2011 study shows that 98% of Catholics use artificial birth control

[paperwight66]

I think the A for Abstinence is downplayed… these days it’s becoming a bad word.
(I think they’d prefer A = Abortion, ne?)

The A stands for ‘Artificial’, doesn’t it?

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

Saint Catherine of Siena had a whopping total of 0 children

12 is a large family assuming only one wife. There is no need to have 12 children anymore, five is a handful already

Are you promoting ABC?

 

[paperwight66]

More than 35% of Catholics are under the age of five - so unless these kids are having sex and using birth control, there is something the matter with this “study.”

iIthought the article was referring to ‘sexually active’ Catholics?

 

[Nate13]

religiousconsultation.org/News_Tracker/most_Catholics_say_church_should_support_birth_control.htm

Seventy-four percent of Catholics believe the church should back birth control, the poll found.

Same poll fond that:

On abortion, 33 percent of Texans supported making Catholic doctrine less strict. Forty-nine percent of Catholics said the pope should make the doctrine less strict; 46 percent disagreed.

The poll also asked Texans their opinion of Pope Benedict XVI. Thirty-six percent favored the pope’s election, 12 percent opposed it, and 52 percent didn’t know.

Among Catholics, 65 percent favored his election.

catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0002.html

The debate starts about 1963. There was really a great acceptance of the Church, of those in the Church, of the teaching of the church. In 1960, some 66% of Catholics were living by the Church’s teaching. Sixty-six percent. Now they say some 80% of Catholics are contracepting. Thirty percent of Catholics are sterilized, which is the same rate as the rest of the population. Only 4% of Catholics are using Natural Family Planning. I personally think that might be a high estimate.

catholic-forum.com/churches/luxver/polls.htm

While we’re on polls, here’s another one. An Italian newspaper reported that 55.1 percent of Catholics there disagree with the ban on contraception, 68 percent said people who divorce and remarry in civil ceremonies ought to be admitted to communion, and 86 percent believe that couples should be allowed to live together without marrying.

Another magazine reported that 72 percent of Italian Catholics believe homosexuals should be allowed to marry and receive the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_on_birth_control

According to the American Enterprise Institute, 78% of Catholics say they believe the Church should allow Catholics to use birth control, though other polls reflect different numbers

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_contraception#Roman_Catholic

Catholics for a Free Choice claimed in 1998 that 96% of U.S. Catholic women had used contraceptives at some point in their lives and that 72% of Catholics believed that one could be a good Catholic without obeying the Church’s teaching on birth control.[31] According to a nationwide poll of 2,242 U.S. adults surveyed online in September 2005 by Harris Interactive, 90% of Catholics supported the use of birth control/contraceptives.[32]

It seems about 70% of Catholics believe the Church should change its teaching on contraception. That sounds about right to me considering only 30% of Catholics attend mass every week and about that number believe in the True Presence. Maybe its just me but I could really care less what a “Catholic” thinks about the Church’s teaching on contraception if they do not believe in the True Presence in the Eucharist…

 

[He_Man]

I wonder if I am correct to draw the conclusion that it okay to be a dissenter on some matters, as long as you are private about it. I don’t know what other conclusion to draw. Perhaps this is where God’s mercy come in. We adhere to the teachings we can accept, and God judges hearts, not by the strict letter of the law or doctrine. I don’t know any other way to view all of this and remain sane.

You could just listen to the Church and worry about your own soul, and not whether you are sitting next to a hyporcrite. People don’t go to Hell in groups or political parties. You and I will be judged individually, and claiming others did it as though that somehow justifies your behavior isn’t going to appease God.

 

[He_Man]

More than 35% of Catholics are under the age of five - so unless these kids are having sex and using birth control, there is something the matter with this “study.”

Boom. Best post of the thread. Gotta love how some posters drop these seemingly deep, transcendant topics, and don’t return when people yawn all over it…

 

[He_Man]

Saint Catherine of Siena had a whopping total of 0 children

12 is a large family assuming only one wife. There is no need to have 12 children anymore, five is a handful already

Define “need.”

And since you seem to be an authoritative voice on the issue, is it okay with you if I just “want” to have more children and do so?

 

[tvdxer]

According to surveys I’ve heard of, virtually all (about 98 percent) sexually active Catholics in the USA use artificial contraceptives.

