Catholic critics ask pope to lift contraception ban

[Harmony1988]

reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL24975016

Am I the only one that thinks that this is pretty funny coming from critics who have supposedly done some reading on the issue? They talk about the ‘paradox’ of Humanae Vitae, yet walk straight into a logical fallacy by using the ‘masses’ method. Simply put. Their final conclusive affirmation is based on the fact that since many many Catholics use contraception and feel they are not sinning and they are in ‘good standing’ - it’s clear that the Church is wrong, “because all these people say so”
That’s a philosophically incorrect justification.

I’m not suggesting that everyone who uses contraception is evil and such, etc, as this issue is complicated and knowledge, situation and other factors are ever present in regards to it, etc.

Rather the lack of research:

"The letter, written in Italian, said the Church’s anti-contraception policy “has had a catastrophic impact on the poor and powerless around the world, endangering women’s lives and leaving millions at risk of HIV.”

Statistics show countries with high infection rates such as in Africa are generally less Catholic, whereas countries and areas that have taken on the Church’s policy about abstinence over sex have less infection rates. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that no sex leads to no infection. Given also, that african countries and other developing nations do not have access to the ‘top of the line’ contraceptive products that’s available in the western world, which would actually put more people in danger because they would be inclined to engage in sex and be open to std’s.

Also, the tone of that article suggests the Pope Paul VI out of nowhere came up with this idea of ‘no birth control’, but evidence of non leniency towards ABC can be traced as far back into the pontificate of Pius XI in his encyclical ‘Casti Connubii’ and even Pius XII’s views on the rhythm method. It has always been the church’s teaching that birth control was not allowed, it’s only in the 20th century that the pontiffs have more explicitly articulated the notion.

 

[Christophorus72]

imagine that, “Catholics” for Choice

I pray that someday these “Catholics” figure out what it means to be Catholic. These people are nothing more than a group of individuals who are oversexualized (in an American culture that preaches it) and use things such as AIDS in Africa, or the poor, as an excuse so they can have their sexual fun without the consequences of having children.

but I loved this line in the article “Most Catholics use modern contraceptives, believe it is a moral choice to do so and consider themselves Catholics in good standing,” :dts:

need more be said?

 

[Harmony1988]

imagine that, “Catholics” for Choice

I pray that someday these “Catholics” figure out what it means to be Catholic. These people are nothing more than a group of individuals who are oversexualized (in an American culture that preaches it) and use things such as AIDS in Africa, or the poor, as an excuse so they can have their sexual fun without the consequences of having children.

but I loved this line in the article “Most Catholics use modern contraceptives, believe it is a moral choice to do so and consider themselves Catholics in good standing,” :dts:

need more be said?

Yea, that was rather funny too I thought. This ain’t the first time the Church is hearing it

 

[KCT]

Yahoo has the story as well. Like the Pope is going to cow tow to a newspaper ad . . .

 

[Catholictrain]

After 40 years, maybe someone will start explaining to the people in the pews the great wisdom and beauty contained in Humanae Vitae.

Often during the past 27 years of marriage we have felt that we were the strange minority that priests, CCD teachers and parish councils put up with… but never supported… you know the kind of minority I mean… people who don’t use artificial birth control.

Years ago I asked a priest why we never hear about Humanae Vitae from the pulpit. He said he was trying to reach the marginal Catholics… and implicitly said he was afraid of scaring them away. In other words he thought most of the congregation were probably barely Catholic and he wanted to preach only forgiveness and not responsibility for fear of them leaving in droves. Meanwhile, those who tried to do what the Church taught were left to fend for themselves. I will never forget this conversation.

 

[Harmony1988]

The minds of most people aren’t ready to theologically understand Humanae Vitae, hence why the church doesn’t preach on the issue. However, they have made the documents available pertaining to it, as most church documents are.

Plus there are many great Catholic speakers who hold seminars, on that very issue. Such as Christopher West and Jason and Chrystellina Evert, who have been such a positive influence on the youth, and hence the church edges its way forward and makes a definitive stance and does not quaver to the low blows by people passing by.

