IUD / Intrauterine Device and Receiving Communion

[yellow8yellowM]

Is there any circumstance in which a woman can worthily receive communion if she is using an IUD (Intrauterine Device) for birth control and has no intent to remove it? What if she went to confession and then immediately to mass?

A close friend of mine is in this situation. She went to confession, the priest absolved her, and she is receiving communion now, even after continued marital relations (with the device still in place).

 

[1ke]

Is there any circumstance in which a woman can worthily receive communion if she is using an IUD (Intrauterine Device) for birth control and has no intent to remove it?

The use of an IUD for contraception is grave matter. We can always go to confession when we have contrition and firm amendment of purpose. Your description seems to indicate that the woman has neither. So, no.

What if she went to confession and then immediately to mass?

One cannot confess validly without contrition and firm amendment of purpose. The woman you describe seems to have neither. So no.

A close friend of mine is in this situation. She went to confession, the priest absolved her, and she is receiving communion now, even after continued marital relations (with the device still in place).

She will have to answer for that. Seems self-deluding to me. She knows it is wrong. She knows she is not sorry and does not intend to stop. She knows she cannot receive communion, yet she tries to fool herself into believing she has made a good confession.

To what end?

This is very serious.

 

[anruari]

Is there any circumstance in which a woman can worthily receive communion if she is using an IUD (Intrauterine Device) for birth control and has no intent to remove it? What if she went to confession and then immediately to mass?

A close friend of mine is in this situation. She went to confession, the priest absolved her, and she is receiving communion now, even after continued marital relations (with the device still in place).

any circumstance… Yes. If she has repented and confessed, then she may be able to receive while waiting for the time / Opportunity / Money to have the device removed.
Yes if she is using abstinence and not relying on the contraceptive action of the device.

Yes if she has been properly advised by her Priest in Confession, while being fully and truly honest with him about her current status and actual state of contrition. The priest, in that situation, has the authority to “Bind and loose” and it is beyond my competence to advise otherwise.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

Is there any circumstance in which a woman can worthily receive communion if she is using an IUD (Intrauterine Device) for birth control and has no intent to remove it? What if she went to confession and then immediately to mass?

A close friend of mine is in this situation. She went to confession, the priest absolved her, and she is receiving communion now, even after continued marital relations (with the device still in place).

No, never. And she should not be discussing what was said and not said in confession. And another thing. You don’t know that she is telling you the truth.

Linus2nd

 

[Rete]

Is there any circumstance in which a woman can worthily receive communion if she is using an IUD (Intrauterine Device) for birth control and has no intent to remove it? What if she went to confession and then immediately to mass?

A close friend of mine is in this situation. She went to confession, the priest absolved her, and she is receiving communion now, even after continued marital relations (with the device still in place).

I am pretty sure there are no cases, but you would have to ask a priest about it. Really, your friend needs to discuss that with the priest.

I have read that such devices actually cause abortions, which is a terribly grave sin.

One person mentioned she could receive communion if she repents and is waiting to have it removed. But I think that is problematic for a two reasons. First, she would have to refrain from sexual relations with her husband until it is removed, I would think. Second, she very well might have conceived a child which will be killed between the time of confession and having it removed. So if she receives communion in that time, I am not sure she would be okay.

 

[agnes_therese]

Is there any circumstance in which a woman can worthily receive communion if she is using an IUD (Intrauterine Device) for birth control and has no intent to remove it? What if she went to confession and then immediately to mass?

A close friend of mine is in this situation. She went to confession, the priest absolved her, and she is receiving communion now, even after continued marital relations (with the device still in place).

This is really between her and her confessor. We can’t know what discussions she has had with him.

 

[maryjk]

No, never. And she should not be discussing what was said and not said in confession. And another thing. You don’t know that she is telling you the truth.

Linus2nd

Why can’t she talk about confession?

The priest can’t talk about it, but the person going to Confession can.

 

[ellzeena]

It’s my understanding that when one confesses a sin one must do so with the full intention of avoiding future occasions of that sin and with the full intention of never repeating it. Does she think God didn’t notice that she didn’t have the IUD removed??? We don’t know what she said to that priest but I don’t think a priest would give absolution to someone who has stated she intends to continue in this sin. It’s not a simple matter of trying very hard to overcome a problem (such as drinking too much, not that it’s simple to stop without help) and failing. This is a thing in her body. It’s either there, or it isn’t. She either leaves it there and goes blithely on her way into mortal sin by accepting the Eucharist, or she has it removed and lives according to her faith.

