Destruction of the Family in the US

[Elizium23]

I don’t think birth control has lead to any of that really. Sexual objectification of women has been around for over 8000 years at least. Bastard children have also been around. Abortions occurred but were very underground.

Blessed Paul VI was remarkably prescient when he wrote,

Consequences of Artificial Methods

1. Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.

Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

So a person should never get married because they might get divorced? Well, that’s part of the problem, isn’t it?*

The possibility and repercussions of divorce are a real and significant danger. Marriage is not to be entered into lightly and should occur after serious consideration.

This is not a thread on “welfare.” It’s about*the reasons why people are not getting married. Remember that.

Well, the reasons are many imo:

1. very risky. The marriages that I’ve seen work are the greatest thing ever. OTOH, failed marriages seem to break people, not just fiscally but emotionally too.
2. Outside of religious reasons, the benefits and reasons for marriage are not very well communicated to the public.
3. in some cases a legal marriage is a disadvantage. Two people who earn medium to high wages may have a higher tax liability than two single people.
4. Technology allows those not seeking such commitment to find each other without as much stigma. Reduces the need to conform to that “expectation”. Limits the pool for those seeking commitment.

 

[boomerang]

I don’t think birth control has lead to any of that really. Sexual objectification of women has been around for over 8000 years at least. Bastard children have also been around. Abortions occurred but were very underground.

All those things were around, but were never so widespread and accepted as they are today. People are now thinking this kind of anomie is normal, but it is contrary to the way God wants us to live.

 

[boomerang]

It is a great thing but leads to all of those problems you listed?

It has contributed, absolutely. Birth control > widespread promiscuity > raunchy movies and television (“Art imitates life”) > “Everybody’s doin’ it!” > Yeah, “Everybody’s doin’ it” - but many seemed to have forgotten the birth control that started this revolution! > unplanned pregnancies, abortions, single mothers on welfare with “baby daddies” instead of husbands.

 

[boomerang]

The possibility and repercussions of divorce are a real and significant danger. Marriage is not to be entered into lightly and should occur after serious consideration.

Well, the reasons are many imo:

1. very risky. The marriages that I’ve seen work are the greatest thing ever. OTOH, failed marriages seem to break people, not just fiscally but emotionally too.
2. Outside of religious reasons, the benefits and reasons for marriage are not very well communicated to the public.
3. in some cases a legal marriage is a disadvantage. Two people who earn medium to high wages may have a higher tax liability than two single people.
4. Technology allows those not seeking such commitment to find each other without as much stigma. Reduces the need to conform to that “expectation”. Limits the pool for those seeking commitment.

All that is true. Religion is THE major factor in getting people married and keeping them married. Marriage is the best way to raise kids. No religion = no marriages = unstable families. It’s not good.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

All that is true. Religion is THE major factor in getting people married and keeping them married. Marriage is the best way to raise kids. No religion = no marriages = unstable families. It’s not good.

But the bigger question is how to restore the family. Religiosity seems to pick up when couples have children and also in old age, but the parents age at first birth has increased over time. Unless there is a multi generation revival the “nones” will increase across each generation.

*Yes, most nones are believers but I’d guess they reject most trains relevant to this topic.

 

[boomerang]

But the bigger question is how to restore the family. Religiosity seems to pick up when couples have children and also in old age, but the parents age at first birth has increased over time. Unless there is a multi generation revival the “nones” will increase across each generation.

*Yes, most nones are believers but I’d guess they reject most trains relevant to this topic.

The only way that I can see to the restoration of the traditional (Father Knows Best) family on a widespread basis is for life in the western world (US, Europe, etc) to become so hard and miserable that people turn back to God for comfort. Let’s face it, when life is a woo-hoo! party, who thinks about God? No one. God is a total drag. When you have cancer, you start thinking about God. You hope He’s real, 'cause you’re hurting and scared. Our society is not hurting enough. I think someday, we will truly be hurting as a society, but we’re not there yet. We still have HBO, McDonald’s and NASCAR. Plenty of distractions to keep us busy and not looking for God.

 

[edwest2]

I completely agree and that is why condoms and birth control are very important.

Self-control is a 100% guarantee for not getting pregnant for non-married women. Condoms and birth control pills are not worth it. True friendship, earned trust, understanding the other person in non-sexual areas, commitment, compatibility, learning how to resolve disagreements in a civil way - that will bring healthy families back. A life-long commitment is in order, not “We’ll just get a no-fault divorce if things don’t work out.” Not the right attitude.

Casual sex is right out.

Ed

 

[edwest2]

We are discussing the destruction of the family. If a father’s income is not needed, then there is less incentive to get married. That’s not ignorant. That’s a fact. Fewer people getting married = less traditional family. Providing public welfare dollars for women who do not marry the fathers of their children hastens the demise of the family and lets the fathers get off scott-free. Love is one thing; responsibility is another.

This should never, ever be promoted. Men should be involved in the lives of the children they brought into the world. Commitment, being responsible - those are the things that make a man a true father and human being.

Ed

 

[edwest2]

I don’t think birth control has lead to any of that really. Sexual objectification of women has been around for over 8000 years at least. Bastard children have also been around. Abortions occurred but were very underground.

Yes, it has. After the Sexual - without love - Revolution of the late 1960s, women have been programmed to go on The Pill, then the IUD, the morning after pill, spermicidal foam… And the internet is the greatest cause of the objectification of women in the history of the world.

How many women are protesting outside of strip clubs or topless bars?

Every year in every decade, starting in 1970, the media gradually poisoned the minds of all. The Body of Christ in the West was poisoned, drop by drop, as the media gradually, slowly turned up the volume on sex, sex and more sex in movies and on TV. Game of Thrones? Seriously? The Fosters? Family Guy? (especially the ‘Jesus’ episode)

Get away from the poison, my friends. Recover your hearts and minds.

Ed

 

[edwest2]

The only way that I can see to the restoration of the traditional (Father Knows Best) family on a widespread basis is for life in the western world (US, Europe, etc) to become so hard and miserable that people turn back to God for comfort. Let’s face it, when life is a woo-hoo! party, who thinks about God? No one. God is a total drag. When you have cancer, you start thinking about God. You hope He’s real, 'cause you’re hurting and scared. Our society is not hurting enough. I think someday, we will truly be hurting as a society, but we’re not there yet. We still have HBO, McDonald’s and NASCAR. Plenty of distractions to keep us busy and not looking for God.

God needs to be a part of our daily lives. And our daily actions. Who are you going to listen to?

The time for conversion is now. Today.

amazon.com/Extreme-Makeover-Transformed-Conformed-Culture/dp/1586175610

amazon.com/Be-Man-Becoming-God-Created/dp/1586174037

Get out of the prison created for you.

Ed

 

[edwest2]

Blessed Paul VI was remarkably prescient when he wrote,

And this was the reaction in 1968 when Humanae Vitae was published:

"Within 24 hours, in an event unprecedented in the history of the Church, more than 200 dissenting theologians signed a full-page ad in The New York Times in protest. Not only did they declare their disagreement with encyclical’s teaching; they went one step further, far beyond their authority as theologians, and actually encouraged dissent among the lay faithful.

"They asserted the following: “Therefore, as Roman Catholic theologians, conscious of our duty and our limitations, we conclude that spouses may responsibly decide according to their conscience that artificial contraception in some circumstances is permissible and indeed necessary to preserve and foster the values and sacredness of marriage.”

Source: Regnum Christi

… an event unprecedented in the history of the Church …

The makers of The Pill had to sell product and the Catholic Church could not stand in the way of a 40 year propaganda campaign that has poisoned at least two generations of people.

Ed