Here’s a 2011 news report citing the study citing the 98 percent figure: reuters.com/article/2011/…73C7W020110413

This 98 percent must include the majority of sexually active adult Catholics who go to Mass every Sunday, who serve as lectors, receive Holy Communion, and call themselves proud “Conservatives.” The bishops and the popes know about these surveys, presumably. And yet they do little to nothing to remedy this situation. This has been going on for 40 years now, and there are no signs of this ever changing. The bishops could order the posting a sign in churches or in the missals, “People using artificial contraceptive may NOT receive Holy Communion.” But they don’t. Is it because that would lead to a massive exodus from the Catholic Church, and a massive influx into the Episcopal Church and others?

I wonder if I am correct to draw the conclusion that it okay to be a dissenter on some matters, as long as you are private about it. I don’t know what other conclusion to draw. Perhaps this is where God’s mercy come in. We adhere to the teachings we can accept, and God judges hearts, not by the strict letter of the law or doctrine. I don’t know any other way to view all of this and remain sane.

If 98 percent of Catholics use contraceptives, that HAS to include about half of the Catholics who are fervent “Conservatives” on theological and political issues. Should one deem all those “Conservatives” to be liars, fraud, hypocrites, who are headed for Hell for sure? That’s seems too harsh, even if these Conservatives themselves often speak of nothing but Judgment (no mercy) for Liberals. Or maybe someone else has a better way to stay sane and Catholic. I’m all ears.

I think the 98 percent figure refers to Catholics who have EVER used contraception in their lives. I believe I’ve heard it stated that way before. I’m sure more than 2% are either trying to get pregnant, infertile, or “open to life”.

Still, obviously a sign that our society is broken. Contraception receives almost universal acceptance from Catholics. One thing I love to point out is that the popular Catholic view of “contraception” and “abortion” cannot be grouped together, as many conservatives and traditionalists here do. Most Catholics, against their hierarchy, are in total support of contraception; however, that is not true with abortion. Some (probably the lukewarm, “cultural” Catholics) support abortion as viciously as they do contraception; however, the Catholics you see at church probably by and large are NOT in favor of abortion (or its legality), even if they use contraception. They are largely viewed as two separate issues today, and actually are theologically two distinct actions (notwithstanding the alleged abortifacient nature of many contraceptives).

 

[anp1215]

Saint Catherine of Siena had a whopping total of 0 children

12 is a large family assuming only one wife. There is no need to have 12 children anymore, five is a handful already

My best friend and godmother is one of 13. I guess I should let her know that there is “no need” for her existence. I’m glad her mom disagreed, otherwise I might not have had such an awesome sponsor to bring me into the Church.

 

[Castello]

Oh brother, I’m so tired of hearing that large family = impoverished family. It’s simply NOT TRUE. Every family is different, and there are plenty of families out there with more than 2 kids (or 3, or 4, or 5) who are doing just fine.

And we never know what blessings God has in store for those who trust in Him. Many people are refusing delivery of the blessings God wants to give them by being closed to life.

 

[anp1215]

And we never know what blessings God has in store for those who trust in Him. Many people are refusing delivery of the blessings God wants to give them by being closed to life.

Yes

 

[Jessup]

wouldn’t be more of a sin to have a half a dozen children hemmed up in a single wide trailer that you can’t afford. then to have say 3 or 4 kids with a high quality of life. I understand why the church teaches NFP but I can’t say that I would follow it if I ever get married with my wife. I just can’t bare the thought of 12 "little miracles " running around. After all, a church in my diocese just had a secular band rock concert inside the parish where the alter is. Why should I take all the teachings seriously if they don’t ?

 

[anp1215]

wouldn’t be more of a sin to have a half a dozen children hemmed up in a single wide trailer that you can’t afford. then to have say 3 or 4 kids with a high quality of life. I understand why the church teaches NFP but I can’t say that I would follow it if I ever get married with my wife. I just can’t bare the thought of 12 "little miracles " running around. After all, a church in my diocese just had a secular band rock concert inside the parish where the alter is. Why should I take all the teachings seriously if they don’t ?

Why do you think lack of artificial contraception = 12 “little miracles?” And I know you meant “little miracles” sarcastically, but actually, every child is a miracle, no matter how he/she was conceived.

As for the “secular band rock concert,” not really sure what that has to do with contraception. Use of contraception itself is intrinsically evil. A secular rock band is not. Big difference. I’m not speaking of the suitability of having such a group perform in the church, but there is a big difference between these two situations.

