Birth Control???

[*Army_Wife*]

I have had a few Catholic friends state to me that my being on birth control is a form of early abortion. I just don't feel this way. Is it hypocritical to be completely against abortion and Plan B pills why taking birth control yourself? I have been married a year and am in nursing school. I am just not ready to have children yet, I have so much more that needs to be accomplished. If you would not consider birth control a form of early abortion what would be your response to the argument that it is? Just really lost on this issue.

 

[Alyssum]

There was a recent thread on this topic. I can't post a link for you because I don't have enough posts, but if you scroll down through the threads you will find it. It is entitled "Birth Control is it ok?"

 

[If Not For Grace]

My response would be that Birth Control in no way ends an existing being.

I have several GF's who use the Rythm Method (they are Catholic), which means
they calculate their window of ovulation and just abstain during those times.

So if abstaining from sex (when married) constitutes abortion-I'm a serial killer..

 

[Bryne]

I have had a few Catholic friends state to me that my being on birth control is a form of early abortion. I just don't feel this way. Is it hypocritical to be completely against abortion and Plan B pills why taking birth control yourself? I have been married a year and am in nursing school. I am just not ready to have children yet, I have so much more that needs to be accomplished. If you would not consider birth control a form of early abortion what would be your response to the argument that it is? Just really lost on this issue.

Birth control pills can act as an abortifacient. In other words, rather than preventing conception, they prevent a fertilized egg from implanting into the lining of the uterus, thereby causing it to abort. When the pill does this, it is basically the same as when Plan B prevents implantation.

There are forms of birth control that do not act as abortifacients...condoms, spermicidal foam or gel, diaphragm, etc.

 

[Bryne]

My response would be that Birth Control in no way ends an existing being.

I have several GF's who use the Rythm Method (they are Catholic), which means
they calculate their window of ovulation and just abstain during those times.

So if abstaining from sex (when married) constitutes abortion-I'm a serial killer..

Not all birth control ends an existing being, but some forms do.

 

[If Not For Grace]

I see no difference in spermicidal foam or gel than chemicals used in pills.

Q. How does the pill really work?


A. There are four ways the pill acts to stop sperm reaching an egg (ovum). First, the hormones in the pill try to stop an ovum being released from your ovary each month. This is known as the suppression of ovulation. Research has shown that neither the progesterone-only pill nor the combined progesterone-oestrogen formulations always stop ovulation.


Second, all formulations of the pill cause changes to the cervical mucus that your body produces. The cervical mucus may become thicker and more difficult for sperm to fertilize an ovum.


Third, all formulations of the pill cause changes to the lining of the womb (properly known as the endometrium). Under the influence of the chemicals in the pill, the lining of the womb doesn’t always grow to the proper thickness. You will notice that your periods are lighter when you are on the pill. This is because the lining of the womb has not developed properly. But this change can also means that the womb is not in the right stage of development to allow a fertilized egg to attach properly (this attachment process is known as implantation.)


Fourth, the pill causes changes to the movement of the Fallopian tubes. This effect may reduce the possibility of the ovum being fertilized.


It is very important for you to understand that none of these ways the pill works is completely reliable. Ovulation is not always stopped, cervical mucus does not always stop the movement of sperm the damage to the lining of the womb sometimes allows for implantation to occur, and Fallopian tube activity does not always stop sperm and ovum from joining to create a new human person.
_____


the 3rd method is the one to which Bryne referrs; but not implanting and aborting are two different things and CAN, is a key word. You have to get by steps one & two for 3 to even apply.

No birth control pill is 100% effective which means you CAN (there's that word again) still get pregnant while taking the bill-one of the key reasons is listed below:

PS-Consumption of anti-boitics can neutralize the effects of Birth Control Pills and lack of this knowledge is one of the more common reasons women taking the pill find themselves pregnant.

 

[Standing_Ultraviolet]

the 3rd method is the one to which Bryne referrs; but not implanting and aborting are two different things and CAN, is a key word. You have to get by steps one & two for 3 to even apply.

No birth control pill is 100% effective which means you CAN (there's that word again) still get pregnant while taking the bill-one of the key reasons is listed below:

PS-Consumption of anti-boitics can neutralize the effects of Birth Control Pills and lack of this knowledge is one of the more common reasons women taking the pill find themselves pregnant.

Actually, intentionally preventing the implantation of an already fertilized egg would definitely make it into an abortificant. Catholics don't consider birth control wrong for this reason, though. Natural law theology is used in Catholicism, and, with that in mind, they believe that preventing conception violates natural law.

 

[Bella Vita]

Just made an appointment to get mine b/c today. My husband and I are only married a year and like you have to much going on and not enough money for a child right now we talked and we feel that b/c is right for our marriage and our beliefs as long as it does not terminate a pregnancy without my knowing it. There are many different kinds out there so I would just go in and ask tell them your beliefs and concerns and get a kind that works for all of that. Talk to your husband also see what works for you guys and your marriage and come to an agreement before deciding on a kind.

 

[Just4Jesus]

I have had a few Catholic friends state to me that my being on birth control is a form of early abortion. I just don't feel this way. Is it hypocritical to be completely against abortion and Plan B pills why taking birth control yourself? I have been married a year and am in nursing school. I am just not ready to have children yet, I have so much more that needs to be accomplished. If you would not consider birth control a form of early abortion what would be your response to the argument that it is? Just really lost on this issue.

pray about it. God will show you

 

[*Army_Wife*]

I understand this may come off a little offensive, so I apologize beforehand. First of all, I am aware Catholics believe it to be wrong, but most other Baptists including myself do not consider birth control to be abortion. I am more concerned how other Baptists believe not Catholics. A lot of my beliefs to not line up with traditional Catholic beliefs, therefore I am not concerned how they believe on this particular issue. More so other people sharing my Baptist denomination....

