Contraception???

[Reader Antonius]

CHRIST IS RISEN!!!

I have a question that I was hoping some of my Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters could answer for me:

I borrowed a old edition of Kallistos Ware's The Orthodox Church from an EO priest I know.

It stated that artificial methods of birth control are forbidden in the Orthodox Church.

Yet when I picked up a newer book from my college campus, I noticed that in that book Kallistos Ware says something near about an Anglican/Episcopalian position.

What is the Orthodox Church's view on contraception.


Thanks in advance.

 

[Anhelyna]

Hmm

KW - that greeting is a bit early we normally reserve it for Pascha and the time afterwards.

At this stage for me [ being Slavic] the greeting is

"Slava Isusu Christu" = "Glory to Jesus Christ"
"Slava na Viky" = "Glory Forever"

I suspect you are now towards the end of this Lenten Period - I'm just at the beginning , but let me assure you that you will experience such joy , wonder and indeed happiness as we all sing the Paschal Troparion together at Pascha .

Man - you are really going to have your eyes wide open then There's nothing like it - honestly

 

[Philothei]

This thread should be moved to the st. justin's corner as IMO it is not to be in our congregation area and i know that turn into a debate ....easy esp.. coming from an RC.... and we are already in Lent... We do not say Christ is Risen until after Easter....

Philothei

 

[Lukaris]

Hmm

KW - that greeting is a bit early we normally reserve it for Pascha and the time afterwards.

At this stage for me [ being Slavic] the greeting is

"Slava Isusu Christu" = "Glory to Jesus Christ"
"Slava na Viky" = "Glory Forever"

I suspect you are now towards the end of this Lenten Period - I'm just at the beginning , but let me assure you that you will experience such joy , wonder and indeed happiness as we all sing the Paschal Troparion together at Pascha .

Man - you are really going to have your eyes wide open then There's nothing like it - honestly

Your Eastern Catholic Church is still old calendar? That is good, there are Eastern Catholic churches in my local region (Pennsylvania-USA) that are observing the Gregorian calendar. How can this duality be within the Roman communion? Sorry if I am & do not mean to derail this thread.

 

[vanshan]

I would not want to contradict a respected hierarch, but the consensus has always been that all forms of manipulation to limit child-bearing are condemned within Orthodoxy. There are few exceptions when doing so would not be out of selfishness or a hatred of children. I did say there are a few exceptions, and in those cases, rare though they may be, a spiritual father may okay use of natural family planning or non-abortifacient forms of birth control (i.e. barrier methods).

Short answer: we do not permit the use of birth control.

Basil

 

[Reader Antonius]

I would not want to contradict a respected hierarch, but the consensus has always been that all forms of manipulation to limit child-bearing are condemned within Orthodoxy. There are few exceptions when doing so would not be out of selfishness or a hatred of children. I did say there are a few exceptions, and in those cases, rare though they may be, a spiritual father may okay use of natural family planning or non-abortifacient forms of birth control (i.e. barrier methods).

Short answer: we do not permit the use of birth control.

Basil

Yeah that's what I had thought too.

The new edition of The Orthodox Church didn't say contraception was allowed, rather I think it kinda was saying what you just said.

Very interesting.


Thanks brother!

 

[Anhelyna]

It's the Ukes we are all Old Calendar in the UK , Europe and parts of the USA.

Admittedly some areas of the US are New Calendar - but we are very very firmly Julian as our Priest keeps reminding us [ ie " next week is Gregorian Christmas - have a happy time with your family and firends but remember Julian Christmas is in January " ]

I understand that most of the Ruthenians / Byzantine Catholic Church are Gregorian adherants - we still hold to the Old Ways [ nearly said the 'true' Calendar there.

And this will also serve as an excellent lesson re the complexities of life in the East for KW

 

[Reader Antonius]

And this will also serve as an excellent lesson re the complexities of life in the East for KW

Very true.

My short time amongst the Byzantine Catholic parish is teaching me alot about how different Roman Catholics are from other Catholics.

And my time here is showing me the the Eastern Orthodox perspective on many issues.

I thank you all for tolerating my constant questions.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

You're very welcome.

Mary

 

[Anhelyna]

KW

I thank you all for tolerating my constant questions.

If you don't ask questions - you won't learn

BTW - do you know what Christos Anesti actually means ?

NOT to be answered by anyone else please

 

[Akathist]

I would not want to contradict a respected hierarch, but the consensus has always been that all forms of manipulation to limit child-bearing are condemned within Orthodoxy. There are few exceptions when doing so would not be out of selfishness or a hatred of children. I did say there are a few exceptions, and in those cases, rare though they may be, a spiritual father may okay use of natural family planning or non-abortifacient forms of birth control (i.e. barrier methods).

Short answer: we do not permit the use of birth control.

Basil

This is what I have been taught about this subject as well.

An example of when an exception is made might be in a case were the life of the mother is at risk should she conceive and try to carry a child.

