Can birth control be used to prevent disabled children?

[rangersue]

I have epilepsy. I had a seizure eighteen years ago. Having my baby girl was the best thing that has happened to me. I was told because of other health problems I could never have a child. I prayed to St. Anthony on his feast day and within that year I was pregrent. She is healthy. Two weeks ago I had a seizure. I wanted another child but I feel guilty that my little girl will get the disorder. Since before I had only two seizures my whole life I was not worried. Now I am. I do not want to bring another child in this world that could go through the obstacles that I have. I want to know if I can use birth control, or if abstinence is the only way in our marriage. If so, I do not have a problem with that, but my husband might.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Birth control may not be used for any reason whatsoever, even to prevent having children who may inherit certain genetic flaws. If you are absolutely unwilling to take the chance that a future child might inherit epilepsy, then either Natural Family Planning (i.e., periodic abstinence based on fertility signs) or total abstinence from the marital act are the only licit means of avoiding pregnancy.

I urge you though to reconsider your unwillingness to give birth to a less than perfect child. Your own life may have been difficult, but are you not glad to have lived it, with its joys and wonders along with its sorrows? If nothing else, had you not lived, you would not have given life to the daughter you now cherish. She would not exist had you not first lived.

Every human being goes through life facing challenges and struggles; some human beings facing more difficult challenges and struggles than most. But to deny life out of a fear of living it will lead our culture of death to universal suicide.