Is "Artificial Contraception" Redundant?

[Ana_v]

1. Whereas I see the purpose of the phrase “artificial birth control”, I do not see the purpose of the phrase “artificial contraception”.

Artificial as opposed to what, natural contraception? Synthetic/ manufactured product vs direct nature product (e.g. a plant)? Either and both, as long as they are used to inhibit the procreative faculties of the body with the intention of preventing the transmission of life, are morally unacceptable.

1. Also, I dislike (depending on the context) when authors of mainstream news articles and online commentators use “birth control” (absent the word "artificial) interchangeably with “contraception”.

It is fine with me if the context is something like " … inconsistent with the Church’s teaching on birth control …"

Not fine with me when the context is something like " … due to the Church’s prohibition of birth control … "

(There is a difference between pointing out that the Church has teachings *regarding *birth control. It is another to state that the Church categorically rejects birth control. )

The Church allows natural birth regulation, and regulation (that is consciously exercised) is a form of control.

Albeit, it would also be misleading to say to a public audience, that the Church permits birth control (precisely because, in the minds of many common people, the two phrases are perfect synonyms).
That is why I prefer that the words “contraception/contraceptives” be used, and I honestly do not understand what reason there is to precede them with the word “artificial”.

 

[DavidFilmer]

I agree - all contraception is artificial. It’s like when people say “very unique.” Unique means one-of-a-kind. You can’t be “very unique.” You are either unique or you are not. You would think that Columbia-educated reporters would know better when they come up with their phrases.

I like to point out that all women *already *have access to free birth control. NFP is free. And the Church has no objection to it.

 

[jmjconder]

**Even if NFP is used for the couples desires…I say it is artificial. The key is there is nothing artificial about being open to God’s plan. **

 

[Ana_v]

The practical difference between NFP and contraception in a nutshell:

NFP works in harmony with the body’s (procreative) design.

Contraception works against the body’s (procreative) design.

Indeed, the birth control that is (truly) free, is accessible to all men and women. Accessibility isn’t the problem – the problem is their wills.

 

[Evan]

I would say that natural forms of Contraception would include

Pregnancy (once the body if pregnant, all ovulation ceases)
Lactation (while breast feeding, all ovulation ceases)
Old Age (post-menopausal people do not ovulate)
Extreme exercise (I understand, women athletes my cease ovulating)
Starvation (when the body is stressed, no ovulation occurs)

So “Artificial Contraception” can make sense, BUT most people don’t use the word “Contraception” to identify the natural forms of Contraception, so it becomes redundant BECAUSE we define “Contraception” to BE “Artificial Contraception”.

 

[Bookcat]

The term ought to be these days simply:
*
Contraception*

The older term used by some in the past is these days a kind of “misnomer” (it can lead to misconceptions)

ALL contraception is gravely evil.

 

[Bookcat]

I would say that natural forms of Contraception would include

Pregnancy (once the body if pregnant, all ovulation ceases) Nope
Lactation (while breast feeding, all ovulation ceases) nope
Old Age (post-menopausal people do not ovulate) nope
Extreme exercise (I understand, women athletes my cease ovulating)if done in order to contracept
Starvation (when the body is stressed, no ovulation occurs) same
.

 

[Bookcat]

Compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI

1. When is it moral to regulate births?

2368-2369
2399

The regulation of births, which is an aspect of responsible fatherhood and motherhood, is objectively morally acceptable when it is pursued by the spouses without external pressure; when it is practiced not out of selfishness but for serious reasons; and with methods that conform to the objective criteria of morality, that is, periodic continence and use of the infertile periods.

1. What are immoral means of birth control?

2370-2372

Every action - for example, direct sterilization or contraception - is intrinsically immoral which (either in anticipation of the conjugal act, in its accomplishment or in the development of its natural consequences) proposes, as an end or as a means, to hinder procreation.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

 

[jmjconder]

The term ought to be these days simply:
*
Contraception*

The older term used by some in the past is these days a kind of “misnomer” (it can lead to misconceptions)

ALL contraception is gravely evil.

AMEN!

 

[Evan]

Pregnancy (once the body if pregnant, all ovulation ceases) Nope
Lactation (while breast feeding, all ovulation ceases) nope
Old Age (post-menopausal people do not ovulate) nope
Extreme exercise (I understand, women athletes my cease ovulating)if done in order to contracept
Starvation (when the body is stressed, no ovulation occurs) same
.

Note: … the NOPES were added by Bookcat

Does this mean you think the body continues to ovulate during pregnancy? And so conception can occur unless you practice some form of contraception?

In that case, I would expect more people to deliver 1 baby, and another 3 months later, maybe another 2 months after that.

According to my reading of the scientific literature, the natural spacing of children (one every 2 years or so) is due to the natural contraception caused by the breast feeding used in primitive cultures.

I also suspect the the conception is being halted in my saintly mother via her advanced years while my father was still alive and fertile.

Similarly for the last two. No conception (contraception) takes place in these instances due to natural processes in the body.

None of these contraceptive activites are forbidden by the Church (pregnancy, breastfeeding, old age, athletic competition, or starvation).

 

[Bookcat]

Note: … the NOPES were added by Bookcat

Does this mean you think the body continues to ovulate during pregnancy? And so conception can occur unless you practice some form of contraception?

In that case, I would expect more people to deliver 1 baby, and another 3 months later, maybe another 2 months after that.

According to my reading of the scientific literature, the natural spacing of children (one every 2 years or so) is due to the natural contraception caused by the breast feeding used in primitive cultures.

No conception (contraception) takes place in these instances due to natural processes in the body.

None of these contraceptive activites are forbidden by the Church (pregnancy, breastfeeding, old age, athletic competition, or starvation).

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, old age etc are simply *not *contraception.

Nor is not having relations…or being separated by war…or travel…

Contraception is when one does something before or during or after relations in order to hinder procreation.

 

[Evan]

I would say that natural forms of Contraception would include
… …
So “Artificial Contraception” can make sense, BUT most people don’t use the word “Contraception” to identify the natural forms of Contraception, so it becomes redundant BECAUSE we define “Contraception” to BE “Artificial Contraception”.

It seems the discussion entirely missed reading the paragraph that described how contraception could be defined but is not defined in our culture.

So if you are arguing that my examples are wrong, you are agreeing with me in that we could have defined it differently but we didn’t. So I am saying

there are no forms of artificial contraception. All contraception (using the definition of our culture) are intrinsically evil.