Humanae Vitae and 2018

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NoelFitz

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I am concerned about the fall off in Catholic practice in Ireland, and also elsewhere in the west, especially among young people.

Is one of the principal reasons for this the issue of contraception? Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the publication of Humanae Vitae, and perhaps it will be a suitable time for a fresh debate on contraception, and an opportunity for the Church to explain its position in a way acceptable to modern people.

I see it claimed that in the US only 8% of Catholics consider contraception morally wrong and 87% of those attending Mass regularly see contraception as morally acceptable or not a moral issue. Another survey claims 82% of US Catholics see contraception as morally acceptable.

Considering these statistics is it desirable for the Church to explain in an acceptable way for Catholics and non-Catholics its position?

How should the Church deal with its members who accept contraception? Can it welcome them, support them and help them in their beliefs and religion? Should it just reject the vast majority of Catholics who do not accept current Church teaching, or can it reach out to them in charity?

Is next year a suitable time to re-examine the Church’s position on contraception?
 
NoelFitz said:
How should the Church deal with its members who accept contraception? Can it welcome them, support them and help them in their beliefs and religion? Should it just reject the vast majority of Catholics who do not accept current Church teaching, or can it reach out to them in charity?
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Since those who reject it probably do so out of ignorance, of course they should be reached out to, welcomed, and helped. They should not be rejected.
Is next year a suitable time to re-examine the Church’s position on contraception?
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Yes, not the position (doctrine) but rather the exposition (method of explaining/teaching), as you suggested:
Considering these statistics is it desirable for the Church to explain in an acceptable way for Catholics and non-Catholics its position?
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It could be an uphill battle, though.
 
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You can see that is a secular survey was taken of people who self-identify as Catholics.

A study of practicing Catholics would return other data.
 
There is a portion of the table that breaks out mass attendance. 31% of weekly church goers see contraception as sinful.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Edit: Do you think those who accept contraceptive use do not know the teaching or do you think they know but reject it?
 
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Even the term “contraceptives” needs to be defined, I know faithful Catholics who will tell you that NFP is “Catholic approved contraception”. In order to get solid poll info the questions must be far more specific.
 
TheLittleLady,
thank you for your reply.
I found the statistics I used on the web based on Pew results.

I also note:
In April 2011, the Guttmacher Institute published the results of an analysis finding that 99% of all women of reproductive age who have ever had sex—including 98% of such Catholic women—have used a method of contraception other than natural family planning.


However the Guttmacher Institute conclusions have been queried.
 
RandomAlias,
thank you for your reply.
I agree with what you wrote.

However now it seems most Catholics are Protestants. They accept the parts of religion they like and reject the other parts, holding in individual interpretation.

It seems most Catholics do not disagree publicly with Church teaching, they just ignore it. Contraception is not an issue for them. Perhaps it is different in the US. Here priests never discuss sexual morality or related topics, probably partially out of a fear of the backlash this would create after clerical scandals, and also the fear that what they would say would be rejected.
 
HerCrazierHalf,
the statistics you give support mine. Your figures show two thirds of
weekly Catholic church-goers do not see contraception as sinful.
 
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TheLittleLady said:
Even the term “contraceptives” needs to be defined, I know faithful Catholics who will tell you that NFP is “Catholic approved contraception”. In order to get solid poll info the questions must be far more specific.
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You raise a good point.

I agree that the issues should be studied more and definitions clarified. I hope the debate can be continued with charity and integrity in 2018.

However it does not matter how the details of contraception are defined; it seems that very many Catholics use contraception.

If couples did not use contraception families would commonly have more that ten children, as happened in the past.

Some hold that only about 2% of Catholic couples use NFP.

It is reasonable to consider NFP as contraception, as the purpose is generally to prevent conception.
 
There was a survey done a few years back, digging around my bookmarks, can’t find it now grrrr. It showed when the contraception question was clarified (for instance, polled only married women, took into account those who had used contraception before they became Catholic or had used the BCP for health issue like paniful periods or acne treatment) the stats were different.

It was not 100% because not every woman had a Catholic parent to guide, and some women do choose to reject Church teaching, but the stats were not as dire.

The biggest thing, what we teach our kids.
 
That seems incredibly selective. It’s almost like selecting those predisposed to agree with the church I the first place. It’s a valid question for men too as contraceptive methods exist with new male contraception on the horizon.
 
HerCrazier Half,

many thanks for your most recent reply. I appreciate you interest as I consider the concerns are valid.

Do you agree that very many Catholic couples accept contraception, contrary to Catholic teaching?

If so is this a concern?
 
TheLittleLady,
Thanks to you also.
If statistics are based on selected groups results will be different.
I would ask you, as I asked others, if you think many Catholic couples accept contraception contrary to Church teaching.
If so why?
Also you claim some women choose to reject Church teaching. Is this due to wrong teaching, bad teaching, human perversity or other reasons?
Is the current perceived exodus from the Church due partially to its views on contraception?
 
NoelFitz,

Quick disclaimer, I’m not Catholic.
Yes, I think that most couples regardless of faith have accepted contraception. Whether they believe they have a right to individual discernment or if they flat out reject it is up for debate. As the “outsider” here I’m not sure I’m qualified to say whether or not it’s a concern.

If we are honest, what the church demands on this topic is quite alot. Even NFP proponents here admit there would be more large families if more people used NFP, which implies a conflict between the control many couples want vs what the church teaches.
 
I don’t talk about contraception in casual conversation.

Very few of my friends, Catholic or not, use hormonal birth control. My Catholic friends do not use contraception of any kind (with one exception who had a tubal during a very weak point in her life).

In my interaction as a catechist for teens, maybe 2% of parents have taught their kids a word about the Church’s teaching on marriage. Parents then are shocked when the young adult marries outside the Church, pursues IVF, etc.
 
I am grateful for all who participate in this thread.

There seems to be general agreement that many Catholics have rejected Humanae Vitae, whose 50th anniversary occurs next year. There may be some disagreement about the statistics, but the overall picture seems generally accepted, and the majority of Catholics seem not to hold the immorality of contraception.

Are many Catholics now becoming Protestants, basing beliefs on their own individual interpretations?

Is it time to relook at Humanae Vitae?

Should the Church try to explain in an acceptable way its views on contraception, or admit the battle is lost, and never mention contraception, hoping the issue will not be raised? Is it best to claim clergy have no experience of married life and should not interfere in private lives? Another approach might be to say there are more important issues, such as justice and Christ, with which Catholics should concern themselves.

Has the emphasis on abortion pushed contraception off the agenda?

What should be done?

At least initially we should have a discussion, where we can express our views and concerns with charity, loyalty and conviction.
 
This thread has not elicited a strong response, and it seems, approaching the 50th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, that contraception is not a major issue in the Church. Like divorce, it seems that many Catholics do not see contraception as a moral problem.

This is of concern since it weakens the authority of the Church.

But in the future the Church may emphasize justice, faith, love of neighbor and God rather than the sexual behavior of its members. This focus may have benefits for the Church overall.

The Church has been assured that God will be with it ‘and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it’. (Matt. 16:18 NAB), so there is no need to be over-concerned.
 
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