Knowing the Will of God

[TruthSkr]

Much has been written on the subject of artificial birth control. The Catholic Church teaches that it is gravely immoral, however most, if not all, non-Catholic Christian faiths disagree. With all this disagreement how is one to know the will of God? One’s moral obligation should not be determined simply by what faith one happens to be born into as moral responsibility should be the same for all.

 

[Churchman25]

There is a word called invincibly ignorant, an example of this is if a person say is born in the protestant faith and does not know the catholic laws because of this. Then it is up to God I think I could be wrong but, to forgive that persons sins. Just like the will of God I believe in some way shape of form that God will put his will on that individual. Now it is up to that individual to see that will. As far as birth control is concerned this could be maybe questioning whether or not it is right in the persons mind and from there if the person understands how to comply with the will of god make the right decision.

 

[paduard]

Ultimately I would have to refer to my copy of The Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Sorry not much help I suppose on very tricky problems.
paduard

 

[Elf01]

First of all you identify as Catholic, so why not err on the side of the Church? You did address that and the Church does teach that artificial contraception is wrong for everyone.

Secondly not using artificial contraception cannot be morally wrong, whereas there is a chance that not using it may be. Once again erring on the side of not using artificial contraception would seem to be the wise choice.

 

[TruthSkr]

First of all you identify as Catholic, so why not err on the side of the Church? You did address that and the Church does teach that artificial contraception is wrong for everyone.

Secondly not using artificial contraception cannot be morally wrong, whereas there is a chance that not using it may be. Once again erring on the side of not using artificial contraception would seem to be the wise choice.

At the present time I am leaning in the direction you suggest. What I am looking for is something to cement my decision.

 

[St_Francis]

There is a word called invincibly ignorant, an example of this is if a person say is born in the protestant faith and does not know the catholic laws because of this. Then it is up to God I think I could be wrong but, to forgive that persons sins. Just like the will of God I believe in some way shape of form that God will put his will on that individual. Now it is up to that individual to see that will. As far as birth control is concerned this could be maybe questioning whether or not it is right in the persons mind and from there if the person understands how to comply with the will of god make the right decision.

Invincible ignorance really refers to people who do not have access to the correct information, or who are otherwise ignorant through no responsibility of their own. Catholic teachings are available to the vast majority of Protestants sufficiently that their ignorance is unlikely to be invincible, but luckily, it is God who will figure this out!

 

[St_Francis]

At the present time I am leaning in the direction you suggest. What I am looking for is something to cement my decision.

Catholics ought to believe, as a foundation, that the Church has the authority to teach what Christ taught the Apostles. Any teaching outside of the Church which disagrees with Church teaching would thus be wrong.

In addition, 1. all Christian denominations taught that abc was wrong until 1930, when the Lambeth Conference okayed its use. 2. Many Evangelical Christians are coming to believe abc is wrong through their study of the Bible. This is described in Scott and Kimberley Hahn’s book *Home Sweet Rome, *a very reader-friendly and informative book. Also, I imagine there is informatiin about the “Quiverful” movement online.

You might also read Humanae Vitae, which explains and predicts some of the ill effects of acceptance of abc. Things have progressed as the Pope then predicted. I would argue that all or at least almost all of the problems currently plaguing the family stem from this acceptance.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Bear in mind that all Christians considered artificial contraception to be immoral, from Apostolic times until the 20th century. Why has the Catholic Church held to the original apostolic teaching while the others have abandoned it? We could ask the same question about divorce and remarriage. The Catholic Church is the only church to hold to the same teaching as Christ and His Apostles.

What does that tell you? That the Catholic Church is hopelessly old fashioned? Or that the Catholic Church is the true Church established by Christ at Pentecost?

Read Pope Paul’s truly prophetic 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae:

ENCYCLICAL LETTER ‘HUMANAE VITAE’ OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF PAUL VI ON THE REGULATION OF BIRTH

 

[rinnie]

Much has been written on the subject of artificial birth control. The Catholic Church teaches that it is gravely immoral, however most, if not all, non-Catholic Christian faiths disagree. With all this disagreement how is one to know the will of God? One’s moral obligation should not be determined simply by what faith one happens to be born into as moral responsibility should be the same for all.

Jesus revealed to us his will, and told us to obey his teachings in the CC.

 

[Wesrock]

Perhaps not 100% conclusive, but I was advised of Gal 5:19-21 recently:

"Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. "

Sorcery is a translation of φαρμακεία, or pharmakeia. The similarity to pharmacist/pharmacy is not a coincidence. Paul would not be speaking of treating normal ailments, and pharmakeia follows a list of sexual sins, including idolatry (which was often a sexual sin, and Paul makes that association elsewhere). Herbalists (“witch doctors”?) could provide contraceptives and such for use in pagan fertility rites and idolatrous orgies, which were not uncommon. Paul seems to be condemning not just the idolatry, but the use of drugs/contraceptives in that idolatry.

Could this be debated? Probably. There’s some inferences there. But I found it interesting.

Also, God struck Onan down for contracepting. Not sure how literally you wish to take that, but it is a commentary on the moral law.