Contraception

[JacktheCatholic]

CaliforniaJosiah, let us be sure we are using the correct terminology for Contraception:

Contraception include barrier methods, such as condoms or diaphragm, injectable contraceptives,[1] and hormonal contraception, also known as oral contraception. The most common methods of hormonal contraception include the combined oral contraceptive pill and the minipill.[3] Hormonal emergency contraception can be both contraceptive and contragestive.

Birth control - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Natural Family Planning is NOT a form of contraception. Not now and not previously.

 

[MamaZ]

As you likely know, the RCC not only seems VERY focused on this whole issue of contraception, but it seems it is the only denomination on the planet that has taken upon itself to teach the world HOW to practice contraception - even teaching contraceptive birth control classes in their parish (as mine did), even REQUIRING couples to take the class in contraception before they can be married in the Church.

Surely, you know all this....

Wow

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

.

Marriage need not have sex at all in order to still be a marriage.

Okay.

And I gather that until the sexual revolution of the 1960's, there were some Catholics (unofficially) stating that: "Contraception is wrong. So just have sex and trust God - you have no responsibility; but there is one alternative: have a sexless marriage!" (But, I was told, the Church actually was against this alternative - except for medical reasons).

But this is now. The RCC now passionately embraces contraception - even teaching classes in how to practice it. As you've noted, the RCC does NOT teach that couples who embrace responsibility and/or don't want children are to be sexless, it actively teaches methods of contraception - how to have sex but not conceive, a rather radical change from what you say the Apostles taught, which was either have sex (and leave all the responsibility to God) or don't (and have a sexless marriage).



.

 

[cobweb]

I use NFP and I do consider it contraception.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

Wow

Yep. The RCC does not teach how to contracept since it finds contraception to be a grave sin that can send one to Hell and so it does not now or will it ever or has it ever taught the use if contraception as a means to use.

Wow! is right. I can't believe someone is telling such falsehoods with what seems to be genuine belief when There have been many posts providing solid evidence to the opposite from the Vatican, the magisterium and pope, of the RCC.

It is even more puzzling when others then read this post and actually believe there is truth in it after seeing all the evidence against it.

WOW!!!

 

[JacktheCatholic]

I use NFP and I do consider it contraception.

Interesting...

Where did you get your definition for "contraception"?

It seems there is a general misunderstanding as to the meaning of "contraception".

 

[Bryne]

No, the 3 links never so much as MENTIONED any Protestant denomination with any stand on anything prior to 1930. I followed the links and I read the article in entirety. I'm sure you were hoping I wouldn't.

From the first link:

At their 1908 Lambeth Conference, the world’s Anglican bishops recorded “with alarm the growing practice of artificial restriction of the family.” They “earnestly call[ed] upon all Christian people to discountenance the use of all artificial means of restriction as demoralizing to character and hostile to national welfare.”



As late as 1923, the Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod’s official magazine The Witness accused the Birth Control Federation of America of spattering “this country with slime” and labeled birth-control advocate Margaret Sanger a “she devil.” Pastor Walter Maier, founding preacher of the long-running Lutheran Hour radio program, called contraceptives “the most repugnant of modern aberrations, representing a twentieth-century renewal of pagan bankruptcy.”​

​

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

Yep. The RCC finds contraception to be a grave sin

Jack, I just find that an amazing statement....

I know of no denomination that passionately promotes it, except for the RCC. It is a HUGE, big deal in Catholicism (what puzzles me is that you're CATHOLIC! I mean, how could you have missed this?) No other denomination teaches how to be contraceptive, but the RCC is internationally known for this. How have you missed this? I'm really amazed by our discussion here....



.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

From the first link:

At their 1908 Lambeth Conference, the world’s Anglican bishops recorded “with alarm the growing practice of artificial restriction of the family.” They “earnestly call[ed] upon all Christian people to discountenance the use of all artificial means of restriction as demoralizing to character and hostile to national welfare.”



As late as 1923, the Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod’s official magazine The Witness accused the Birth Control Federation of America of spattering “this country with slime” and labeled birth-control advocate Margaret Sanger a “she devil.” Pastor Walter Maier, founding preacher of the long-running Lutheran Hour radio program, called contraceptives “the most repugnant of modern aberrations, representing a twentieth-century renewal of pagan bankruptcy.”​

​

EXCELLENT POST!!!

Thanks, this is very supportive and true because most of all of Christianity was against the contraceptive mentality.

 

[cobweb]

Interesting...

Where did you get your definition for "contraception"?

It seems there is a general misunderstanding as to the meaning of "contraception".

I use it "against conception".

To be honest, using NFP is less than ideal. I use it because I already have a child with a disability and I have no health insurance. I don't pretend to think it is a good thing. It is just the less bad option.

 

[Hentenza]

I agree, and would add that the pro-contraceptive argument repeatedly implies that the end justifies the means/moral relativism

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011...women-us-use-birth-cont-idUSTRE73D4SZ20110414

So what end justifies the means of the majority of sexually active Catholic women (98% according to this article) going against official RC teaching?

