Why is prostitution wrong?

Most people in the world either have a job or want a job. Even in the most economically depressed nations, people are looked for work. Why? Often a job will allow them to feed their families, in more fortunate countries like the U.S., a job also allows for luxuries and leisure activities. All of these people (including myself) are attempting to use their God-given gifts to make money.

How is this any different than prostitution? If I can use my mind and my eyes and my hands to write computer programs five days a week, why can't a woman similarly sell her mind and body as a prostitute? Sure she may be hurting her emotions, but my emotions are seldom spared at work. How is she different?

This question has puzzled me for some time. It wasn't until I realized that it's not the use of gifts that makes prostitution wrong, but rather the object of that use. There are some actions which are "greater" than others - at least in a spiritual sense. The consecration comes to mind. Could you imagine a priest demanded payment from each member of the congregation before allowing them to be present for the consecration? Absolutely not.

Similarly, the marital embrace is one of these greater actions- one which cannot be subject to objectification like computer programming or accounting or plumbing can be. This is the bedrock of John Paul II's theology of the body, as expressed in Love and Responsibility.

Most of us would agree that prostitution is clearly wrong, and even fewer of us would participate in it. Yet how many of us objectify the marital embrace on a daily basis? Are we not making the same moral error as prostitutes? Praise God for his amazing forgiveness!

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor 6:19-20)