Contraception

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There are two aspects to this question that continue to fascinate me:

Formally, if not practically, the matter does not arise outside of marriage.

In marriage, the matter, again formally but not today practically, cannot arise as marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman in which each says to the other, mutually, freely, publicly, that they give the whole of themselves, completely and without limitation, to the other - properly, this is a covenant relationship.

But people engage in sexual relations outside marriage, whether before marriage and not in contemplation of marriage, or where one or both of the parties is married to another person: in such cases, the wrong is merely compounded by use of contraceptive methods (and NFP is NOT contraceptive) and still further compounded by abortifacient contraceptive methods.

And where in marriage contraceptive methods are used, both parties (assuming both are aware that contraceptive action is being taken) breach their covenant oath made freely and publicly at the time of their marriage - you no longer have all of me, you now only have some of me - that damages the marital relationship. The breach is even more serious where the methods used are abortifacient.
 
Yes, I agree with church teaching. However, your wording is problematic.

The church does not “ban” contraception. Contraception is an intrinsically disordered act and a mortal sin. therefore, the Church teaches the revealed truth about contraception.

The term “ban” implies something governed by Canon Law or a discipline of the church. Contraception falls under the Deposit of Faith.
 
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1ke:
Yes, I agree with church teaching. However, your wording is problematic.

The church does not “ban” contraception. Contraception is an intrinsically disordered act and a mortal sin. therefore, the Church teaches the revealed truth about contraception.

The term “ban” implies something governed by Canon Law or a discipline of the church. Contraception falls under the Deposit of Faith.
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And what about the usage of condoms in relation to aids prevention, especially in poor countries like some Asian and African nations?
 
Pious Redeemer:
And what about the usage of condoms in relation to aids prevention, especially in poor countries like some Asian and African nations?
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When you ask “what about…” What are you asking?

Are you asking if the Catholic Church bans condom use in Africa? 1ke is correct–it’s not a ban–it is a question as to what is morally correct, and the Church teaches the truth.

Or, are you asking if condom use in an attempt to prevent the spead of AIDS is also intrinsincally evil. The answer is still yes. If one accepts that the use of birth control is an act that says MY will be done, NOT YOUR will, God, and that it comprimises the gift of whole self giving, then any kind of BC for any reason is against God and makes us slaves to our own desires. That is dis-ordered. How utterly self centered to risk the very LIFE of your beloved to satisfy your sexual urge–and to double the insult with “against-life” contraception! God wants that???

As for Asia and Africa…What does being poor have to do with right and wrong? Are those poor people less able to control their sexual desires because of their economic situation? Are Asians or Africans less able to control themselves? To claim “cultural differences” make it necessary is, at its root, bigoted. God calls all to live according to His truth.

Abstinence, Self-control, and Fidelity in marriage is the way to overcome AIDS in Asia, Africa, and everywhere else. You want the cure for AIDS? Have people get tested before marriage and have a few generations live according to Catholic Teaching.
 
After a cancer diagnosis, I was told I should not get pregnant and not sure if NFP would work (irregular cycles), my husband and I accepted that we my have to obstain for a long time, maybe forever. Thanks be to God, NFP is working great for us…God is so good. We would never have done anything the offend God and were willing to accept this cross. Isn’t that what life is all about, until our final reward?
 
I do not understand why oral contraceptives are considered a sin in the Catholic Church. Here are the reasons that I’ve seen thus far.

that is messes up the natural result of sex within marriage. That
sex is not only an expression of love, but how we procreate. God created us to be fruitful and multiply. Artificially preventing that multiplication, even for a short time, is therefore a sin.
Am I correct on this?

But my question is this: The same hormones that prevent conception are used in post-menopausal women. As they experience decline in estrogen, hot flashes, bone loss and so forth can result. This is natural. It is a natural decline in estrogen. God made it that way. Therefore, it is a sin to replace the hormone that God wants to wane away. Because you are going against God’s will.

I’m honestly not being facetious here. And I know that many will jump and scream, “YEAH BUT PREVENTING LIFE IS MUCH MORE BIG OF A DEAL THAN JUST MANAGING HOT FLASHES!!!” Okay…I’ll give you that. But if part of your argument is that it prevents something natural, than you could use that argument for zillions of different things.
 
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Curious:
that is messes up the natural result of sex within marriage. That
sex is not only an expression of love, but how we procreate. God created us to be fruitful and multiply. Artificially preventing that multiplication, even for a short time, is therefore a sin.
Am I correct on this?
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I’m not sure what you’ve said here is “wrong” per se, but your logical progression is not entirely accurate. It’s not so much about “being fruitful” as it is about living the true dignity that God has gifted us.

A more logical progression would be: God is love. God is generative. God made man in His image. Therefore, to live as God created us, we must love and generate. It’s a positive relationship–not a negative one.
But my question is this: …Therefore, it is a sin to replace the hormone that God wants to wane away. Because you are going against God’s will.
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Death and wasting away are the result of sin–it is not how God created Adam and Eve “IN THE BEGINNING”. Therefore, medically treating decline as a result of sin is not “un-natural”.

However, I’ve heard tell that HRT is not such a good idea anyway–Gee, I wonder if it has anything to do with messing with God’s divine plan. Just me, folks, but I’m not gonna mess around with my reproductive system unless it’s ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL for my survival. I think it’s sacred ground.
 
Death and wasting away are the result of sin–it is not how God created Adam and Eve “IN THE BEGINNING”. Therefore, medically treating decline as a result of sin is not “un-natural”.
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AH! good point felicity. Very good.