A while back I saw a video on a Catholic speaker talking about how if Pope Paul VI had listened to the majority opinion before promulgating Humanae Vitae and allowed artificial birth control, the abortifacient at that point in time which was very popular would have been more widely used and later…much later after his death, in more recent times, deaths from that abortifacient have been linked in women, also side effects in children from the abortifacient failing and causing problems to this day. Forget that particular one, there are many more problems with all the other ones on the market to this day. Leaving aside the specific issue of ‘birth control’ in itself - what of the side effects to the people who took it? And the failure of it and the effects implicated on the children whom it failed to take?

It’s a good thing Paul VI did not allow it, he was saddened by the public reaction to his encyclical, but at least he did the right thing. He never came to win a popularity contest and like Benedict XV is an unsung hero in the general public, it’s only really the theologians and people who general dwell into reading church documents that understand the true significance in society of Paul VI.

 

[KCT]

The minds of most people aren’t ready to theologically understand Humanae Vitae, hence why the church doesn’t preach on the issue.

I agree. I also believe that as a whole, recent generations have not been taught to think and reason. If we lack those skills, it’s all too easy to accept whatever arguement sounds good to you.

 

[a_cermak]

Years ago I asked a priest why we never hear about Humanae Vitae from the pulpit. He said he was trying to reach the marginal Catholics… and implicitly said he was afraid of scaring them away. In other words he thought most of the congregation were probably barely Catholic and he wanted to preach only forgiveness and not responsibility for fear of them leaving in droves. Meanwhile, those who tried to do what the Church taught were left to fend for themselves. I will never forget this conversation.

I don’t get it how were you left to fend for yourself? How did the fact that many Catholics chose to use ABC hurt you or your family? What kind of support should the Church have provided you that it didn’t?

 

[stbruno]

catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1466

Here’s what the Catholic League thinks about this absurd ad that the dissident groups took out in the Italian papers.

Personally, as one who teaches marriage prep, my spouse and I are very clear on the church’s stand on contraception and strongly promote natural family planning and provide flyers and info so that couples will take advantage of this great opportunity to learn about these scientific techniques that only enhance the love in one’s marriage, rather than risk it all, spiritually, socially, physically and emotionally.

 

[Catholictrain]

I don’t get it how were you left to fend for yourself? How did the fact that many Catholics chose to use ABC hurt you or your family? What kind of support should the Church have provided you that it didn’t?

By using Natural Family Planning we were swimming against the tide… and there were times when it was difficult. An occassional word from a priest (or anyone) to keep doing what the church teaches would have been helpful. A little cheerleading. We have 5 living children, and 2 children who died before they were born. Although now we have lots of friends with large families, back 15 years ago we hardly knew anyone with more than 2 children.

So although we knew what we were doing was right and felt it in our hearts, all we had to encourage us was the wonderful document Humanae Vitae and the memory of our own large families.

 

[Crow]

By using Natural Family Planning we were swimming against the tide… and there were times when it was difficult. An occassional word from a priest (or anyone) to keep doing what the church teaches would have been helpful. A little cheerleading. We have 5 living children, and 2 children who died before they were born. Although now we have lots of friends with large families, back 15 years ago we hardly knew anyone with more than 2 children.

So although we knew what we were doing was right and felt it in our hearts, all we had to encourage us was the wonderful document Humanae Vitae and the memory of our own large families.

It is exceedingly sad to note that things do not seem to have gotten any better. Many will acuse those with large families of say, 3 children, of being selfish and irresponsible because of ‘carbon footprint’. Sometimes its enough to make a grown man want to cry.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

in other words…
CATHOLICS FOR ANTI-CATHOLICISM
:whacky:

 

[KathleenElsie]

Already being discussed in secular news section. Join us.

 

[bobzills]

in other words…
CATHOLICS FOR ANTI-CATHOLICISM
:whacky:

But I read that there are a large number of Catholics who don’t think it is a sin to use artificial birth control? The sociology department of the local Catholic college here had a survey of the incoming freshman and of the outgoing seniors. One of the questions asked was whether or not they beleive that the use of artificial contraception in marriage was a sin. For the incoming freshman, it was about 50% who believed that it was a sin. After four years of study in Catholic theology at the Catholic college, more than 90 percent of the graduating seniors thought that it was not a sin, while only about five percent thought that it was a sin.The rest were undecided.

 

[curtishouse29]

But I read that there are a large number of Catholics who don’t think it is a sin to use artificial birth control?

It’s called being a cafeteria Catholic and just because a bunch of supposed faithful Catholics believe something doesn’t mean it’s right.