BTW, those devices are dangerous. They do cause abortion and they can do permanent harm to a woman. There have been many legal suits brought by women against the manufacturers of some of those IUDs. Also, you can still conceive and even go to term with an IUD in place but the harm to the baby’s development can be grave. This isn’t a joke, she’s putting herself and any conceived child at great risk and she’s doing as she wants, not as the Church tells her. I’d call that mortal sin.

 

[1ke]

And she should not be discussing what was said and not said in confession.

The penitent is free to discuss their confession at any time.

 

[thewanderer]

any circumstance… Yes. If she has repented and confessed, then she may be able to receive while waiting for the time / Opportunity / Money to have the device removed.
Yes if she is using abstinence and not relying on the contraceptive action of the device.

Yes if she has been properly advised by her Priest in Confession, while being fully and truly honest with him about her current status and actual state of contrition. The priest, in that situation, has the authority to “Bind and loose” and it is beyond my competence to advise otherwise.

Actually, I don’t see why she would have to be abstinent if she were working on getting it removed as soon as she could and was no longer intending to use it as contraception. People who have been sterilized are allowed to have relations without reversing the sterilization, so why would this be different?

 

[3DOCTORS]

Other posters have already pointed out the moral ramifications, the abortifacient issue, and I would just add that to misuse the Sacrament of Confession (if that is indeed what this chickie is doing) is to commit an additional sin of blasphemy. If one wants to be right with God, don’t even go there.

However, I don’t mean to just paint a bleak picture and then not give some helpful advice. What I would suggest is attacking the dilemma from the angle of finding some good pro-life resources re the truth about the IUD, and presenting them to your friend. Be gentle and tactful, because it’s quite possible she was “sold a bill of goods” on the IUD in the first place. Maybe if she really considers what it all entails - including the health risks to herself - she might begin to be open to change.

Also, materials on NFP would be appropriate to follow up with. Really try to show her that some sacrifice is worth it if love is the motivation - and increased love and blessings will be the outcome. If her husband is uncooperative or hostile, help her to find ways to address that.

Help her to pray and discern, urge her not to put herself into an antagonistic relationship with God; help her to see that He loves her and wants her to grow close to Him spiritually and is not putting the boundaries in place to restrict her happiness. It’s hard for people in this day and age to understand that, but if nothing else you can plant a seed. Good luck and God bless!

 

[Burt_Macklin]

Actually, I don’t see why she would have to be abstinent if she were working on getting it removed as soon as she could and was no longer intending to use it as contraception. People who have been sterilized are allowed to have relations without reversing the sterilization, so why would this be different?

Because getting an IUD removed is a simple and inexpensive procedure compared to getting a sterilization reversed.

 

[thewanderer]

Because getting an IUD removed is a simple and inexpensive procedure compared to getting a sterilization reversed.

Which is why if she is honestly working on getting it removed as soon as she can I don’t see a problem. The Church doesn’t even demand that those who can reverse their sterilizations reverse them, so if you were extremely wealthy with time to spare making it pretty easy for you to reverse your sterilization the Church still wouldn’t demand that you reverse it. If she is planning on reversing it as soon as she can I really don’t see a problem.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Actually, I don’t see why she would have to be abstinent if she were working on getting it removed as soon as she could and was no longer intending to use it as contraception. People who have been sterilized are allowed to have relations without reversing the sterilization, so why would this be different?

Because of the reasons already noted. The IUD not really a contraceptive (it does not prevent conception) but an abortifacient, it causes permanent irritation to the lining of the uterus so that it is always a hostile environment to the implantation of an embryo. People who have been sterilized are not conceiving and aborting children on a possibly monthly basis.

 

[englishredrose]

Is there any circumstance in which a woman can worthily receive communion if she is using an IUD (Intrauterine Device) for birth control and has no intent to remove it? What if she went to confession and then immediately to mass?

A close friend of mine is in this situation. She went to confession, the priest absolved her, and she is receiving communion now, even after continued marital relations (with the device still in place).