 

[JacktheCatholic]

I use it "against conception".

To be honest, using NFP is less than ideal. I use it because I already have a child with a disability and I have no health insurance. I don't pretend to think it is a good thing. It is just the less bad option.

I think this is what people do... they analyze their personal situation and then try to make the best choice.

For the RCC we have moral guidance from the Church on these matters and when understood as the RCC describes it then NFP is what the RCC finds as the obvious choice. It still leaves God as the author of Life and not man.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

No, the 3 links never so much as MENTIONED any Protestant denomination with any stand on anything prior to 1930. I followed the links and I read the article in entirety. I'm sure you were hoping I wouldn't.

From the first link:

At their 1908 Lambeth Conference, the world’s Anglican bishops recorded “with alarm the growing practice of artificial restriction of the family.” They “earnestly call[ed] upon all Christian people to discountenance the use of all artificial means of restriction as demoralizing to character and hostile to national welfare.”​

Yes, it MIGHT be concluded that the bishops of ONE denomination - in a nonbinding statement in 1908 - came out against artificial means of contraception." But the statement was that all Protestant denominations were against it before (all the time before?) 1930.

1923, the Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod’s official magazine The Witness accused the Birth Control Federation of America of spattering “this country with slime” and labeled birth-control advocate Margaret Sanger a “she devil.” Pastor Walter Maier, founding preacher of the long-running Lutheran Hour radio program, called contraceptives “the most repugnant of modern aberrations, representing a twentieth-century renewal of pagan bankruptcy.”

The opinions of Dr. Maier were and remain the opinions of Dr. Maier. As we both know, the LCMS has NEVER (at any time since it's founding in 1847) taken an official stand on this - before or after 1930. Yes - there was (and still are) some among the members of the LCMS that are against any practices that might be contraceptive, but that's certain individuals. I know Catholics that think the "pill" is morally fine - but I would disagree that ERGO the RCC does, much less that such is the official position of the RCC. It just means that CATHOLIC has that view.
​

​

.

 

[MamaZ]

So do they really have couples go to a class on this in the RCC before they can be married in the church?

 

[JacktheCatholic]

Most Catholic women in U.S. use birth control | Reuters

So what end justifies the means of the majority of sexually active Catholic women (98% according to this article) going against official RC teaching?

I do not know the reliability of those numbers but regardless the RCC teachings are the RCC teachings whether the congregation follows them.

It has been my observation and experience that the RCC has many parishoners that are ignorant to the RCC teachings because in the past the Catechism was not taught as well as it should have. But the RCC has been taking steps to better catechized their members. As a catechism teacher myself I see this and know that the next generation is already better catechized than their parents and even grandparents.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

So do they really have couples go to a class on this in the RCC before they can be married in the church?

Yes. The RCC recognizes that many may not be catechized as well as they should have been and these are steps to help insure the man and woman going into marriage know what a marriage means and that it is a sacrament that is forever.

My wife and I have done this and are grateful that our church takes such measures to help insure that we have a good and Christian marriage that does not see divorce as a contract breaker for when we are not getting along.

 

[cobweb]

I think this is what people do... they analyze their personal situation and then try to make the best choice.

For the RCC we have moral guidance from the Church on these matters and when understood as the RCC describes it then NFP is what the RCC finds as the obvious choice. It still leaves God as the author of Life and not man.

We have guidance from the Church too. Hormonal methods are outright forbidden.

We aren't quite as concerned as you guys are about non-abortive means like condoms or permanent sterilization and such for grave issues. It was offered as an option since my son's disability is most likely genetic.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

We have guidance from the Church too. Hormonal methods are outright forbidden.

We aren't quite as concerned as you guys are about non-abortive means like condoms or permanent sterilization and such for grave issues. It was offered as an option since my son's disability is most likely genetic.

It has been found that contraceptives are abortive as well. Let me know if you want some sources.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

So do they really have couples go to a class on this in the RCC before they can be married in the church?

I THINK it was/is a requirement of the Diocese. ALL couples that desire to be married in the RCC were (in my day, I don't know about now) REQUIRED to take a class (offered periodically in the parish center) in contraception.





.

 

[Bryne]

Interesting...

Where did you get your definition for "contraception"?

It seems there is a general misunderstanding as to the meaning of "contraception".

Fertility awareness is considered a form of contraception. NFP uses fertility awareness. Therefore NFP can be used for contraception. However, there is much more involved than just preventing pregnancy.

It might be clearer to simply say that it isn't artificial birth control. But really, it all comes down to how you define contraception. whether or not you do accept that NFP is a natural form of contraception or prefer some other term, what is happening is basically the same thing. I see nothing objectionable about it at all. I have used NFP for years and would never use artificial birth control.

I am somewhat surprised by the negativity towards NFP that I have seen here.