The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) has released a new doctrinal note reaffirming monogamous marriage as the only authentic expression of Christian marriage and rejecting all forms of non-monogamous unions, including polygamy and so-called “polyamory.”
The document, titled Una Caro and subtitled “In praise of monogamy,” responds in part to requests from bishops in Africa seeking clearer pastoral guidance amid the persistence of polygamous practices in some regions. According to LifeSiteNews, the DDF stated that the note emerged from “dialogues with the Bishops of Africa and other continents on the question of polygamy” as well as from observing that “public forms of non-monogamous unions – sometimes called ‘polyamory’ – are growing in the West.”
While the note addresses longstanding questions within the global Church, the DDF emphasizes that the text is primarily positive and constructive in tone. The purpose, according to the dicastery, is “fundamentally propositional,” seeking to deepen reflection on the unity of marriage—an aspect the DDF notes has received “less extensive development” within theological literature compared to the indissolubility of marriage.
The document roots unity as a defining characteristic of Christian marriage. Citing the doctrinal note, LifeSiteNews reports that the DDF describes unity as “a unique and exclusive union between one man and one woman.” This union, the note explains, is so complete that it “cannot be shared with others,” making exclusivity intrinsic to the sacramental bond.
Because of this, the note explicitly rejects all forms of non-monogamous relationships. According to the LifeSiteNews report, the DDF states that “polygamy, adultery, and polyamory, are based on the illusion that the intensity of the relationship can be found in the succession of faces.” The document further warns that “multiplying faces in a supposedly total union means fragmenting the meaning of marital love.”
The doctrinal note draws on Scripture, Christian tradition, and theological reflection across centuries—from the insights of Church Fathers like St. John Chrysostom and St. Augustine, to modern thinkers such as Dietrich von Hildebrand and Hans Urs von Balthasar. It also traces the consistent Magisterial teaching on unity from Popes Leo XIII and Pius XI through Vatican II and the recent pontificates of Benedict XVI, Francis, and Leo XIV. LifeSiteNews notes the document’s observation that these sources “all converge on unity and reciprocity as anthropological and spiritual pillars of marriage.”
While affirming unity as primary, the DDF clarifies that the note is not meant to address two other major elements of marriage: indissolubility and procreation. According to LifeSiteNews, the dicastery explains that both topics “are abundantly treated in theology and in the Magisterium.”
The document also recognizes that its message may challenge prevailing cultural attitudes, especially in societies where alternative relationship structures are gaining popularity. Nonetheless, the DDF highlights what it calls the deeply human meaning of monogamous marriage. As reported by LifeSiteNews, the note proposes that exclusive reciprocity is the necessary condition “for a full, open, and generative life.”
The DDF hopes Una Caro will serve not only theologians and clergy, but also married couples, pastoral workers, and young people discerning their vocation. Its publication adds a new dimension to the Church’s ongoing articulation of Catholic marriage, reinforcing unity as a foundational truth of the sacrament.
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