Giving Birth Control

[George_Marchand]

I work as a psychiatric nurse in a state hospital. A number of the troubled young women who come to us are on birth control medication. As a Catholic, I refuse to be involved in any aspect of an order that is intended as an abortificant. But in the performance of my employment, am I allowed to dispense routine birth control medication with mental reservation?
I can identify with a store clerk who might have to sell condoms to a customer or a movie ticket seller who might sell a ticket to a morally offensive movie to one but a ticket to a holy picture to another.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

I work as a psychiatric nurse in a state hospital. A number of the troubled young women who come to us are on birth control medication. As a Catholic, I refuse to be involved in any aspect of an order that is intended as an abortificant. But in the performance of my employment, am I allowed to dispense routine birth control medication with mental reservation?
I can identify with a store clerk who might have to sell condoms to a customer or a movie ticket seller who might sell a ticket to a morally offensive movie to one but a ticket to a holy picture to another.

Most birth control pills aren’t abortificant. They aren’t even inteded to be that way.

I don’t think you are doing anything that wrong, to be honest. These women came to you on that medication. They have already made the choice. It’s not the same as if you were telling them to take it, or prescribing it for selfish reasons. You are just dispensing their medication.

Something else to think about too, is that the Pope okayed use of hormonal treatments (birth control) if they are to be used in a theraputic manner. You don’t know which of these women are on it for legitimate medical relief.

 

[kage_ar]

Contraception is morally unacceptable - for any human being. Why would a Catholic want to participate in that grave sin?

scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2399.htm

**2399 **The regulation of births represents one of the aspects of responsible fatherhood and motherhood. Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception).

 

[NoWhereMan]

A lot of people with mental problems are very sexual. they need Birth Control, being that usually they don`t care who they sleep with. My wife worked in Group homes where the clients there were very sexually active, homosexuality too. They need to be protected, they are in no condition to care for a baby

 

[kage_ar]

A lot of people with mental problems are very sexual. they need Birth Control, being that usually they don`t care who they sleep with. My wife worked in Group homes where the clients there were very sexually active, homosexuality too. They need to be protected, they are in no condition to care for a baby

These people need to be cared for and protected, not given contraceptives.

 

[Jea9]

Most birth control pills aren’t abortificant. They aren’t even inteded to be that way.

Not trying to be rude here Whitacre_Girl, but where do you get your information? Most birth control pills ARE abortificiant. Several physicians that have been on CAL have said this, and it even says so in the pill information pamphlet. It specifically says that if you think you are pregnant that you need to stop taking the pills or you may cause a spontaneous abortion. It did in the ones I took for therapeutic purposes, which BTW didn’t solve my problem anyway.

 

[Christopher68]

As I understand it, you can object to certain actions, so long as there are others who can fulfill the needs of the patient that you have declined to do. But you cannot prevent the patient from receiving something they are legally permitted to have. If you don’t have someone else who can do this, and if this is such a big issue for you, perhaps you’re in the wrong profession.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Not trying to be rude here Whitacre_Girl, but where do you get your information? Most birth control pills ARE abortificiant

I got my information from several trustworthy physicians when I was seeking treatment for my medical conditions. Not to be rude, but I am more willing to trust words from the mouth of my primary care physician and a second and third opinion from doctors I know and trust than people in the internet…

 

[Jea9]

I got my information from several trustworthy physicians when I was seeking treatment for my medical conditions. Not to be rude, but I am more willing to trust words from the mouth of my primary care physician and a second and third opinion from doctors I know and trust than people in the internet…

They told you that birth control pills are not abortificiants? Have you read the packet of information given to you by the pharmacist? That’s where I read it, and I took 3 different kinds, so maybe you can look there. If it does not have that warning, would you mind telling me the brand so I can look into it? You can do it via PM if you’d prefer, I do not wish to argue about it, am truly wondering which kinds are not. I agree that it is morally acceptable to take BCP if you are using them for a medical condition, I’m not questioning why you are using them. Just the information that most (or any even) are not abortificiants, and mostly just want to research it. Thanks!

 

[NoWhereMan]

These people need to be cared for and protected, not given contraceptives.

They need contraceptives

 

[thistle]

A lot of people with mental problems are very sexual. they need Birth Control, being that usually they don`t care who they sleep with. My wife worked in Group homes where the clients there were very sexually active, homosexuality too. They need to be protected, they are in no condition to care for a baby

Contraceptives when used to prevent pregnancy or disease are NEVER ACCEPTABLE.
If a Catholic believes otherwise that against Church teaching and is heresy.

 

[NoWhereMan]

In these cases, birth control is necessary, I asked my Priest one time about AMB, he told me there were reasons that it could be used, I think this is one of them, I think it would more be a sin for these people to conceive, & have a world of trouble, that to use Birth control, what about the millions upon millions of normal catholics who use it, they know the difference, these poor folks don`t

 

[Reuben_J]

Whatever the reasons for birth control, it is not allowed by the Church. There may be instances it may be used for thereupatic purposes and in which case the patient should make it a point to abstain from sex that may result in pregnancy. Total hysterectomy is allowed if the disease endangers the life of the woman, for example cancer.