 

[*Army_Wife*]

Oh and for the record I know birth control is not 100% effective. If my husband and I were to get pregnant of course we would love and raise that child. The moment a child is conceived a life has been formed. We would make it work of course, but I would much rather bring a child into a home that is financially and emotionally stable. I think that takes time.

I also, unlike the Duggar's don't find having 19 kids particulary attractive. I'll stick to two children. I guess those of you who find birth control wrong are also against having your tubes tied and/or a vasectomy, and relate them to abortion as well. I guess, I am not on the fence after all on this one. I think abortion is abortion only if the child has been conceived. I don't find preventing conception a form of abortion at all. So I will have to agree to disagree with some of you. I guess I have answered my own question in that light.

 

[dies-l]

Modern birth control pills usually have at least 2 mechanisms of action. One is to prevent ovulation which accounts for about half of the success rate of the modern "pill". The other is to prevent implantation, which accounts for the other half. If you believe that life begins at fertilization (as most pro-lifers do), then use of the pill is not morally distinguishable from abortion. If you believe that life begins at implantation or some subsequent point, then there is a meaningful distinction.

However, the bigger problem that RCC has with contraception is not about its similarity to abortion. Rather, it is the fact that it separates the two main purposes of sexual intercourse. Catholic theology views sex as unitive and procreative. And, uniting sexually without an openness to procreation is morally problematic to Catholics as is procreation without sexual unity.

I actually tend to agree with the Catholic church on this point, in that I would discourage Christians from using ANY form of contraception. But, I also believe that this is a morally debatable issue, so I acknowledge that many mature Christians disagree with me. I would, however, suggest that use of the pill is, in my opinion, objectively morally wrong, because of its abortifacient mechanism and because the effects of the pill on a woman's body run contrary to the notion of treating the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. When you take the pill, you are essentially impairing the body to keep it from doing what God designed it to do. That is my opinion anyway.

 

[dies-l]

I would also add that sterilization surgeries present different moral issues than the pill. Neither vasectomies nor tubal ligation surgery are designed to destroy a human embryo. The modern pill is.

 

[Bryne]

I guess, I am not on the fence after all on this one. I think abortion is abortion only if the child has been conceived. I don't find preventing conception a form of abortion at all. So I will have to agree to disagree with some of you. I guess I have answered my own question in that light.

Since the pill doesn't always prevent conception, but may prevent implantation after conception, then it would meet your definition of an abortion...stopping a pregnancy after a child has been conceived.

Preventing conception is not a form of abortion. I don't know any Catholics who would claim that. But some forms of birth control only prevent conception, and some forms stop a pregnancy after conception at least some of the time.


ETA: Even though I am not Baptist at this point, I was a member of a Baptist church for over 5 years, and my current views on this issue line up with what was taught at that church.

 

[C-Man]

If you do not want to have children, then do not have sex. It's worked for many thousands of years now.

 

[*Army_Wife*]

I'm married genius. Why would I not have sex with my husband? Yeah, that's real healthy for a marriage. There are thousands of people who are married and wait to have children. I find birth control acceptable end of story. You can spread your judgement onto another subject, because it's not effecting me nor my decision to stay on birth control and NOT feel guilty about it.

 

[dies-l]

I find birth control acceptable end of story. You can spread your judgement onto another subject, because it's not effecting me nor my decision to stay on birth control and NOT feel guilty about it.

I can't speak for others, but the purpose of my comments is not to judge. You seemed to be asking why some people consider the pill to be a form of abortion. I explained why I believe it is and why I believe that Christians should not use the pill. I agree with you that the idea of not having sex is just a ridiculous concept for a married couple. However, there are plenty of contraceptive options that have no abortifacient effect; the pill is not one of them. If you choose to take the pill anyway, that is your choice; I just want to be sure that you are acting on accurate information. If my wife and I had known the truth about the pill when I was first married, we would have made a very different decision than we did.

 

[Bella Vita]

I'm sorry but I refuse to believe this idea that sex is only for making babies. It is wrong and not Biblical at all. Sex is a very important part of a healthy marriage. We know this because without sex many marriages suffer and often times fail. Sex is a beautiful thing created by God for husbands and wives to use in order to connect, comfort, and just for plain good old fashion pleasure. There is nothing wrong with doing things in life just because it is fun and feels good that is fine. There are many stories in the Bible of sex being used in marriage for more than just having kids.

 

[Alyssum]

I'm sorry but I refuse to believe this idea that sex is only for making babies. It is wrong and not Biblical at all. Sex is a very important part of a healthy marriage. We know this because without sex many marriages suffer and often times fail. Sex is a beautiful thing created by God for husbands and wives to use in order to connect, comfort, and just for plain good old fashion pleasure. There is nothing wrong with doing things in life just because it is fun and feels good that is fine. There are many stories in the Bible of sex being used in marriage for more than just having kids.

Who said sex is just for procreating?

 

[Bella Vita]

Who said sex is just for procreating?

Catholics do I don't understand it because there is no Biblical basis for that doctrine.