Christianity is characterized by sexual pessimism, which is reflected in a negative attitude towards sexuality and related topics. However, despite the common foundations, there are great differences in the views of these topics between the various branches of Christianity. In my master's thesis, I examine how the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism are reflected in social reality when it comes to issues of homosexuality and the family. The Family Code, which, among other things, brought a redefinition of the family, was followed by a heated public debate in which representatives of the Roman Catholic Church were also active. An analysis of media coverage that included the involvement of the Roman Catholic or Evangelical Church in the pre-referendum public debate revealed large differences between the attitudes of the two churches toward issues addressed by the Family Code. It confirmed that there are obvious differences between their attitudes towards homosexuality and families, as well as that the Evangelical Church is less rigorous in its view towards these than the Roman Catholic Church. While representatives of the latter actively opposed the redefinition of the family, the Evangelical Church emphasized the commitment to the traditional family, but put the need not to discriminate against children in different families above that ideal.
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