Birth control pills in the market are abortificients in that they prevent the fertilized egg from being implanted on the wall of the uterus for it to develop into human embryo. I have not yet shown one that is not, there maybe is but I doubt it. Side effects of such pills are well documented so women who use them not only are they committing sin but also subjecting themselves to high risk health hazard. It is such pity to see women who suffer the side effect of birth control after years of using them. Two of the most commons are breast and cervical cancer. They will have to undergo chemotherapy, hysterectomy or mastectomy, then HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and eventually may succumb to the cancer itself.

That’s beside the point though. What’s in issue here, no sin can be justified. There were women who keep their pregnancy after being raped. Some people go even further, even if an incoming pregnancy means a certain risk to their life they would still refuse hysterectomy and keep the baby even though it is not a sin to do so.

I am relating these to emphasize the prohibition on birth control. If women are willing to suffer even when faced with greater danger that’s associated with pregnancy and yet steadfast in their faith, there is no reason that an act of prevention such as birth control pills can ever be justified.

A Catholic should NOT be a party to dispense birth control pill like we should not be a pimp or own a betrothal or a gambling den. It is difficult when it is associated with work and livelihood but in all clear conscience you should appeal to the employer that you will be exempted to do it.

I know it is a hard choice. It is equally hard to live the faith in such a fallen, darkened world. But like Mother Teresa said, we can be a single candle to light the darkness.

God bless.

 

[thistle]

In these cases, birth control is necessary, I asked my Priest one time about AMB, he told me there were reasons that it could be used, I think this is one of them, I think it would more be a sin for these people to conceive, & have a world of trouble, that to use Birth control, what about the millions upon millions of normal catholics who use it, they know the difference, these poor folks don`t

You and that priest (if indeed he told you that) are wrong.
The Church teaching is clear and unambiguous on contraception.
If used to avoid pregnancy or disease that is a grave sin and it is forbidden for any Catholic to use contraceptives for these purposes or to support such a use.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

They told you that birth control pills are not abortificiants? Have you read the packet of information given to you by the pharmacist? That’s where I read it, and I took 3 different kinds, so maybe you can look there. If it does not have that warning, would you mind telling me the brand so I can look into it? You can do it via PM if you’d prefer, I do not wish to argue about it, am truly wondering which kinds are not. I agree that it is morally acceptable to take BCP if you are using them for a medical condition, I’m not questioning why you are using them. Just the information that most (or any even) are not abortificiants, and mostly just want to research it. Thanks!

Sent you a PM.

and sorry if my post came across as rude. I just reread it, and I realized there could be a misunderstanding there…When I meant “people on the internet” I didn’t mean you. I meant more people I’ve never met who have a website somewhere, and I can’t verify their credentials

 

[Seatuck]

This is why we must have a conscience clause put in any national health care bills that come up. As a nurse I have a problem with it also and do not want to be forced to participate. This is one of the reasons that I haven’t chosen to get a RN refresher course and go back into the work place after a several years absence for raising our children. It’s killing me hearing about the nurse shortage and knowing that my rights as a Catholic are not protected in the workplace.

Patients without the capacity for reasoning should be protected not given birth control.

That being said , George I believe you should ask to be excluded from participating but if it isn’t possible the “mental reservation” avenue might be possible because of the nature of your job. For one thing in some instances you are not really privy to why some medications might be prescribed. For all you know there could be a medical reason. You may make that assumption in good faith. Please call up your diocese and ask to speak to a moral theologian. The thing is you are not working in GYN for instance which would cause this issue to be a main part of your job. In that case I would suggest a job change.

 

[NoWhereMan]

You and that priest (if indeed he told you that) are wrong.
The Church teaching is clear and unambiguous on contraception.
If used to avoid pregnancy or disease that is a grave sin and it is forbidden for any Catholic to use contraceptives for these purposes or to support such a use.

Yes it was a priest who told me that, I was surprised by it too. The Church is one thing, but mentally ill people who are overseen, because they are maybe incompetent, need to use Contraception, it`s common sense, & there is no shortage of people who care for these people to use them sexually & also other perverts who would prey on these weak people, These people cannot be watched 24/7, nor can anyone else. They need protection.

 

[tweetymom]

Yes it was a priest who told me that, I was surprised by it too. The Church is one thing, but mentally ill people who are overseen, because they are maybe incompetent, need to use Contraception, it`s common sense, & there is no shortage of people who care for these people to use them sexually & also other perverts who would prey on these weak people, These people cannot be watched 24/7, nor can anyone else. They need protection.

I agree with you 100%.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Yes it was a priest who told me that, I was surprised by it too. The Church is one thing, but mentally ill people who are overseen, because they are maybe incompetent, need to use Contraception, it`s common sense, & there is no shortage of people who care for these people to use them sexually & also other perverts who would prey on these weak people, These people cannot be watched 24/7, nor can anyone else. They need protection.

I don’t think though that giving contraception to these people is going to stop people from preying on them. We need to stop people from taking advantage of them, not give them birth control so “at least they don’t get pregnant.” If anything, sterilizing them like this is going to increase the liklihood of caregivers taking advantage of them.

 

[kage_ar]

They need contraceptives

If the hormones contained in the contraceptives are to cure an actual illness, then yes they need them. If the contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy, they are a grave evil and it is morally wrong to give something gravely evil to another person.