Her doctor may have told her not to get pregnant as could be a risk to her own life if she has underlying health issues but is married and enjoys a full relationship with her husband. You mayn’t know about any health issues but could be shared in confidence with the priest in confession. What happens in confession is not for another to know especially if that person doesn’t want to share. They are entitled to the confidentiality as the priest is. You will have to trust the friend and priest and confession. Or outwardly ask the friend themselves and if they refuse to say then there is nothing you can do because you do not know what has happend in confession. The priest certainly won’t tell you. So you just have to trust the whole situation and offer it to God and if you keep ‘nagging’ your friend then she will learn you don’t trust her and probably won’t be your ‘friend’ for long. Health is one situation where a Priest wouldn’t overrule the Doctor especially if the Priest had full information of what the Doctor has warned.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Health is one situation where a Priest wouldn’t overrule the Doctor especially if the Priest had full information of what the Doctor has warned.

If this was the case the priest would have been outside the Church’s teaching. The Catholic church does not teach this. For the sake of the health of the mother the Church recommends abstinence, not an abortifacient device.

 

[thewanderer]

Because of the reasons already noted. The IUD not really a contraceptive (it does not prevent conception) but an abortifacient, it causes permanent irritation to the lining of the uterus so that it is always a hostile environment to the implantation of an embryo. People who have been sterilized are not conceiving and aborting children on a possibly monthly basis.

The IUD can prevent implantation, but that is not its main way of operating. Now, I know some of you may disagree with this, but the Church does not say people on the pill for medical reasons must abstain. They can’t intend to use it as contraception, but they are also not required to abstain, despite the contraceptive effect and the fact that it may increase the chance of a miscarriage. And yes, you will note that I did not say abortificient effect but rather that it increases the chance of miscarriage. It is only an abortion if it is intended, if it is not intended it is a miscarriage. Going around scaring people by telling them they will be aborting their kids by using the pill for medical reasons while still keeping their marriage healthy by having relations is really not ok. Similarly in this case, the woman in question should be aware that she is at a greater risk for miscarriage because of the IUD,** but being at a greater risk of miscarriage does not require abstinance. **

 

[thewanderer]

Her doctor may have told her not to get pregnant as could be a risk to her own life if she has underlying health issues but is married and enjoys a full relationship with her husband. You mayn’t know about any health issues but could be shared in confidence with the priest in confession. What happens in confession is not for another to know especially if that person doesn’t want to share. They are entitled to the confidentiality as the priest is. You will have to trust the friend and priest and confession. Or outwardly ask the friend themselves and if they refuse to say then there is nothing you can do because you do not know what has happend in confession. The priest certainly won’t tell you. So you just have to trust the whole situation and offer it to God and if you keep ‘nagging’ your friend then she will learn you don’t trust her and probably won’t be your ‘friend’ for long. Health is one situation where a Priest wouldn’t overrule the Doctor especially if the Priest had full information of what the Doctor has warned.

That depends… if the doctor says they must not get pregnant the priest will certainly not argue with that, but if the doctor recommends a sinful method of avoiding pregnancy then you bet the priest will have something to say about it. There are other methods of avoiding, such as NFP (which, yes, is succesful even in lifethreatening cases, there are people on CAF who use it succesfully for such reasons). Though you are right that nagging a friend because you assume they are sinning and want them to stop is probably not going to be helpful.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

Why can’t she talk about confession?

The priest can’t talk about it, but the person going to Confession can.

The seal of confession. No priest may disclose what was discussed in confession unless the penitent gives permission. The same should be applied to the penitent. Although I don’t know if penalties are atteched to this. However, since any advice the priest gives is geared to that penitent only it would be improper to disclose these confidences.

Linus2nd

 

[thewanderer]

The seal of confession. No priest may disclose what was discussed in confession unless the penitent gives permission. The same should be applied to the penitent. Although I don’t know if penalties are atteched to this. However, since any advice the priest gives is geared to that penitent only it would be improper to disclose these confidences.

Linus2nd

I’m sorry, but that is false. The penitent is not bound to silence. The seal of confession applies only to the priest. The point of the seal is to ensure the penitent can confess what they wish without worrying about their sins becoming the talk of the neighbourhood. The point is to protect the penitents privacy, but since it is the penitents privacy at stake he/she is free to talk about it if he/she wishes.