The Church does look at situations and consider what is the best for that particular family. Most of the time natural family planning is sufficent. But, there might be an exception. The Priest and Bishop would make this decision based upon the situation. However, the official standard is: no artificial means of birth control is allowed.

I love getting questions from nonOrthodox and would encourage you to ask at least one thousand more.

 

[Dorothea]

There are circumstances where you can use contraception.

1. The possible exception to the above affirmation of continuity of teaching is the view of the Orthodox Church on the issue of contraception. Because of the lack of a full understanding of the implications of the biology of reproduction, earlier writers tended to identify abortion with contraception. However, of late a new view has taken hold among Orthodox writers and thinkers on this topic, which permits the use of certain contraceptive practices within marriage for the purpose of spacing children, enhancing the expression of marital love, and protecting health.

http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7101.asp

 

[Monica child of God 1]

I think in practice there is more contraception (whether barrier or NFP) being used than these guidelines would lead you to believe. This could be for two reasons:

1) People aren't consulting their priests or following the guidelines given by their priests

2) Priests are allowing barrier method contraception more frequently than we would like to think. The Goarch quote mentions spacing of children and enhancing marital love. Reading between these lines, I think that some people are ending their childbearing after 3-4 children. You just don't see families with 6+ kids which is what normal fertility in a healthy marriage brings even if you abstain during fasting. Or at least I don't see big families that often and I'll admit that I don't see everything.

I think on some level, just like in the Roman Catholic Church, people's behavior doesn't match necessarily with the ideal of the Church. But what is new about that.

M.

 

[Lotar]

http://pactum-serva.blogspot.com/2008/02/bishop-hilarion-alfeyev-liberal.html

http://pactum-serva.blogspot.com/search/label/Contraception

Orthodoxy has always been against contraception. Some English speaking modernists want to change that, but they will always be foiled by the consistent testimony of the Fathers.

 

[Monica child of God 1]

.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

If there is an issue of disease between a husband and wife that can be avoided by using such a method, or that the mother and/or child may die due to complications of child birth then their Priest "MAY" allow the use... however, that is not a license to use it as a method to control birth.

This is an extremely touchy subject and is ALWAY handled on a one to one personal basis between Pastor and Parishioner. Birth control is abortion, plain and simple and as such NEVER allowed.

I, like you, I suspect, am very concerned for those who press the Priesthood into such a question. Most Orthodox Christians realize that their Priest would say NO, and if they do it in secret, then they are sinning in the way.

Contraception is abortion in essence.

Forgive me...

 

[vanshan]

As we know, many types of birth control literally induce abortion, which is why it's a total mystery how some Christians who are staunchly against abortion don't think twice about using the pill? It must be a case of burying one's head in the sand to avoid having to face reality, because they really want to avoid the inconvenience of pregnancy.

Basil

 

[Matrona]

As we know, many types of birth control literally induce abortion, which is why it's a total mystery how some Christians who are staunchly against abortion don't think twice about using the pill? It must be a case of burying one's head in the sand to avoid having to face reality, because they really want to avoid the inconvenience of pregnancy.

No, it's a case of Planned Parenthood, along with other interests in PP's campaign of racism and genocide, pulling a fast one on gynecologists and innocent women.

You probably learned that pregnancy begins when the sperm meets the egg and the two gametes form one cell, a zygote. And that anything that comes along and keeps said zygote from developing into an embryo, implanting, and sprouting into a screaming baby several months later is ending the pregnancy, whether unintentionally (miscarriage, a.k.a. spontaneous abortion) or intentionally (elective abortion). And for a long time, that's what medical schools taught, too.

But ever since the debate on abortion started being taken seriously and birth control methods that expel an unimplanted baby came along (as well as in vitro fertilization), they decided to start defining pregnancy at implantation rather than fertilization. This allows the goose-stepping fiends at Planned Genocide, and the gynecologists in their pockets, to claim that birth control methods that interfere with implantation don't cause abortion, because according to their determination, the pregnancy hasn't begun yet. Consequently, women everywhere are being fooled into using contraceptive methods that kill their babies instead of merely preventing them from coming into being.

 

[Monica child of God 1]

Has anyone asked themselves about the sizes of the families of our married priests? I know one priest with 8 children and I know another who were only able to carry one pregnancy to term. But generally the priests that I know who are married have the American "norm" of 2 or 3 children. Maybe that is why there isn't strong teaching on this? I don't know.

Also, when talking about contraception remember that NFP is considered the same as barrier (non-abortifacient) BC. Unlike the RCs we don't get a free pass to use "natural" family planning.

M.

 

[Mikeb85]

Birth control is abortion, plain and simple and as such NEVER allowed.

I, like you, I suspect, am very concerned for those who press the Priesthood into such a question. Most Orthodox Christians realize that their Priest would say NO, and if they do it in secret, then they are sinning in the way.

Contraception is abortion in essence.

Contraception is abortion? While theres no argument that certain methods are, barrier methods (ie. using a condom) are no closer to abortion than staying celibate is...