I am expected to teach artificial contraception to women

[OraEtLabora]

Do what your teacher requires or quit. I’m sure you knew this issue would come up eventually in your profession. If you are unable to abide by the ethics and standards of the profession you have chosen, then you need to leave the profession.

This is terrible advice. This is to say that if something is accepted by the mainstrem as moral, we should all bow to pressure and accept it. However, as then Cardinal Ratzinger said, “Truth is not determined by a majority vote.” Instead of urging anyone to “do what their teacher says or quit” I would urge them to stay true to their morals and the teaching of the church.

 

[Suat]

This is terrible advice. This is to say that if something is accepted by the mainstrem as moral, we should all bow to pressure and accept it. However, as then Cardinal Ratzinger said, “Truth is not determined by a majority vote.” Instead of urging anyone to “do what their teacher says or quit” I would urge them to stay true to their morals and the teaching of the church.

While I agree that Ma. Eugenia has more options than quitting, does she have the right to accept payment for a job that she is unable or unwilling to perform? In my opinion, the best option is be upfront about morals when she applies for the job. This will allow the employer to either hire someone who is capable of performing all of the duties required or to work around her moral obligations. That way she can still stay true to her morals and beliefs, and the employer is providing patients with the care and information that they require.

 

[Ma.Eugenia]

Hi again!

I would like to thank everyone for their replies.

I agree that I need to tell my (future) employer about my stand regarding artificial contraception as it will cause me problems later on if I don’t.

Right now, as a nursing student, I’m already trying to stick to what I know is right according to Church teachings.

I sounded a few of my classmates regarding my plan to talk to the instructor to say I want out of teaching contraception in front of patients. They told me that I have the duty to teach both mehods.

I do not agree.

I feel that if I make the client choose —and they choose artificial method—to me, it is like leading them to sin.

Example: The use of condoms. We were told in the orientation that we can demonstrate to a patient how it is placed (using a prop). My problem here is—Isn’t that pushing men to commit the sin of Onan? If I was the one who taught a person to use it, wouldn’t his sin be my sin too? More so with me–because I know about this passage in the Bible.

also…

Example: The use of pills. A professor told us that some of the pills makes the uterus inhospitable to a fertilized ovum. That is the same as abortion as Catholics believe that life begins at the time of conception.

Some pills can cause problems for the next generation (children of the woman who takes it), some pills can cause problems with the unborn.

I feel that if anything happens to anyone—because I pushed for these artificial methods, I will be guilty of the sin also.

That is why it is such a dilemma for me to teach it.

Anyway, I am reading the websites that some of the posters have suggested here. I find them to be very interesting and informative.

Fergal also gave me some nice pointers. Hope you don’t mind me quoting what you said in my class.

By the way, OraetLabora, I like the name you chose for yourself. You see, I studied in a St. Scholastica school when I was in gradeschool. It is my favorite motto.

To everyone, thank you very much for helping me.

 

[wjp984]

unfortunately, I have to agree with you that if your teaching leads others to sin, then you are also morally culpable. However, if you as the posters have given you advice on, do your best to present both options but focus on the cons of the immoral approaches and the pros on the moral approaches, and then someone still chooses to sin, well then you are not repsonsible for it. That is my opinion.

 

[Valke2]

This is terrible advice. This is to say that if something is accepted by the mainstrem as moral, we should all bow to pressure and accept it. However, as then Cardinal Ratzinger said, “Truth is not determined by a majority vote.” Instead of urging anyone to “do what their teacher says or quit” I would urge them to stay true to their morals and the teaching of the church.

That’s why I said withdraw from the program. Then he or she could stay true to his or her morals and the teachings of the Church.

 

[Valke2]

unfortunately, I have to agree with you that if your teaching leads others to sin, then you are also morally culpable. However, if you as the posters have given you advice on, do your best to present both options but focus on the cons of the immoral approaches and the pros on the moral approaches, and then someone still chooses to sin, well then you are not repsonsible for it. That is my opinion.

It is not the jor ob a nurse, doctor, surgeon etc. to focus on the moral approaches of any medically sound procedure.

 

[jbuck919]

Quit and take up another line of work. And consider for a moment how you are any different from a Jehovah’s Witness nurse who won’t participate in a blood transfusion. (In fact, the Witnesses are largely excluded from the medical professions for that reason.)

Do you want to be a nurse, or do you want to be an obsequious member of a denomination that foolishly sticks to certain cult-like teachings? Decide. Sorry.

 

[jbuck919]

Quit and take up another line of work. And consider for a moment how you are any different from a Jehovah’s Witness nurse who won’t participate in a blood transfusion. (In fact, the Witnesses are largely excluded from the medical professions for that reason.)

