Contraception

[in2Nas]

I am Catholic, but am having a hard time understanding the Church's teachings on contraception. Can you give me advice or guidance for our beliefs?

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Start with Humane Vitae, Pope Paul's seminal work on the subject of marrital relations.
It really is quite enlightening for the most part.

Remember that the basis of the doctrine is that it is sinful to break the bond between marital unity and procreation at any time during the conjugal act.

And if, after reading Humane Vitae you still don't understand the Chruch's teaching, well, you're good company.

 

[TAquinas]

Contraception means sex for the sake of sex without regard for Gods plan, respect for your partner, turning your partner into an object to satisfy your own desires. It shows no respect for the person as an individual and a true partner and trivializes the act of sexual union to a mere act with no thought of responsibility.

If God is trying to give you a child we shouldn't be trying to thwart Gods plan nor interfere with His graces He wishes to bestow upon us. Contraception is intrinsicly about self gratification. With NFP you care more about how it effects the other person than how it effects yourself. Self gratification takes second place to your partner and Gods plan, showing the respect each deserves.

Peace in Christ
TAquinas

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

And if, after reading Humane Vitae you still don't understand the Chruch's teaching, well, you're good company.

At which point confused people should submit to the authority of the Church in obedience, since the Church understands it like most of us, instead of protesting against it.

 

[RhetorTheo]

Read the encyclical Casti Connubii. It explains the reasoning behind the ban on contraception.

“For in matrimony as well as in the use of the matrimonial right there are also secondary ends, such as mutual aid, the cultivating of mutual love, and the quieting of concupiscence which husband and wife are not forbidden to consider SO LONG AS THEY ARE SUBORDINATED TO THE PRIMARY END and so long as the intrinsic nature of the act is preserved.” Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii (# 59), Dec. 31, 1930

The primary end of the matrimonial right is having children. Contraception occurs when you subordinate the primary end (pregnancy) to the other ends (such as sexual gratification). Contraception is wrong for this reason. In addition, artificial means of contraception interfere with the intrinsic nature of the act, and they are wrong for that reason.

 

[TwinCrier]

.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

...

 

[3toraiseup]

Contraception puts a barrier (whether that be a physical or chemical barrier) between the physical gift of life between a husband and wife so that they are not able to give themselves wholly and completely one to another. NFP allows for the exchange of self gift with each act of intimacy, then when couples cannot be open to life, they can prayerfully abstain.

It is not the end result (no pregnancy) for contraception that is gravely immoral, rather it is the means that is immoral. Many forms of contraception cause abortion. The barrier only methods still prevent the exchange of self donation. NFP still prevents pregnancy, but not through an immoral means. Married couples are encouraged to practice 'responsible parenting' which means that while we are to be generously open to life, we also realize that there are serious and grave reasons for which couples should postpone having another child.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Basically its taking an action (as opposed to working inside of God's design through NFP) in order to stop a soul from being placed inside of a body. When I heard it put that way, it seemed a lot more evil to me.

 

[lonnienord]

Contraception means sex for the sake of sex without regard for Gods plan, respect for your partner, turning your partner into an object to satisfy your own desires. It shows no respect for the person as an individual and a true partner and trivializes the act of sexual union to a mere act with no thought of responsibility.

If God is trying to give you a child we shouldn't be trying to thwart Gods plan nor interfere with His graces He wishes to bestow upon us. Contraception is intrinsicly about self gratification. With NFP you care more about how it effects the other person than how it effects yourself. Self gratification takes second place to your partner and Gods plan, showing the respect each deserves.

Peace in Christ
TAquinas

excellent Also read Pope John Paul II Theology of the body. You can find it in the ewtn library: www.ewtn.com You can also find Humane Vitae by Pope Paul VI there. Read them!!

