Can a couple in good conscience use ABC if their pastor does not object?

[Janet_S]

Brunell, God told humans to go forth and multiply, and offered no qualification about when we are to stop multiplying. As long as we are fulfilling that mandate, does it matter how many species go extinct? Does it matter how many children starve to death so long as we are multiplying? Doesn’t obeying the commandment to be fruitful and multiply come before all other moral considerations?

All people, even poor ones, should be free to marry and have a family without being blamed for the supposed disastrous impact they are having on the environment. People are stewards and producers, not consumers and polluters. I can’t imagine Christ or any of the saints speaking in this manner about human beings which happen to bear the image of God. It’s not a Christian worldview; it’s certainly not a Catholic one.

 

[Janet_S]

Most Catholics of my acquaintance don’t get it because they’ve never understood the difference between so-called “artificial” and so-called “natural” contraception. And because most priests they meet never preach against so-called “artificial” contraception.

If they see no difference, why don’t they go ahead and use the natural means then?

If they reject the natural in favor of the artificial, then they should honestly admit that there are differences. Otherwise, the two methods would be interchangeable.

 

[drpmjhess]

If they reject the natural in favor of the artificial, then they should honestly admit that there are differences. Otherwise, the two methods would be interchangeable.

I suspect most regard it as a matter of indifference, since it’s artificial technology whether you use thermometers or condoms. Nobody talks about it at the parish socials, regarding it as a private matter for their own consciences. I don’t know why the priests don’t give homilies about, but I suspect it’s because they too want to focus on theology during the homily. I don’t know what the marriage preparation course involves.

 

[drpmjhess]

Yes, it’s very much a Catholic worldview. Sooner or later we will have to reach zero population growth, since we live on a finite planet. This is true even if we don’t care about any other species on the planet: there is only so much room to live on and grow our food crops.

 

[mark_a]

I really think that, bottom line, the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit through the Pope, so, if our pastor does not follow what Rome says, then we need to turn toward Rome and realize that the pastor is not speaking as he should.

 

[mark_a]

Yes, it’s very much a Catholic worldview. Sooner or later we will have to reach zero population growth, since we live on a finite planet. This is true even if we don’t care about any other species on the planet: there is only so much room to live on and grow our food crops.

What is the max human population the Earth can support?

Do you think that all of a sudden the world is going to realize that the teachings of the Catholic Church are correct and we’re going to overpopulate?

Please.

 

[Janet_S]

I suspect most regard it as a matter of indifference, since it’s artificial technology whether you use thermometers or condoms. Nobody talks about it at the parish socials, regarding it as a private matter for their own consciences. I don’t know why the priests don’t give homilies about, but I suspect it’s because they too want to focus on theology during the homily. I don’t know what the marriage preparation course involves.

I’ve heard some homilies against ABC. It’s brought up in RCIA and in marriage preparation too. Why shouldn’t it be brought up since the Church Magisterium has clearly taught that ABC is intrinsically evil. There’s never been a time in Church history where it was taught otherwise.

I must have missed that part in *Humanae Vitae *where it says ABC is a “private matter for people’s consciences.” Why did the Pope bother to write an encyclical informing us of the sinfulness and the harmful and unnatural effects of ABC if it was just a private matter everybody could decide upon for himself? Why didn’t he just say “If you want to avoid ABC, fine; if you don’t, that’s fine too. Make up your own rules–it’s all good!”

Of course, each of us has free will; thus we have the freedom to sin, and that’s what we are doing if we decide to use ABC.

 

[Brother_John]

I’ve heard some homilies against ABC. It’s brought up in RCIA and in marriage preparation too. Why shouldn’t it be brought up since the Church Magisterium has clearly taught that ABC is intrinsically evil. There’s never been a time in Church history where it was taught otherwise.

I must have missed that part in *Humanae Vitae *where it says ABC is a “private matter for people’s consciences.” Why did the Pope bother to write an encyclical informing us of the sinfulness and the harmful and unnatural effects of ABC if it was just a private matter everybody could decide upon for himself? Why didn’t he just say “If you want to avoid ABC, fine; if you don’t, that’s fine too. Make up your own rules–it’s all good!”

Of course, each of us has free will; thus we have the freedom to sin, and that’s what we are doing if we decide to use ABC.

Who can forget those “Uncle Sam” inspired posters of the Pope shaking his finger at us, declaring “The Pill is a NO-NO”

 

[Julian_Peters]

Thank you to all who have participated. This thread is now closed.