Artificial Birth Control

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sooner4Christ
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sooner4Christ

Guest
If a husband and wife know that artificial birth control is a sin, and the husband does not want the wife to be on artificial birth control and has made many attempts to give her the information, prayers, ect… however the wife persists to be on birth control anways because of X, Y, and Z. (Meanwhile letting her husband know that she is going to be on it no matter what).

Is the husband guilty of the sin as well?

What should the husband do?

Can he still receive the Lord through the Eucharist?
 
…you might try the, “run like the dickens technique” every time she gets antsy… :eek:

…seriously my friend… you can’t be held culpable for her situation, you can’t force her… don’t forget free will… it is her decision right or wrong…

…and seriously, you might abstain (boy would that be rough) from the married thing until she takes another look…

…talk to your priest… 👍
 
From what I understand (I wish I had a source), a spouse may continue to have marital relations even if the other spouse refuses to stop using contraception. They may not use any form of contraception themselves, however. The issue becomes a little sticky because the birth control pill is not just a contraceptive, most of the time works as an abortifacient. I’d second Space Ghost’s advice to ask a priest.
 
There was a thread about this a few weeks ago. Here’s the link.
 
space ghost:
…you might try the, “run like the dickens technique” every time she gets antsy…

…seriously my friend… you can’t be held culpable for her situation, you can’t force her… don’t forget free will… it is her decision right or wrong…

…and seriously, you might abstain (boy would that be rough) from the married thing until she takes another look…

…talk to your priest…
Click to expand...
Thanks… I think the answer is have the husband abstain by practicing NFP even though the wife is on artifical birth control. thoughts…
 
NFP doesn’t work with hormonal contraceptives. If you mean periodic abstinence for the husband, that sounds practical. However, knowing the abortificient properties of hormonal contraceptives, I would probably wait until she stopped taking them. That would weigh pretty heavy on my conscience.
 
Honestly, shouldn’t the husband be concerned with the moral responsibility of his wife? The way the question is worded, the husband seems only concerned with whether or not he is morally responsible. While that’s important, he must also do everything he can to keep her away from sin. Just saying, “Hey, I’m off the hook because I tried to change my wife’s mind, and it didn’t work,” isn’t enough.
 
40.png
ElizabethAnne:
Honestly, shouldn’t the husband be concerned with the moral responsibility of his wife? The way the question is worded, the husband seems only concerned with whether or not he is morally responsible. While that’s important, he must also do everything he can to keep her away from sin. Just saying, “Hey, I’m off the hook because I tried to change my wife’s mind, and it didn’t work,” isn’t enough.
Click to expand...
This is akin to what I said in the thread previous to this one. Then someone quoted the Vademecum. vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_12021997_vademecum_en.html
  1. Special difficulties are presented by cases of cooperation in the sin of a spouse who voluntarily renders the unitive act infecund. In the first place, it is necessary to distinguish cooperation in the proper sense, from violence or unjust imposition on the part of one of the spouses, which the other spouse in fact cannot resist (46). This cooperation can be licit when the three following conditions are jointly met:
    1. when the action of the cooperating spouse is not already illicit in itself (47);
    1. when proportionally grave reasons exist for cooperating in the sin of the other spouse;
    1. when one is seeking to help the other spouse to desist from such conduct (patiently, with prayer, charity and dialogue; although not necessarily in that moment, nor on every single occasion).
  1. Furthermore, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the question of cooperation in evil when recourse is made to means which can have an abortifacient effect (48).
Footnotes:

(46) “Holy Church knows full well that not infrequently, one of the parties is sinned against rather than sinning, when for a grave cause he or she reluctantly allows the perversion of the right order. In such a case, there is no sin, provided that, mindful of the law of charity, he or she does not neglect to seek to dissuade and to deter the partner from sin” (Pius XI, Enc. Casti Connubii, AAS 22, 1930)

(47) 3 Cf. Denzinger-Schönmetzer, Enchiridion Symbolorum, 2795, 3634.

(48) “From the moral standpoint, it is never licit to cooperate formally in evil. Such cooperation occurs when an action, either by its very nature or by the form it takes in a concrete situation, can be defined as a direct participation in an act against innocent human life or a sharing in the immoral intention of the person committing it” (John Paul II, Enc. Evangelium Vitae, March 25, 1995, n. 74).
 
