have been different.

At any rate I love my wife and we have been married forever so she must love me or she would have killed me by now. Can you believe it she says I have an odd sense of humor.

Someday there will be men’s liberation.

[Guinevere]

Like it or not men feel loved and appreciated through sexual expression. If you are female and you want a happy marriage you cannot neglect the sex. If you are unwilling or unable to participate it is time to step back and figure out why. If you can't fix it then get the hell out of the marriage and live single.

Amen sister, with a slight amendment. No matter how strong the emotional and intellectual connection, if you don't have the physical connection it's not going to work out. That matters for all parties in a relationship, not just the men. Women need and want sex and the intimacy that comes with sex just as much as men - even if it's still not considered all that ladylike to say so.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I have Jim and what can I say; It was exhilarating and a good test of the reflexes.

So is that what else LJ got for his birthday?!?

[Gob]

I have Jim and what can I say;

You have Jim? Well that's a confession.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Lift your eyes, Gob. Lift 'em a little. Say, that U2 album was both free and not particularly interesting.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I don't give a rat's ass how young you are. Get a condom and get it on.

While I don't disagree with your overall thought, I think age needs to be taken into account.

[liberty]

I have Jim and what can I say; It was exhilarating and a good test of the reflexes.

So is that what else LJ got for his birthday?!?

Jeez General, I was just messing with you; here I will correct it: A comma can make a difference, right General.

And, I acknowledge your position as Chief of the Grammar polices.