Ovarian cysts and birth control

[medallionsnijme]

hi guys! i have a Catholic friend whos been on birth control since she was 14 because of ovarian cysts. shes now 24 and has been married for nealy 6 years. anyways, my question is this: whats the Church’s stance on b.c. if its for something like cysts, where the added hormones help regulate the cysts (ive had one once and it hurt like mad crazy!)? does the Church still view it as wrong, even though its for an actual problem? or is it more in the intention of the person using it (i.e. taking bc for a problem or taking it specifically for contraception)? just curious! thanks guys
pax in Christ
becks

 

[Trishie]

Regarding sin: the intention is significant.
To take necessary medication isn’t a sin.
To take it when it isn’t medically required would be.

The Church is sympathetic to illness, in the spirit of Christ. For instance, Canon Law Communion fasting rules can be put aside in the taking of necessary medication if someone is ill.

 

[medallionsnijme]

cool, thanks trishie would it still hold the same, you think because its hormones that prevent pregnancy…? i know she got an earful from some people at the Church she was attending. though i cant see how if its the only answer (and im not sure what else they can do for cysts to be honest)how the Church might make an exception…

 

[Trishie]

I think that it would sometimes be better for people to direct a person to the priest to consult, rather than to launch a disturbing attack on them. Maybe sometimes we just have to not share information with others, only our priest and confessor. Still she probably shared innocently. Not all opinions are accurate, and they’re not always charitably delivered.

Do you think she would quietly speak to the priest…or if not, I think as a friend I’d probably do a hypothetical with my priest to be able to give her an answer.

Hormones can be problem enough without adding stress to the mix, as we women and girls know!

In answer to your question,
It stands that her honest and only intention isn’t to avoid pregnancy but to control a painful and unbalancing health problem, therefore she isn’t sinning. God preseve us, me, any of us, for judging anyone else, or laying burdens on anothers’ conscience.