NFP question and "The pill" for medical reasons question...

[flightkid]

Hello,

I have a question on Natural Family Planning and birth control. I have taken the NFP class with my future wife and we both agree and understand the NFP method. My fiancé has been of birth control for more than 3 years now and her cramps and pains continue to get worse. She is going to get back on the pill for medicinal reasons and in good faith and a clear conscience between both of us we have decided for medicinal reasons it would be best. We know the temptation is there to abuse the system when married, but our question is to be in proper accordance with the catholic faith do we need to obstain from sex during times when she is fertile if she is on the pill for medicinal purposes? We will still continue to plot with the NFP chart, but in good conscience are we only allowed to have sex during her non fertile times? I would like to know the proper action as a Catholic and really want to do the right thing and not abuse this. She really needs the pill for her medical reasons and we understand it will limit us and we would like to know Catholic stance on this particular situation we are in… Please help….

 

[Jermosh]

Sounds like you should be perfectly fine, although speak to a priest and try to find other means.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=15756

When taken as necessary for therapeutic reasons, use of “the pill” is not immoral. Humanae Vitae states, “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” (HV 15).

 

[ryecroft]

I will see if I can find what Fr. Serpa said on married sex while using the pill (with double effect) for medical reasons. He did come out and say that it was allowable and that no sin was committed doing this. I’ll try to post it ASAP as I think you’ll feel better hearing or reading this from a Priest than just from others on here that are emotional about one way or the other. Some (even after seeing what Fr. Serpa says) will say that in no situation is this allowable that no matter what ABC should not be used while sexually active - others will go the other way - both with the intention of helping you do what is right. I feel for you as I have to be on birth control for GYN reasons and was on them for years prior to marriage.
God Bless
Rye
Looks like you won’t need to see that from Fr. Serpa - just let me know if you do want me to still find it although the post above pretty much seems to help you.

 

[Rence]

There you go, Flightkid, Jermosh gave you a direct quote from the Pope So you’re good

I understand why you asked, but there really isn’t much you can do about it if one is taking it for medical reasons. What the Church is adamant about is that one not take contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, which is not what she is doing.

I hope your wife feels better soon. And I hope she’s not smoking while on contraception If she is, please get her to quit.

 

[Ron_Conte]

The use of contraceptives is intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral because the act itself of using the contraceptive is inherently directed at the moral object of preventing conception. A good intention and dire circumstances cannot cause an intrinsically evil act to become moral.

If a woman who is not sexually active, or who is post-menopausal, takes a chemical contraceptive for a medical purpose, the act is not contraceptive.

However, if the woman is sexually active and able to conceive, and she takes the contraceptive, the act is inherently directed a preventing conception. Even if she does not have the intention (purpose) to contracept, the act itself is a contraceptive act, and so it is intrinsically evil.

The use of NFP while on a contraceptive does not change the moral object of the contraceptive acts; these acts remain intrinsically evil and always immoral.

That quote from HV refers to situations such as a medically necessary operation that indirectly and unintentionally results in infertility. The infertility is an unintended consequence, and so, under the principle of double effect, the act is moral. But this is not the case with an act that is inherently directed at making sexual acts non-procreative.

Chemical contraceptives are also abortifacient, able to cause an early abortion. The use of NFP is not 100% effective, and so the use of a birth control pill still has the inherent possibility of conception and abortion. Again, this is not moral.

If you are using NFP and a contraceptive at the same time, it is not truly natural family planning. The use of the contraceptive is intrinsically evil, and the concurrent use of NFP does not change the contraceptive act to make it moral.

Similarly, if a husband has a disease (e.g. HIV) and he wishes to use a barrier contraceptive for the purpose of preventing disease transmission, he cannot morally do so. Because the moral object of his act is unaffected by intention or circumstances. Intrinsically evil acts are always immoral, regardless of intention or circumstances.

“Consequently, circumstances or intentions can never transform an act intrinsically evil by virtue of its object into an act ‘subjectively’ good or defensible as a choice.”
(Pope John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor, n. 81.)

“The Church has always taught the intrinsic evil of contraception, that is, of every marital act intentionally rendered unfruitful. This teaching is to be held as definitive and irreformable.”
(Pontifical Council for the Family, Vademecum ‘Go with me’] for Confessors concerning some Aspects of the Morality of Conjugal Life, n. 2-4.)

 

[1ke]

You cannot chart NFP while taking “the Pill”. The Pill completely overtakes the reproductive system of the woman. She will not have normal fertility signs.

Morally, the principle of double effect may apply depending upon whether there is a proporitionate reason for taking the medication. There are moral theologians who come down on both sides of the coin on whether this particular treatment and the circumstances under which it is prescribed are proportionately grave to the potential abortive effect that the pill can have.

 

[Ron_Conte]

Morally, the principle of double effect may apply depending upon whether there is a proporitionate reason for taking the medication. There are moral theologians who come down on both sides of the coin on whether this particular treatment and the circumstances under which it is prescribed are proportionately grave to the potential abortive effect that the pill can have.

The Magisterium definitively teaches that the use of contraception is intrinsically evil. Therefore, the principle of double effect cannot justify the act. Only when the act itself is good and not intrinsically evil can the principle of double effect perhaps justify the act.

 

[camerong]

The Magisterium definitively teaches that the use of contraception is intrinsically evil.

When the pill is used for therapeutic ends, it is not contraception and is thus not intrinsically evil. I cannot see how taking the pill for therapeutic reasons, even when sexually active, is a sin. If you have authority to the contrary, please provide it.

 

[that_name]

When the pill is used for therapeutic ends, it is not contraception and is thus not intrinsically evil. I cannot see how taking the pill for therapeutic reasons, even when sexually active, is a sin. If you have authority to the contrary, please provide it.