You’ll need to excuse me while I go think of something to say in return.
 
I’m married and use NFP. For the unmarried and untried. Don’t worry, you get into a rythm with it and forget about it, in no time it’ll be perfectly natural. Now there isn’t a need for the method but I think we’re still using it…:hmmm:
 
Finally! Thank you for the example of a point I made earlier:
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st_felicity:
If one accepts that the use of birth control is an act that says MY will be done, NOT YOUR will, God…
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Do you take medicine? How do you know that your illness is not God’s will, and that by taking medication, you’re thwarting God’s will?

Ridiculous argument? I grew up in Herbert Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God, and just such an argument was made. Medicine and doctors were banned (okay, okay – declared “intrinsicly evil”) and people died as a result.

Ironically, birth control wasn’t seen as thwarting God’s will.

I take the middle of the road, and choose neither ditch.
 
Pious Redeemer:
And what about the usage of condoms in relation to aids prevention, especially in poor countries like some Asian and African nations?
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What about it?

Contraception is an INTRINSICALLY disordered act. That means it is never allowed. Abstinence is allowed and should be used in these situations.

Aside from the fact that using a condom is a mortal sin, it does NOT prevent the transmission of STDs, including AIDS.

Abstinence before marriage and lifelong fidelity in marriage is the solution, not condoms. Giving someone a condom only increased the probability that they will continue their risky behavior under the assumption they are “safe”.

Don’t have illicit sex, don’t use illicit drugs, screen blood donations… problem solved.
 
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GaryScott:
Finally! Thank you for the example of a point I made earlier:

Do you take medicine? How do you know that your illness is not God’s will, and that by taking medication, you’re thwarting God’s will?

Ridiculous argument? I grew up in Herbert Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God, and just such an argument was made. Medicine and doctors were banned (okay, okay – declared “intrinsicly evil”) and people died as a result.

Ironically, birth control wasn’t seen as thwarting God’s will.

I take the middle of the road, and choose neither ditch.
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Did you read my post #26?

Same question same answer.
 
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nohself:
It gives the sexually active person freedom, which I suppose may be a greater incentive than the pleasure itself.

Jamie
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I would say it makes a woman a slave to the pill. Not so free is it. Married sex with no contraception is truly the only free and unbridled sex there is. Absolutely nothing is held back whatsoever (including the love and commitment that can only come through marriage)
 
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1ke:
What about it?

Contraception is an INTRINSICALLY disordered act. That means it is never allowed. Abstinence is allowed and should be used in these situations.

Aside from the fact that using a condom is a mortal sin, it does NOT prevent the transmission of STDs, including AIDS.

Abstinence before marriage and lifelong fidelity in marriage is the solution, not condoms. Giving someone a condom only increased the probability that they will continue their risky behavior under the assumption they are “safe”.

Don’t have illicit sex, don’t use illicit drugs, screen blood donations… problem solved.
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I agree with you on this. But I’m afraid our voices are the voices of ‘rational’ western people speaking. I just feel for their many deaths…

what if a Catholic person would succumb to seduction, have sexual intercourse without being married, repents it afterwards, confesses this to a priest, does the penance the priest orders him/her to do in order to be forgiven, but still dies of aids anyway? Or if this same person would have worn a condom (or her partner), repents it afterwards, confesses this to a priest, does the penance the priest orders him/her to do in order to be forgiven, but doesn’t die of aids? Isn’t there a ‘slight’ difference, the difference between life and death?
 
Pious Redeemer:
I agree with you on this. But I’m afraid our voices are the voices of ‘rational’ western people speaking. I just feel for their many deaths…

what if a Catholic person would succumb to seduction, have sexual intercourse without being married, repents it afterwards, confesses this to a priest, does the penance the priest orders him/her to do in order to be forgiven, but still dies of aids anyway? Or if this same person would have worn a condom (or her partner), repents it afterwards, confesses this to a priest, does the penance the priest orders him/her to do in order to be forgiven, but doesn’t die of aids? Isn’t there a ‘slight’ difference, the difference between life and death?
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Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The body and our time here is fleeting, Heaven is eternal. So, no there isn’t a difference. People are too focused on the here and now without enough focus on the eternal consequences. The temporal consequences are so much less important in comparison to the eternal ones.

And, in your example the person makes a choice one way or the other-- condom or no condom. However, that is entirely different from me (or the Church) encouraging them to do so.

The Church can only teach the revealed Truth of God. So, the Church teaches that fornication is a sin, contraception is a sin, abortion is a sin, etc.

The Church cannot teach someone to sin so as to sin more “safely” or more “efficiently”. That would be the same as telling a thief that if they are going to steal anyway, then they should wear a mask to lessen the risk of getting caught. Ridiculous.

Sin is sin and the Church can only teach us not to sin, not how to sin in a “better” way.
 
Pious Redeemer:
I agree with you on this. But I’m afraid our voices are the voices of ‘rational’ western people speaking. I just feel for their many deaths…
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Are you implying that those in countries other than our supposedly civilized society-- the same society that kills over 1.3 million babies a year in the name of “choice”-- are somehow inferior and less rational? That they are not capable of fidelity and chastity? That is what this statement says to me.

Please note that the only country in Africa to make progress in the eradication of AIDS is Uganda-- where they have implemented an **Abstinence Only ** education campaign that teaches chastity before marriage and fidelity in marriage. They are light years ahead of their fellow condom-using “safe sex” countries in Africa.
 
Could you provide a link to the uganda reference?

Sounds very interesting
 
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