I know the stance on birth control but

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I’m a priest. I say:
  1. Listen to the advice your priests have given you.
  2. Humanae Vitae, nearly all the subsequent magisterial statements on the matter, and the NCBC will all concur with what has been said on here, namely that taking a drug for legitimate medical reasons that might have sterility as its unintended side effect, is morally licit.
  3. This is an application of the principle of double effect, as has been stated above.
We have to get over this idea that “the pill is morally illicit.” We use that terminology loosely, and in common parlance, that’s fine. But in moral theology, we must be precise. Contraception is not a thing, and things are neither good nor bad. A gun can be neither good or bad, it’s just a thing. But I can use it for a morally licit end (to shoot a deer to feed my family) or a morally evil end (to shoot my neighbor because he plays his music too loudly). Contraception is not a thing (a hormone pill is the thing), it is rather a behavior. So contraception is any behavior which is undertaken with the intention of preventing conception. To take a hormone pill with the intention of rendering conception impossible is morally illicit, since you are using that thing to act toward a moral evil.

In this case, that is not what you are doing–your behavior and your intentions are not contraceptive. Rather, you are using something which is, in many cases, used for contraception, to achieve a good, with the unintended (though foreseen) bad effect of rendering conception nearly impossible, with the additional unintended potential for an embryo to be spontaneously aborted (this is why it gets dicey trying to formulate moral norms based on “what might happen;” if we did that all the time, there would be a whole lot of perfectly fine and reasonable things we couldn’t do).

In short, listen to your priests and your doctors.

You are in my prayers.
-Fr ACEGC
 
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Dacinom said:
If you’re concerned about conception, you could follow an NFP model. Find out what would be your most likely fertile days, and simply abstain from sex on those days. That might help ease your heart.
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Yes I was also going to suggest this. Only because your conscience seems to be troubling you so much. In your case the hormone pill is a medication not contraception.
 
Hi techieguy… So it’s not really because I think the priest/bishop is wrong or that strangers will give me better advice it is that the disease itsnt killing me… And in my eyes i jump to “since im not dying, its not serious enough to take birth control” haha the priests and doctors look at me like i am an idiot. Haha which may be the case, I am a huge overthinker if you cant tell.

To everyone else:
My disease (while constant and severe) is not a life or death MUST take birth control issue. It will be a trial to just help eliminate some pain (the worst of it at PMS) it may not work. I just wanted others advice on what they think since all the priests say to examine my contience and choose (they also say my medical condition is valid). Its hard to examine my conscience because I automatically go to no… Its ok, its my cross ill be tough and bear it. But my husband is mad and sad because I am horribly in pain. My mother and father (devout catholics) think I may even be sinning by “Forcing my self to be sick and not taking the treatment.” Long explanation but, thats why I want faithful strangers advice.

To NFP suggestions: we use that now. I also have a ladycomp (computer that tracks everything…love it btw definitely suggest one) but it dosent help with my disease at all. Unfortunately, I have the worlds most ON schedule period ever 28 days on the dot for decades.

Thank you everyone so far with your responses. Tomorrow is my appointment and I am sooo stinkin’ nervous. Im more nervous now than all my 4 CSECTIONS hahaha. Please pray for me and my family… I will pray for all you wonderful people.
☺️
 
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You don’t have to be dying for it to be severe enough to warrant taking a hormone pill. You are in pretty severe pain that is affecting your quality of life and your relationships with others. That’s beyond severe enough a reason to take it. Again, you’re not contracepting, you’re not engaging in contraceptive behavior, you’re taking medication that has contraception as its side effect, in this case.
 
idecades. its not that I think its wrong, lol I dont… Its that my issue isnt killing me so its not “saving my life” its just stopping severe pain. I just assume humanae Vitae is for more serious issues like hemorrhaging tumors or something lol.
 
We may take medicine, even hormonal medicine, to treat an illness or a disease.

I pray that you find relief.
 
I agree, but when I look at such amazing holy men and women who suffered with their physical pain for God (like padre pio) I wonder if I should too. I know its dumb but lol Im an overachiever and overthinker (horrible combo haha) ☺️
 
Overthinking is not good. You have been given good advice, and you’ve had that advice reiterated on here.

You are not Padre Pio or any of those other people, and you don’t have to be. How you are called to live out your vocation is particular to you.
 
I guess im not understanding your response about humana vitae. What do you mean?

I see this thread has become quite active in the last 8 hours. 😮.

I defer to the Churches teaching, as any orthodox Catholic is obliged to do. I’m just a single guys who’s never had to think it through.
 
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Yeah I didnt expect it to get any attention at all hahaha.
I am really thankful to everyone replying.
 
brittanyjohns said:
To NFP suggestions: we use that now. I also have a ladycomp (computer that tracks everything…love it btw definitely suggest one) but it dosent help with my disease at all. Unfortunately, I have the worlds most ON schedule period ever 28 days on the dot for decades.
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We were suggesting that if you take the hormone pills you chart your cycle while on them, abstaining on the fertile days. It is not a moral requirement in your case but it should relieve some of the guilt of the abortifacient potential you are concerned about.
 
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This has already been said repeatedly here. No need to pile on to the OP.
 
It’s wonderful that you are so concerned about doing the right thing. That desire also adds weight to the thought that you are not considering doing it for the wrong reason. 5 priests and a bishop have told you it’s okay but, in the end it’s going to be your own heart and your husband who will make the decision. Please be at peace. Remember God knows far better than you your own heart and He is Mercy itself.

I’ll be praying for you and your husband.
 
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You’ve had four C-sections! This is the part where I high five you and welcome you to the clubhouse! Feeling like you have a UTI all the time would be so difficult to function. You’re made of tough stuff and making these tough choices with the guidance of holy priests in favor of less pain to better take care of your family will not make you any less tough. I’m praying for you and rooting for you sister!
 
brittanyjohns said:
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Encyclical Humanae Vitae (1968) – the Church allows for therapeutic procedures as long as there is no other motive involved.

Lawful Therapeutic Means
15. On the other hand, the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from—provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever. (19)"
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vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html
 
JamalChristophr said:
Taking the pill during sexual activity can cause a baby to be aborted
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that would be considered an unintended consequence. Just as removing a tubal pregnancy causes the death of the baby. The intent isn’t to kill a baby but to cure an illness. Both a tubal pregnancy and a severe debilitating PMS are illnesses.
 
Priests have told me birth control is allowed in severe medical conditions and I need to examine my contience… They dont ever give me direct directions since they dont know my intentions. Which is SO lonely because I feel its up to me and I dont want to be wrong. I just feel since it poses zero threat to my life (other than extreme pain) I wanted to check with others if they consider it serious enough reason to take it.

I will be on it tomorrow and I just wanted some of the faithfuls opinions. Its very scary.
Apparently everyone does think its valid and I am SO thankful for the responces.
 
Crocus said:
You have consulted doctors and your priest. The treatment offered seems the best for your overall health and what you are dealing with. You would not be using the medication as birth control (though most likely would be a side effect of treating your condition). Trust your doctor and your priest. Be at peace.
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This! I firmly believe that God knows our intentions. Women who suffer from endometriosis sometimes have no other choice than to take a form of hormonal birth control for their condition and are in similar circumstances as you. Trust your priests, bishop, and doctors.
 
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