How do you view birthcontrol?

[Caitlin.ann]

The question is in the title though I would also add what do you think (those who have any issue with birth control) of someone who is on birth control for medical reasons and not for contraception per say. Is she still "sinful"?

 

[jayem]

I think it's only the traditional Catholic church, and maybe a handful of others with highly authoritarian beliefs that would think birth control (other than "natural" methods) is sinful. And, AFAIK, the Catholic church doesn't object to hormonal contraceptives, or even sterilization, if they were necessary for other medical reasons.

 

[Rebekka]

And, AFAIK, the Catholic church doesn't object to hormonal contraceptives, or even sterilization, if they were necessary for other medical reasons.

What medical reasons can there be for sterilization? Sometimes hysterectomies happen because of cancer, but I haven't heard of medical reasons for direct sterilization.

If a pregnancy would harm (even kill) the mother, the official church teaching is to abstain (or use NFP/periodic abstinence - which has the risk of pregnancy attached). When a woman has to use the pill for medical reasons (extremely heavy periods for example), then according to the church she should abstain too. The use of contraception is seen as intrinsically evil.

Not my personal opinion by the way.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

What medical reasons can there be for sterilization? Sometimes hysterectomies happen because of cancer, but I haven't heard of medical reasons for direct sterilization.

If a pregnancy would harm (even kill) the mother, the official church teaching is to abstain (or use NFP/periodic abstinence - which has the risk of pregnancy attached). When a woman has to use the pill for medical reasons (extremely heavy periods for example), then according to the church she should abstain too. The use of contraception is seen as intrinsically evil.

Not my personal opinion by the way.

Well me for example..I'm on it for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to help even out my hormones. Now I have regular periods, have become mellower, have almost no acne, have less excess hair growth, etc. I'm not having sex so my prescription never had anything to do with contraceptive and as far as I know I'm already infertile though that hasn't been confirmed. Just sharing that there is more reason to be on the pill than heavy periods.

ETA: I'm not goading you or anything, just explaining.

 

[SiderealExalt]

The use of contraception is seen as intrinsically evil.

That is so sad on so many levels I can't even begin to describe how the RCC is so wrong to think that.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

That is so sad on so many levels I can't even begin to describe how the RCC is so wrong to think that.

Yeah I was shocked my grandparents were okay with me openly taking it while we were vacationing in their trailer in Florida. They are life long Catholics.

 

[SiderealExalt]

Yeah I was shocked my grandparents were okay with me openly taking it while we were vacationing in their trailer in Florida. They are life long Catholics.

Honestly, after reading about the RCC during the Nazi era, and the actions(and inactions) of the RCC during the african genocides in I want to say Rwanda(though I think I am off on that). I really am not surprised anymore.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Honestly, after reading about the RCC during the Nazi era, and the actions(and inactions) of the RCC during the african genocides in I want to say Rwanda(though I think I am off on that). I really am not surprised anymore.

If it was 1994 then it was Rwanda. Sad sad thing..I just read a book on it, well half of it anyways. Its a long sad history Rwanda has between the Hutus and Tutsis.

 

[Rebekka]

Well me for example..I'm on it for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to help even out my hormones. Now I have regular periods, have become mellower, have almost no acne, have less excess hair growth, etc. I'm not having sex so my prescription never had anything to do with contraceptive and as far as I know I'm already infertile though that hasn't been confirmed. Just sharing that there is more reason to be on the pill than heavy periods.

ETA: I'm not goading you or anything, just explaining.

Thanks for explaining, but I know that heavy periods are not the only medical reason to use the pill.
I am wondering what medical reasons (approved by the church) there could be for direct sterilization (tubal ligation or vasectomy), situations where not being sterilized would directly bring someone in life danger. (Possible death from pregnancy doesn't count, for the church that is, as abstinence prevents pregnancy too.)

If a woman uses the pill for medical reasons only and she's not sexually active then it's not technically a contraceptive, it functions as medicine. (According to the church it's not a sin to use condoms either, only to use them as contraceptive. It's not a sin to wear them outside a sexual situation.)

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Thanks for explaining, but I know that heavy periods are not the only medical reason to use the pill.
I am wondering what medical reasons (approved by the church) there could be for direct sterilization (tubal ligation or vasectomy), situations where not being sterilized would directly bring someone in life danger. (Possible death from pregnancy doesn't count, for the church that is, as abstinence prevents pregnancy too.)

If a woman uses the pill for medical reasons only and she's not sexually active then it's not technically a contraceptive, it functions as medicine. (According to the church it's not a sin to use condoms either, only to use them as contraceptive. It's not a sin to wear them outside a sexual situation.)

I'm wondering though, I'm not familiar with the church's opinion of masturbation. Unless you're making condoms out of balloons then masturbation would be the only other use for them, correct?

 

[Rebekka]

I'm wondering though, I'm not familiar with the church's opinion of masturbation. Unless you're making condoms out of balloons then masturbation would be the only other use for them, correct?

Masturbation is seen as intrinsically evil too, as only sex that is open to life and between a husband and wife is seen as moral. (It gets a bit tricky because they allow NFP, which is a way to predict when having sex will not lead to pregnancy, so the "open to life" rule is a bit vague.)

I may be dense but do people use condoms to touch?

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Masturbation is seen as intrinsically evil too, as only sex that is open to life and between a husband and wife is seen as moral. (It gets a bit tricky because they allow NFP, which is a way to predict when having sex will not lead to pregnancy, so the "open to life" rule is a bit vague.)

I may be dense but do people use condoms to touch?

Haha thanks for sharing and yes..as I hear it feels good and it collects the umm...secretions. *blush* Just what I've heard from male friends.

 

[Rebekka]

Haha thanks for sharing and yes..as I hear it feels good and it collects the umm...secretions. *blush* Just what I've heard from male friends.

Oh, I didn't know that.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Oh, I didn't know that.

I didn't either until I met my fiance lol. I know I said "male friends" but I really should have just said "Nick".

 

[Rebekka]

I thought guys hated condoms - I guess I was wrong, LOL.

 

[SiderealExalt]

I thought guys hated condoms - I guess I was wrong, LOL.

You have to at least appreciate the irony of it.

Even stranger. I had a girlfriend about eight years ago that absolutely HATED condoms. Strange world eh.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

You have to at least appreciate the irony of it.

Even stranger. I had a girlfriend about eight years ago that absolutely HATED condoms. Strange world eh.

Haha I'm one of those girls. I hate those buggers!

 

[R3quiem]

For those who believe that birth control or masturbation are immoral or evil, how do you arrive at that conclusion?

Who does it hurt?

 

[Cognitive]

LOL!!!!

I'm the "Nick" in question, my opinion condoms suck during sexual intercourse there just is not enough friction to cause a good sensation, however masturbation wise there are a few specialty condoms which feel absolutely great. Still nothing beats pure and natural sex without any interference.

 

[Rebekka]

For those who believe that birth control or masturbation are immoral or evil, how do you arrive at that conclusion?

Who does it hurt?

They believe it hurts God, because birth control goes against his design of fertility and his command to be fruitful and multiply.

Also, someone once posted here on CF (in the christian ethics forum) that birth control was worse than murder because preventing life is the saddest thing in the world, non-existence is horrible. (But preventing life through abstinence apparently is not sinful. Nuns and priests are not sinning by not procreating, despite the command to be fruitful.)