Do you want to be a nurse, or do you want to be a completely obsequious member of a denomination that foolishly sticks to certain cult-like teachings? Decide. Sorry.

 

[rciadan]

Do what your teacher requires or quit. I’m sure you knew this issue would come up eventually in your profession. If you are unable to abide by the ethics and standards of the profession you have chosen, then you need to leave the profession.

Don’t do what your teacher says: Quit! If all Catholics in the medical profession would live thier faith and quit rather than be intimidated or coerced into compromising thier faith, things would drastically change due to the vast shortage of people in the profession!

 

[boppaid]

I do agree that if you are being paid to perform certain duties and you need to do them. If they are against your ethics then you need to let them have the choice as to whether or not they still want you in their employ. They are paying this woman to present all sides…even those that go against her religion. I can understand her personal dilema; but I can understand the employer’s as well.

 

[fix]

It is not the jor ob a nurse, doctor, surgeon etc. to focus on the moral approaches of any medically sound procedure.

Really? That would make Nazi experiments morally acceptable. Anything goes because some folks in white coats say so? Interesting reasoning. I wonder where that would lead?

 

[fix]

Quit and take up another line of work. And consider for a moment how you are any different from a Jehovah’s Witness nurse who won’t participate in a blood transfusion. (In fact, the Witnesses are largely excluded from the medical professions for that reason.)

Do you want to be a nurse, or do you want to be an obsequious member of a denomination that foolishly sticks to certain cult-like teachings? Decide. Sorry.

Moral relativism. Anything that can be done, ought to be done? That pretty much eliminates critical reasoning and the notion of conscience. What is that termed?

 

[Sam88]

I appreciate your difficulty - one that faces many in the field. Hopefully after your graduation you will find a particular employment where you will not face this particular issue.

I responded earlier that I thought that you may need to make patients aware of different alternatives that are available to them - because it is their choice to make. This does NOT mean however that you need to actually participate in providing care to the patients that is immoral. If a patient requests some form of treatment that you cannot provide them, then your response should be the same as it would for any other treatment that you are unable perform for other reasons, e.g. qualifications, experience, licensing, etc., and that is to refer them to another practitioner, just as you would refer issues to a physician, pharmicist, or your supervisor when they are beyond your scope of practice.

I believe that there is a clear distinction between informing patients of their alternatives, which may be your duty, and actually providing certain services to those patients which may or may not be your duty depending on the nature of the service and circumstances.

Permit no one to compel you to participate in immoral activities – but you also may not prevent patients from exercising their own right to choose. God himself gave each of us the ability to choose good or evil. We should encourage others to make the right choice, but we cannot make their choices for them.

I pray you make it through this program, as the world needs more care providers with sensitivity to ethical issues.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

This is terrible advice. This is to say that if something is accepted by the mainstrem as moral, we should all bow to pressure and accept it. However, as then Cardinal Ratzinger said, “Truth is not determined by a majority vote.” Instead of urging anyone to “do what their teacher says or quit” I would urge them to stay true to their morals and the teaching of the church.

Never forget this goes both ways

Really? That would make Nazi experiments morally acceptable. Anything goes because some folks in white coats say so? Interesting reasoning. I wonder where that would lead?

No, your actions are your actions their actions are their actions always and forever. This noble attempt to separate others from their freedom(and free will) is not in god’s plan

Moral relativism. Anything that can be done, ought to be done? That pretty much eliminates critical reasoning and the notion of conscience. What is that termed?

No, I should do what is right to the best of my knowledge as should others. If they chose wrong that is between them and god. That is why I could not perform an abortion but I should not lock the medicine cabinet. Moral Relativisim is when I claim I have authority over you to …take your car as you may drunk drive(others do) you might wreck(others do) or drive the get away car(others do) so Moral Me must take your car?

 

[fix]

Never forget this goes both ways

No, your actions are your actions their actions are their actions always and forever. This noble attempt to separate others from their freedom(and free will) is not in god’s plan

No, I should do what is right to the best of my knowledge as should others. If they chose wrong that is between them and god. That is why I could not perform an abortion but I should not lock the medicine cabinet. Moral Relativisim is when I claim I have authority over you to …take your car as you may drunk drive(others do) you might wreck(others do) or drive the get away car(others do) so Moral Me must take your car?

This is a bit confusing. No one is saying we ought to try to remove another’s free will. The question here is is it licit to “teach” others an immoral practice simply because it is “approved” by professionals.

I would say providing information is not necessarily wrong. For example, studying reproductive physiology in school that would include how the mechanism of certain drugs may work to suppress ovulation. That would seem to be morally neutral. One is learning how the body works. The same could be said of learning how higher doses of narcotics could suppress respiration. Learning these things is not evil.