 

[Skripper]

TwinCrier,

This poster is new, is a Catholic, and is seeking advice and guidance for understanding this Catholic teaching, from a Catholic perspective. I really don't think it's appropriate to give him links to threads where the majority of the posts will be trying to debunk/refute this Catholic teaching. If he asks for such links, to non-Catholic thoughts/perspectives and opinions, that would be a little different. But that's not the case here. He's asking for help from his fellow Catholics, for advice and guidance in understanding this teaching, not help in trying to show that it is wrong.

 

[TwinCrier]

My humblest apologies. I had no idea that non-Catholic views for and against birth control would cause offense. I will remove the post.

 

[Skripper]

My humblest apologies. I had no idea that non-Catholic views for and against birth control would cause offense. I will remove the post.

There was no need to remove it (but since you have, I'm going to go back and remove my quotes of it). But I hope you understand why it's not really appropriate in this instance. I briefly perused the links provided. The majority of opinions offered are in support of contraception, which is against Catholic teaching. Also, in Catholic theology and practice, Christian truth is not determined by either a vote of the laity, or by the laity's interpretation of Scripture. Both of which are underlying themes in the links provided, both of which would only serve to further confuse a Catholic who is already struggling with understanding this particular teaching of the Catholic Church.

No offense, but at this time, what this poster is looking for, and what he is asking for, is Catholic input/advice and guidance.

 

[anawim]

I am Catholic, but am having a hard time understanding the Church's teachings on contraception. Can you give me advice or guidance for our beliefs?

There have been others who have provided theological reasons for the Church's stance for NFP, and against abc, so I'll just provide some common sense advice that made sense to me: If I trust God with my life; if I trust God with my health; if I trust God with my money; if everything I have comes from God; if everything is is already, then how can I draw a line and say, but hands off my fertility, God; I can't trust you with that. That's His too. And since medication is suppose to enable a body to work the way it was designed, artifical means of bc, go contrary to the way God intended the body to work.

 

[EllenMoran]

in2Nas, others have given you excellent resources. The only thing I want to add is that this is not an easy topic to wrap one's mind around, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't come easily. My husband and I submit to the Church's teaching, but parts of the teaching really haven't moved beyond an intellectual understanding of "here's the reasons" for me yet. I'll pray for your search for understanding as I work on my own.

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

Basically its taking an action (as opposed to working inside of God's design through NFP) in order to stop a soul from being placed inside of a body. When I heard it put that way, it seemed a lot more evil to me.

And for some odd reason taking your temperture every day, charting the results and the intentionally avoiding sex during fertile days, thus intentionally withholding the reproductive apects of yourself from your spouse is considered completely passive.

 

[Filia Mariae]

Another resource I would recommend is Christopher West. Here's a short article on the topic:

http://www.christopherwest.com/article4.asp

 

[Paul S]

And for some odd reason taking your temperture every day, charting the results and the intentionally avoiding sex during fertile days, thus intentionally withholding the reproductive apects of yourself from your spouse is considered completely passive.

That's not intentionally interfering with the workings of the body. Adding chemicals is.

Taking one's temperature and charting it is only noticing how God intended the body to function. Intentionally not having sex is no sin.

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

That's not intentionally interfering with the workings of the body. Adding chemicals is.

Taking one's temperature and charting it is only noticing how God intended the body to function. Intentionally not having sex is no sin.

The acid test for a contraceptive method is not interfereing with the working of the body its breaking bond between unity and procreation.

Therefore intentionally not having sex during fertile times is breaking the bond between unity and procreating since it ensures all martial sex is non-procreative.

 

[lonnienord]

yup i like the old fashened way best. do what comes naturally and accept the gifts GOD chooses to give you.

course i heard the other day that it is impossible to live in any city without both parents working. i don't believe it. i don't think we all have to have 3 tvs 3 computers 3 telephone numbers 3 cars (yes 3 cats as my typo said) 3 bathrooms etc. we all have too much!! everyone who has a computer has more than they need. Course if GOD gave you a computer use it for HIS glory!!