Hi Data-dog, Have fun sorting through these:
DIVORCE ALLOWED FOR HOMOSEXUALITY/BESTIALITY?
1956 - No : WT56 10/1 p.591 par.20
"Sodomy (the unnatural intercourse of one male with another male as with a female), lesbianism (the homosexual relations between women), and bestiality (the unnatural sexual relations by man or woman with an animal) are not Scriptural grounds for divorce. "
1972 - No : WT72 1/1 p.32
"While both homosexuality and bestiality are disgusting perversions, in the case of neither one is the marriage tie broken. It is broken only by acts that make an individual “one flesh” with a person of the opposite sex other than his or her legal marriage mate."
1972 - YES : w72 12/15 p. 767 Questions From Readers
"Does this mean that unnatural and perverted sexual relations such as those engaged in by homosexuals are included in the meaning of this term used by the apostle in recording Jesus’ words? Yes, that is the case... This clearly marks a correction in the view expressed on previous occasions in the columns of this magazine."
1983 - YES : WT83 3/15 p.30
So, then, “fornication” in the broad sense, and as used at Matthew 5:32 and 19:9, evidently refers to a broad range of unlawful or illicit sex relations outside marriage. Porneia involves the grossly immoral use of the genital organ(s) of at least one human (whether in a natural or a perverted way); also, there must have been another party to the immorality—a human of either sex, or a beast."
DIVORCE ALLOWED FOR PORNEIA BETWEEN MARRIAGE MATES?
YES - w74 11/15 p. 704 Questions From Readers
That por·nei′a can rightly be considered as including perversions within the marriage arrangement is seen in that the man who forces his wife to have unnatural sex relations with him in effect “prostitutes” or “debauches” her. This makes him guilty of por·nei′a, for the related Greek verb por·neu′o means “to prostitute, debauch.” Hence, circumstances could arise that would make lewd practices of a married person toward that one’s marriage mate a Scriptural basis for divorce.
YES - Both can be disfellowshipped - w74 11/15 p. 704 Questions From Readers
If, on the other hand, the lewd practices were engaged in by mutual consent, neither mate would have a basis for claiming por·nei′a as a Scriptural ground for divorce. Both marriage partners are guilty. Such a case, if brought to the attention of elders in the congregation, would be handled like any other serious wrongdoing.
YES - But no longer a disfellowshipping offense - w78 2/15 p. 30 Questions From Readers
In the past some comments have appeared in this magazine in connection with certain unusual sex practices, such as oral sex, within marriage and these were equated with gross sexual immorality. On this basis the conclusion was reached that those engaging in such sex practices were subject to disfellowshipping if unrepentant... A careful further weighing of this matter, however, convinces us that, in view of the absence of clear Scriptural instruction, these are matters for which the married couple themselves must bear the responsibility before God and that these marital intimacies do not come within the province of the congregational elders to attempt to control nor to take disfellowshipping action with such matters as the sole basis.
YES - w78 2/15 pp. 31-32 Questions From Readers
If a married person believes that the sexual practices of the mate, though not involving someone outside the marriage, are nevertheless of such a gross nature as to constitute a clear surrender to lewdness or a debauching in lewdness, then that must be his or her own decision and responsibility.
Such a one may hold that the circumstances provide Scriptural basis for divorce.
NO - w83 3/15 p. 31 Honor Godly Marriage!
What, though, if one mate wants or even demands to share with his or her partner in what is clearly a perverted sex practice? The above-presented facts show that porneia involves unlawful sexual conduct outside the marital arrangement. Thus, a mate’s enforcing perverted acts, such as oral or anal sex, within the marriage would not constitute a Scriptural basis for a divorce that would free either for remarriage
No-one else's business! - w83 3/15 p. 31 Honor Godly Marriage!
As already stated, it is not for elders to “police” the private marital matters of couples in the congregation.