The abortificant properties of the pill makes are well known. How could someone take it and know they will cause abortions?

The documents say that abortive/contraceptives can be used to CURE an illness. No one has ever been cured by the pill.

 

[Ron_Conte]

When the pill is used for therapeutic ends, it is not contraception and is thus not intrinsically evil. I cannot see how taking the pill for therapeutic reasons, even when sexually active, is a sin. If you have authority to the contrary, please provide it.

When the birth control pill is used for therapeutic ends, that is the intended end or purpose of the act. But a good intended end does not justify an intrinsically evil act. The Magisterium does teach that contraception is intrinsically evil, and that intrinsically evil acts are never justified by a good intended end, nor by good or bad consequences.

I already posted this, but here it is again, per your request:

“Consequently, circumstances or intentions can never transform an act intrinsically evil by virtue of its object into an act ‘subjectively’ good or defensible as a choice.”
(Pope John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor, n. 81.)

“The Church has always taught the intrinsic evil of contraception, that is, of every marital act intentionally rendered unfruitful. This teaching is to be held as definitive and irreformable.”
(Pontifical Council for the Family, Vademecum ‘Go with me’] for Confessors concerning some Aspects of the Morality of Conjugal Life, n. 2-4.)

Also: “the end does not justify the means.”
CCC 1753

That quote from Humanae Vitae refers to an act that is not intrinsically evil, such an operation to remove a cancerous uterous, that has an unintended bad consequence of infertility. The woman who takes BCP for a medical purpose (intended end) and who has contracepted sexual relations (non-procreative sexual acts), is committing an intrinsically evil act which is not justified by intention or circumstances.

 

[Sure]

When the birth control pill is used for therapeutic ends, that is the intended end or purpose of the act. But a good intended end does not justify an intrinsically evil act. The Magisterium does teach that contraception is intrinsically evil, and that intrinsically evil acts are never justified by a good intended end, nor by good or bad consequences.

I already posted this, but here it is again, per your request:

“Consequently, circumstances or intentions can never transform an act intrinsically evil by virtue of its object into an act ‘subjectively’ good or defensible as a choice.”
(Pope John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor, n. 81.)

“The Church has always taught the intrinsic evil of contraception, that is, of every marital act intentionally rendered unfruitful. This teaching is to be held as definitive and irreformable.”
(Pontifical Council for the Family, Vademecum ‘Go with me’] for Confessors concerning some Aspects of the Morality of Conjugal Life, n. 2-4.)

Also: “the end does not justify the means.”
CCC 1753

That quote from Humanae Vitae refers to an act that is not intrinsically evil, such an operation to remove a cancerous uterous, that has an unintended bad consequence of infertility. The woman who takes BCP for a medical purpose (intended end) and who has contracepted sexual relations (non-procreative sexual acts), is committing an intrinsically evil act which is not justified by intention or circumstances.

Ron…you’re totally off base here…your citations pertain to contraception.

And yes, contraception is intrinsically evil, but what we are discussing here isn’t contraception.

First off, hormones are morally neutral. If a hormone is deliberately put into the body with the intention of suppressing fertility, that is an act of contraception. The natural object “taking a hormone” is specified as an immoral act by the condition of “to impede conception.” If one takes a hormone to correct a legitimate physical ailment, that is perfectly moral because the natural object “taking a hormone” is specified as a moral act by the condition “for legitimate therapeutic purposes.”

It is the same thing with killing a human being. The natural object “killing a human being” is made moral or immoral by the specifying condition of either “in legitimate self-defense” or “who is innocent.” The principal conditions create two completely separate and distinct types of acts.

His Holiness, Pope Paul VI confirms this in the very document you cite, Humanae Vitae when he states: “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)”

Hope this helps to clarify.

 

[Corki]

Hello,

I have a question on Natural Family Planning and birth control. I have taken the NFP class with my future wife and we both agree and understand the NFP method. My fiancé has been of birth control for more than 3 years now and her cramps and pains continue to get worse. She is going to get back on the pill for medicinal reasons and in good faith and a clear conscience between both of us we have decided for medicinal reasons it would be best. We know the temptation is there to abuse the system when married, but our question is to be in proper accordance with the catholic faith do we need to obstain from sex during times when she is fertile if she is on the pill for medicinal purposes? We will still continue to plot with the NFP chart, but in good conscience are we only allowed to have sex during her non fertile times? I would like to know the proper action as a Catholic and really want to do the right thing and not abuse this. She really needs the pill for her medical reasons and we understand it will limit us and we would like to know Catholic stance on this particular situation we are in… Please help….

You won’t be able to chart true NFP signs. Your wife’s chart would just be a record of her periods (ie “calendar method”). The main reason many people choose to avoid marital relations in the most fetile time while taking a birth control pill is the problem of “break through” ovulation. If that happens, pregnancy occurs but an early abortion is almost assured. NFP charting may or may not show signs of such “break through” ovulation and, since the chemical effects of the pill remain in the system for months, even if you knew there had been breatk-through ovulation, there isn’t much you could do to prevent the miscarriage at that point. Losing a baby in this manner often happens without the woman even realizing she was pregnant. It isn’t deliberate abortion and many pregnancies are lost before anyone knows for all kinds of reasons besides the pill. But many couples chose to limit the risk.

Since as newly-weds who are obviously open to life, kids are likely in your plans. Your soon-to-be-wife will need to be off the pills for some months before you try to grow your family. Rather than wait until then, and just enduring pain without pills while trying to conceive, there are other options that you might explore. The Pope Paul VI Institute is one organization that has done great work with treatments for gynocologic problems that don’t involve the pill. Just some information for your to file away for future use.