Papal Commission on Birth Control

[QuagDabPeg]

Why did the Vatican have the 1966 Papal Commission on Birth Control to present a report on whether the church should reverse or alter its position on birth control if it had no intention of altering its stance?

Here's a link on it:
http://members.aol.com/revising/nope.html

 

[PeterPaul]

Why did the Vatican have the 1966 Papal Commission on Birth Control to present a report on whether the church should reverse or alter its position on birth control if it had no intention of altering its stance?

Here's a link on it:
http://members.aol.com/revising/nope.html

Because it dealt primarily with "the pill" and no, it was not to question whether it should reverse anything.

 

[QuagDabPeg]

Because it dealt primarily with "the pill" and no, it was not to question whether it should reverse anything.

It was over whether they should reverse it. The commission reccomended 30-5 that the position should be altered. The church was concerned by hearning that they were leaning this way so they put 16 bishops on the commission to make sure the Church's position was well represented - but then 9 of the bishops said it should be overturned, 3 abstained, and only 3 supported the church's position.

 

[PeterPaul]

"We note, here, too, that no other Church body professes the same understanding of natural law on this point as that articulated by the Pope in Humane Vitae . Because natural law principles are transparent to reason, one would expect a greater consensus of agreement with the Pope on this point by rational people of good-will, but the opposite has been the prevailing response. "

And the question is...who is your source?

 

[PeterPaul]

It was over whether they should reverse it. The commission reccomended 30-5 that the position should be altered.

The pill was introduced into society around this time. And that a commission recommended it means......?

 

[QuagDabPeg]

The commission was put together by the Vatican. Why did they do that? And it was supposed to be secret. The only reason it's doccumented is because a reporter snuck in.

 

[PeterPaul]

"In the end, the vote was 30-5 in stating that the Church's teaching on the intrinsic evil of artificial contraception was in a state of doubt."

I'd love to know exactly what was said, rather than this blogger's opinion of what they doubted.

However, even if I played devil's advocate and assumed those in the commission did doubt the teaching. The question must be: So? There are those, and many, Catholics who doubt Transubstantiation. And?

I would love to have a list of the members of the commission though.

 

[PeterPaul]

The commission was put together by the Vatican. Why did they do that? And it was supposed to be secret. The only reason it's doccumented is because a reporter snuck in.

Ahhh...well then I trust that. Have you heard of the secret diary of JPI?

 

[QuagDabPeg]

The commission was composed of theologians, bishops, and lay people. And it was expected to back up the church's position. However, it didn't go as bargained for.

 

[PeterPaul]

Firstly, a commission is a commission, a pope is the pope.

Secondly, your source, I doubt is Catholic, as he mentions "Church body" as in almost plural fashion (as in "versus"), making me assume the author is not Catholic.

Thirdly, would you be able to provide source material to suggest the Magisterium had any intentions of reversing itself?

 

[Skripper]

Why did the

Vatican have the 1966 Papal Commission on Birth Control to present a report on whether the church should reverse or alter its position on birth control if it had no intention of altering its stance?


Here's a link on it:

[url="http://members.aol.com/revising/nope.html[/QUOTE"]http://members.aol.com/revising/nope.html[/QUOTE[/url]

Probably because the Pope wanted as much information as he could garner prior to publishing his encyclical. Notice that the commission submitted its report on June 28, 1966 and the papal encyclical was published on July 29, 1968. So, obviously, the Pope took this, and more, into consideration before the encyclical.

It was over whether they should reverse it. The commission recommended 30-5 that the position should be altered. The church was concerned by hearning that they were leaning this way so they put 16 bishops on the commission to make sure the Church's position was well represented - but then 9 of the bishops said it should be overturned, 3 abstained, and only 3 supported the church's position.

So? Neither the Kingdom of God or His Church on earth is a democracy. The Pope is not bound or obliged to follow commissions’, or anyone’s suggestions or recommendations. Not even if he personally orders the commission convened.

The commission was put together by the

Vatican. Why did they do that? And it was supposed to be secret. The only reason it's doccumented is because a reporter snuck in.

What do you mean “why?”??? The Vatican frequently puts together various commissions and advisory committees, on different topics, to make recommendations to the Pope. But they are usually considered fairly mundane and don’t get much attention from the press or the public. This was different only in the degree of public as well as media interest.


The Pope has various advisors, too, providing him with various information, opinions, suggestions, etc., on a range of issues. Although he’s not bound by any of this, he takes all this into consideration. It’s only prudent as well as practical. This is routine and nothing unusual whatsoever, contrary to what you seem to imagine. And who says it was supposed to be secret? I’m pretty sure that isn’t true. To my recollection the commission, although possibly not open to the public (which is also not unusual), was not only not secret, it was rather well known and its recommendations were much anticipated. But even if it was supposed to be secret . . . so what?

The commission was composed of theologians, bishops, and lay people. And it was expected to back up the church's position. However, it didn't go as bargained for.

Assumption . . . you have no possible way of knowing that. In fact, considering the “free-sex” climate of the times, it’s much more likely that everyone, the Pope included, fully “expected” the commission to do exactly as it did. Moreover, it’s also irrelevant . . . since the Pope is not bound by any commission’s recommendations. Just like he is not bound by the recommendations and suggestions of any of his advisors . . . or any other mechanism he may utilize in gathering information prior to making a decision, except God Himself through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He answers to no commissions.

 

[Skripper]

Closed per OP request.