The moral question here involves teaching women how to contracept themselves. How is that morally different than teaching another how to commit euthanasia or how to cheat on one’s taxes, or how to drop a pill into a drink to render one unsciousness for evil purposes?

Simply using a benign phrase like providing information and letting folks choose for themself hardly frames the issue correctly.

What did Christ say about leading another into sin? Yes, we each are resonsible for our actions, but that does not mean our level of cooperation in others people’s acts does not matter.

 

[fix]

I appreciate your difficulty - one that faces many in the field. Hopefully after your graduation you will find a particular employment where you will not face this particular issue.

I responded earlier that I thought that you may need to make patients aware of different alternatives that are available to them - because it is their choice to make. This does NOT mean however that you need to actually participate in providing care to the patients that is immoral. If a patient requests some form of treatment that you cannot provide them, then your response should be the same as it would for any other treatment that you are unable perform for other reasons, e.g. qualifications, experience, licensing, etc., and that is to refer them to another practitioner, just as you would refer issues to a physician, pharmicist, or your supervisor when they are beyond your scope of practice.

I believe that there is a clear distinction between informing patients of their alternatives, which may be your duty, and actually providing certain services to those patients which may or may not be your duty depending on the nature of the service and circumstances.

Permit no one to compel you to participate in immoral activities – but you also may not prevent patients from exercising their own right to choose. God himself gave each of us the ability to choose good or evil. We should encourage others to make the right choice, but we cannot make their choices for them.

I pray you make it through this program, as the world needs more care providers with sensitivity to ethical issues.

Is it morally licit to intentionally provide another with information knowing the information would be used for evil purposes?

Using the contraception example, why is it ok to tell another they have an option to do evil? Do we define freedom as being free to choose what is wrong? I would say that is not freedom, but license.

Should the OP offer abortion referrals because such a “choice” exists today?

 

[Texas_Roofer]

Is it morally licit to intentionally provide another with information knowing the information would be used for evil purposes?

Using the contraception example, why is it ok to tell another they have an option to do evil? Do we define freedom as being free to choose what is wrong? I would say that is not freedom, but license.
Should the OP offer abortion referrals because such a “choice” exists today?

Who grants this license? Does man have such authority?

 

[Em_in_FL]

Hi again!

I have a dilemma. I am studying Nursing but am Pro-life and do not believe in artificial contraception.

Next week, I will be having duties in the community wherein we are told that we should advise women on Family Planning as part of our health teachings.

In the orientation lecture this week, we were told that we are supposed to advise women on it. The lecturer said that while NFP was a good option, it is not for everybody because it is difficult to follow and not everybody has the patience for it.

She explained each artificial method in an overly-simplified manner that downplayed its negatives but at the same time, emphasized the negatives of NFP.

I felt also that she made it sound as if having many children were a problem instead of looking at it as a gift from God.

Example: She related a story about a woman who came to her looking unhappy because she was pregnant again after her method failed her.

I am being graded for this—but I refuse to promote something I strongly do not agree with, which is artificial contraception.

Does anyone have a suggestion how I can get out of this dilemma?

Stick to the facts.

Statistically, every form of “birth control” (except abstainance) has an “effectivity percentage”, right?

Artificial birth control, when used correctly is XX% effective.
NFP, when used correctly is XX% effective.
Side effects are X, Y, Z…

Scientifically, statistically, logically, NFP DOES have a PLACE in this discussion.
Obviously your instructor is not fully informed if she does not have those facts on hand.
Do your research, and answer the questions correctly, using FACTS… that way, you CAN’T go wrong… and you’ll have proof with science!

 

[Valke2]

Really? That would make Nazi experiments morally acceptable. Anything goes because some folks in white coats say so? Interesting reasoning. I wonder where that would lead?

I’m sorry. Did the nazi experiments involve patients who voluntarily sought out treatment?

 

[IsMiseSteise]

I think that Fergal’s post was the greatest advice so far. I also think that legal advice would be a good thing as well.

I just want to know why the OP should quit? As a patient, I would LOVE to have more Catholic nurses (and doctors) available to me. And, it’s difficult to always FIND such a practioner. She should stick to her guns and stick to the schooling. If she can spin the lessons in favor of NFP, that’s great!

And, ABC fails. I’m a member of a support board for an endocrine disorder (the board isn’t Catholic). The first thing doctors do is shove scripts for birth control pills at us with this disorder. You should SEE the amount of women with “surprise” pregnancies from these pills! Fortunately, all of these women see their pregnancies and resulting babies as blessings as infertility is a very common problem with this disorder.

As for using NFP, it’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done. And, I’m not messing with my fertility at all. There’s no side effects. NONE. You can’t say that about the other forms of family planning.

Good luck to you and let us know how it goes, OK?