Do Catholics have to oppose the legalization of contraception?

[semper_catholicus]

but as St. Thomas explains earlier in the thread (and elsewhere) and as the whole history of mankind and Catholic civilizations in particular shows, it does not have to punish or forbid every sin–public authority may (and always does) tolerate sins.

I’m saying that civil law cannot contain anything contrary to natural law. I’m not mandating that everything against natural law be made illegal.

 

[FloridaCatholic]

Huh? So contraception can be legal then

 

[edwest211]

Catholics should oppose artificial contraception. Those who think self-control is impossible should consider chastity, which is not impossible. Prophetic words from 1968:

http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-v...ments/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html

 

[semper_catholicus]

No, because it is contrary to the natural law.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be made illegal.

 

[FloridaCatholic]

Well okay. I agree that in a perfect world it shouldn’t be legal. But I don’t think it’s prudent at this point to push for it to be illegal.

Is that what you’re saying?

 

[CilladeRoma]

Are you asking me for an example of a civil law that goes against natural law?

Abortion is legal.
Same sex marriage is legal.
Euthanasia is legal in some places.

 

[semper_catholicus]

Okay. Those laws are defective, becuase they are contrary to the natural law.

On another topic, if Law is about order and not morality, why does Scriputre refer to immorality as “lawlessness” in several places?

 

[FloridaCatholic]

I think scripture is talking about God’s law

 

[CilladeRoma]

Well, first, I would need a quote that uses the word “lawlessness”.

Then you have to look at translation.

More than likely though. @FloridaCatholic is correct, that is talking about God’s law.

 

[edwest211]

Laws should and can cover morality. There used to be Vice Squads.

 

[tafan2]

I would argue that all human law should be about morality. But not all moral vices should be proscribed by human law and not all human virtue should be prescribed by human law.

 

[edwest211]

From Washington’s Farewell Address 1796

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

 

[Joey12]

Do a country’s laws have to reflect natural law in every circumstance?

Secular Laws are the things that you want to impose via depriving liberty. They work well when they involve a mismatch of power or a perpetrator and victim but don’t work well in cases of individual morality. There are so many sins that to enforce them via penalty would ultimately lead to a tyrannical state.

On the other hand, the late twentieth century/early twenty first century has seen the rise in the “liberal” who seem to want all acknowledgement of God and traditional morality to be removed from public awareness. The danger in ceding ground on morality is that you leave room for the next step toward your eradication. So long as an individual is not prevented from acting on their conscience, we are able to exist in a society. Laws that force doctors to perform abortions, stop us from feeding the hungry, stop us from practicing our religion or speaking about it etc. These are all laws that have to be fought. Let the Law of God live in your heart.

Countries that do not conform to the natural law will be places of turmoil because they are not willing to accept the limitations of human experience. They receive their own natural punishment.

Ultimately, we can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit we have the power to conquer evil. It seems a bit crazy to impose a morality on people that they can’t live up to without life in the Holy Spirit. Focus more on your relationship with God than on the Law. This is what priests should have been telling us for the last 100 years.