40.png
ElizabethAnne:
Honestly, shouldn’t the husband be concerned with the moral responsibility of his wife? The way the question is worded, the husband seems only concerned with whether or not he is morally responsible. While that’s important, he must also do everything he can to keep her away from sin. Just saying, “Hey, I’m off the hook because I tried to change my wife’s mind, and it didn’t work,” isn’t enough.
Click to expand...
But at the same time, he can’t force her to do anything. He said he has suggested, and she continues on her own way. It is a delicate situation, because causing strife or argument over it would not be right either.
Just some thoughts…
 
40.png
ElizabethAnne:
Honestly, shouldn’t the husband be concerned with the moral responsibility of his wife? The way the question is worded, the husband seems only concerned with whether or not he is morally responsible. While that’s important, he must also do everything he can to keep her away from sin. Just saying, “Hey, I’m off the hook because I tried to change my wife’s mind, and it didn’t work,” isn’t enough.
Click to expand...
What would you suggest?

When I was in a similar situation (I used contraception and hubby was against it) I can’t imagine him being able to change my mind in any way other than letting me know his feelings on the issue and allowing me to decide for myself in my own time.

Anything else would be force. We cannot force anyone to do anything. His wife has free will too.

My husband’s patience and love for me is what led me into the Catholic Church.

Malia
 
40.png
Sooner4Christ:
If a husband and wife know that artificial birth control is a sin, and the husband does not want the wife to be on artificial birth control and has made many attempts to give her the information, prayers, ect… however the wife persists to be on birth control anways because of X, Y, and Z. (Meanwhile letting her husband know that she is going to be on it no matter what).

Is the husband guilty of the sin as well?

What should the husband do?

Can he still receive the Lord through the Eucharist?
Click to expand...
No he’s not sinning. Yes, he can receive the Eucharist. And, he should continue to pray and periodically attempt to get her to stop.
 
Feanaro's Wife:
What would you suggest?

When I was in a similar situation (I used contraception and hubby was against it) I can’t imagine him being able to change my mind in any way other than letting me know his feelings on the issue and allowing me to decide for myself in my own time.

Anything else would be force. We cannot force anyone to do anything. His wife has free will too.

My husband’s patience and love for me is what led me into the Catholic Church.

Malia
Click to expand...
What I was trying to convey in my post is that the husband must not merely ask, “Am I culpable?” Then, when he finds out he’s not, consider himself “off the hook.” It’s his responsibility to continue to bring his wife closer to God as your husband did.
 
40.png
Rascal:
NFP doesn’t work with hormonal contraceptives. If you mean periodic abstinence for the husband, that sounds practical. However, knowing the abortificient properties of hormonal contraceptives, I would probably wait until she stopped taking them. That would weigh pretty heavy on my conscience.
Click to expand...
I agree. I don’t know that I could even bring myself to the act, knowing that a human soul could be created and deliberately destroyed through the use of an abortifacient method. I would think that is right out. The problem there is educating folks as to the abortifacient properties of hormonal contraceptives/IUDs.

A passive barrier method OTOH would be less offensive (defensive?), as it were.

I know too much about the theology, though. In the end, I would probably abstain in any case, because the contraceptive sex itself is a lie. The act is supposed to be an entire self-donation/acceptance of other. Contracepted sex says, “I’m saying I love you, but I reject that part of you.” What’s the point? I want the real thing. But would a total rejection end up just doing more damage to the marriage? Perhaps seeing the pain it causes would cause her to repent? Oi, the complication and pain people bring on themselves in this modern world!

Fortunately, my life is simpler. My wife and I cleared this up before we even started dating. And got pregnant on our wedding night. 🙂
 
Definitely post this one for the apologists or search previous answeres from the apologists or search on the EWTN forum site. Also you can call one of the apologists at Catholic Answers. I know I’ve seen similar posts to yours. This is a very complicated situation. Also, if you don’t find answers there, talk to a priest who follows church teaching. Be careful of priests who make up their own rules when it comes to birth control. Feel them out, it’s usually very obvious. This is very prevalent where I live and one has to be very careful which priest they talk to. What matters ultimately for you is that you are trying to do the right thing. Pray, Pray, Pray and have patience.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top