Human beings are created free. How we choose to think about and treat one another reflects how we think and feel about ourselves, about the meaning and purpose of life and about God (Bell, 2007). The Christian vision of the human person promotes and protects the dignity of the human person; interpersonal relationships characterized by integrity and justice; and physical, emotional, relational and spiritual health and safety. It does so because these protections are necessary if we are to realise the fullness of our freedom. The sexual ethics that arises from the Catholic perspective helps us to discern what is good and bad, and what is morally right and wrong, in the wider culture, so that we freely choose to direct our moral responsibility to human flourishing.

Issues of sexuality and intimacy are closely tied to issues of power and justice (Ferder & Heagle, 2007). When channelled in life-giving ways, sexuality contributes to human flourishing, joy and the sense of belonging for which each of us yearns. In this way, healthy sexual relations overcome distortions of power, seek equality and mutuality, and are visible signs of the Good News preached by Jesus. Good relationships set us free. However, the freedom such relationships give is not a freedom to do as we please, a freedom from all obstacles to our own desires. Rather, by restricting our freedom in a certain sense, we are liberated to take responsibility for our own and others flourishing. Good relationships help us to truly taste the goodness of life.

Because human beings are created free, the gift of human sexuality can also be abused. Sometimes this abuse occurs through immaturity or ignorance and through external pressure. On other occasions the abuse is intentional, brought about through selfishness or some other malicious aim. Avoiding such abuse and living a healthy sexuality requires emotional and intellectual maturity. These emotional and intellectual dimensions are important for relational and sexual wellbeing. It has to be acknowledged, however, that intellectual and emotional growth is a gradual process. We need time and practice to learn how to be free.

The Christian tradition calls this process of learning how to be free the formation of conscience. 'Conscience is the interior space of our relationship with God, who speaks to our heart and helps us to discern, to understand the path we ought to take, and once the decision is made, to move forward, to remain faithful' (Pope Francis, 2013). Formation of conscience involves learning how to make free and responsible moral decisions based on compassion, sound knowledge and moral reasoning. Pope Francis, in Amoris Laetitia (2016) paragraphs 259-279 writes insightfully and comprehensively about the ethical formation of children.