 

[He_Man]

wouldn’t be more of a sin to have a half a dozen children hemmed up in a single wide trailer that you can’t afford. then to have say 3 or 4 kids with a high quality of life. I understand why the church teaches NFP but I can’t say that I would follow it if I ever get married with my wife. I just can’t bare the thought of 12 "little miracles " running around. After all, a church in my diocese just had a secular band rock concert inside the parish where the alter is. Why should I take all the teachings seriously if they don’t ?

Maybe because God judges you (and I ) on whether we obeyed him? The fact that you feel you attend a wayward church is not an excuse for individual disobedience.

Plus, NFP does NOT imply having endless children, sheesh. Just look at statistics if you are.more comforted by numbers.

 

[maplebug55]

So you look at families like mine in church (3 kids, we’re in our early 40’s) and assume we are likely contraception users, eh?

Not good, man. Not good. Assume the best.

kind of , yeah

There are not that many large catholic families anymore. plain and simple fact.

Someone is doing something.

 

[maplebug55]

A secular rock band is not.

really? note even bands like motely crue who are reported to be satanists?
it is not that big of deal in your opinon that they perform in a Catholic church ?

 

[He_Man]

really? note even bands like motely crue who are reported to be satanists?
it is not that big of deal in your opinon that they perform in a Catholic church ?

Not his point (and you know it…), and irrelevant to this topic. Create a topic about the acceptability of having Winger perform at Church if you want to discuss such irrelevancies.

 

[Jessup]

Maybe because God judges you (and I ) on whether we obeyed him? The fact that you feel you attend a wayward church is not an excuse for individual disobedience.

Plus, NFP does NOT imply having endless children, sheesh. Just look at statistics if you are.more comforted by numbers.

That being said. My LDS friends with large families have always told me that if you live righteously it will all work out for you. The importance of these teachings are ignored in church as any parish I’ve gone to; lacks the population of people who are not to old to have children. I believe the church is morally correct in this teaching. However at the end of the day; I’m going to do what I need to do for my own quality of life and survival.
Where are the statistics?, I’ve heard EWTN radio talk about them, but I’ve never seen the tables.

 

[manualman]

wouldn’t be more of a sin to have a half a dozen children hemmed up in a single wide trailer that you can’t afford. then to have say 3 or 4 kids with a high quality of life. I understand why the church teaches NFP but I can’t say that I would follow it if I ever get married with my wife. I just can’t bare the thought of 12 "little miracles " running around. After all, a church in my diocese just had a secular band rock concert inside the parish where the alter is. Why should I take all the teachings seriously if they don’t ?

Wow, so many misconceptions in one short post.

1. Prohibiting artificial contraception is NOT the same thing as demanding that families all be huge. Church teaching is quite clear that families may take legitimate financial needs into account when discerning when to use NFP to avoid pregnancy or not. I’ve been married over a decade and haven’t had an ‘oopsie’ yet. But we haven’t abandoned God’s design for the connection between sexual intimacy and family size. It’s not really that complex. Human biological fertility systems are rationally detectable with modest amounts of training and good health.
2. Perhaps you THINK you understand why the church teaches what she does, but don’t really. Consider that for a moment. Sin isn’t an arbitrary list of things you aren’t allowed to do. Sin is something that does actual harm to our ability to love and receive love. Appetites remain hard to master, even after understanding morality. But to dispassionately admit to having no intention to behave morally is, to me, an admission that one either doesn’t really understand the moral teaching in question or doesn’t care.
3. The rock concept anecdote is a red herring. I can just see some Pharisee saying “That Jesus guy knew that Judas was no good, but let him hang around anyways. If Jesus doesn’t take betrayal seriously why should I?” Seriously, you could say this in EVERY community that has ANY stated values. Humans are imperfect critters and don’t always live up to their ideals. If the lesson you are going to take from that observation is that having ideals is useless, you will probably wind up being a serial killer.

 

[Nate13]

kind of , yeah

There are not that many large catholic families anymore. plain and simple fact.

Someone is doing something.

Assuming only 1.5% or 4% of people are using NFP you probably have something to worry about, but like manualman said we should assume the best of people. The problem is not how many kids they have, its how they have decided to go about it. There is also a lot more to how many kids a family can provide for other than financial means. In other words don’t get pissed off because a couple only has 1 or 2 kids. Get pissed off if they tell you they are using contraception.