Paul VI, nuns and contraception: did Pope Francis get it right?

[twf]

After becoming confused from Pope Francis’ comments, I did some investigation and “Humanae Vitae” is not a document of the infallible magisterium? The teaching contained therein does not bear the highest guarantee of certitude? (ewtn.com/library/Theology/AUTHUMVT.HTM)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church itself isn’t infallible either.

What infallible document(s) exists on the teaching of contraception? Are these teachings based solely on interpretations of the Bible?

Maybe Catholic Answers needs update their literature in light of recent developments? The church leaders below suggest it’s a matter of “individual conscience.”

Humanae Vitae was not an exercise of the extraordinary magisterium. You are right: it defined no dogma. That being said, the teaching it articulates on contraception is infallible by virtue of the ordinary magisterium - the consistent witness of the Church Down through the ages. Blessed Pope Paul VI did not go as far to as promulgate an infallible dogma, but he did use his authority to definitively clarify what the ordinary magisterium had always taught. The Church’s infallibility is exercised ordinarily in this way - the consistent witness of the pope and bishops in every time and place. Extraordinary exercises of infallibility by ecumenical councils are rare. Extraordinary exercises of infallibility by the pope alone are extremely rare.

 

[Brendan_64]

Are not “Humanae Vitae” and “Laudato Si” both papal encyclicals?

Humanae Vitae is infallible through the ordinary magisterium. Humanae Vitae reflects the perennial teachings of the Church on contraception, we are absolutely bound by those teachings, they are part of the Deposit of Faith. In a similar way John Paul II’s teachings in Ordinatio Sacerdotalis regarding the issue of women priests is part of the Deposit of Faith and therefore infallible through the ordinary magisterium.

Papal encyclicals are not infallible in themselves, but they may be used to reflect already existing teachings which are infallible through the ordinary magisterium. In these cases it is not about the Pope or what he writes, but about what the Church already holds to be unchanging teaching.

The contents of Laudato Si are not part of the the Deposit of Faith, that is the difference.

 

[JPUSC]

Yes, but you said, “Humanae Vitae on the other hand is magisterial teaching and part of the Deposit of Faith, we are bound by it. That is the difference.”

“Humanae Vitae” itself is not magisterial teaching, but contains magisterial teaching as it reinforces previous established doctrine. Not every sentence of the encyclical is a teaching or binding.

 

[JPUSC]

Tell that to Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, a close advisor to Pope Francis and the Chancellor of both the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

“[Laudato Si] is under Ordinary Magisterium." (Bishop Sorondo)

Comparing the Pope’s teaching on global warming to the Church’s teaching on abortion, Bishop Sorondo said the “judgement must be considered Magisterium – it is not an opinion.”

“When the Pope has assumed this, it is Magisterium of the Church whether you like it or not – it is the Magisterium of the Church just as abortion is a grievous sin – equal (it is the same)… it is Magisterium of the Church… whether you like it or not.”

gloria.tv/media/Q9iv8bMLhYR

 

[Rau]

Tell that to Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, a close advisor to Pope Francis and the Chancellor of both the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

“[Laudato Si] is under Ordinary Magisterium." (Bishop Sorondo)

Comparing the Pope’s teaching on global warming to the Church’s teaching on abortion, Bishop Sorondo said the “judgement must be considered Magisterium – it is not an opinion.”

“When the Pope has assumed this, it is Magisterium of the Church whether you like it or not – it is the Magisterium of the Church just as abortion is a grievous sin – equal (it is the same)… it is Magisterium of the Church… whether you like it or not.”

gloria.tv/media/Q9iv8bMLhYR

There is no infallible declaration in the document. And its “teachings” have no precedents - there is no consistency of teaching throughout history.

I trust you see a great gulf then in the force of teachings contained therein compared with, say, Humanae Vitae?

 

[Brendan_64]

Yes, but you said, “Humanae Vitae on the other hand is magisterial teaching and part of the Deposit of Faith, we are bound by it. That is the difference.”

“Humanae Vitae” itself is not magisterial teaching, but contains magisterial teaching as it reinforces previous established doctrine. Not every sentence of the encyclical is a teaching or binding.

The teachings contained in Humanae Vitae are indeed part of the Deposit of Faith and are infallible under the ordinary magisterium.

It doesn’t matter in what document these teachings are reiterated, they are infallible teachings.

 

[loumeland]

There is no infallible declaration in the document. And its “teachings” have no precedents - there is no consistency of teaching throughout history.

You haven’t read Laudato Si, have you? Catholic social teaching is a vital part of the ordinary Magisterium of the Church.

catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2015/06/19/no-catholic-is-free-to-dissent-from-the-teaching-of-laudato-si/

 

[Rau]

You haven’t read Laudato Si, have you? Catholic social teaching is a vital part of the ordinary Magisterium of the Church.

catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2015/06/19/no-catholic-is-free-to-dissent-from-the-teaching-of-laudato-si/

If I wanted to dissent from the suggestion in that encyclical that man causes climate change, I would be entitled to do so. (Personally, I think man does contribute materially to it.)

 

[vz71]

Pope Francis is in the best position to know what his predecessors did, or did not do, regarding this matter. He is possibly the most Christlike person on the face of this earth, and I’ve noticed that several people react to his “off the cuff” comments in the same way the conservative Pharisees reacted to Jesus’ revolutionary teachings.

The Pope is not “confusing,” “too old for this,” or “anti-intellectual.” He is truly a genius and God’s man for our times. If his encyclicals are tough for a certain type of people to accept, it’s just that: a tough pill to swallow. After all, HH Francis tends to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted!

I pray you are correct.

 

[twf]

Tell that to Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, a close advisor to Pope Francis and the Chancellor of both the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

“[Laudato Si] is under Ordinary Magisterium." (Bishop Sorondo)

Comparing the Pope’s teaching on global warming to the Church’s teaching on abortion, Bishop Sorondo said the “judgement must be considered Magisterium – it is not an opinion.”

“When the Pope has assumed this, it is Magisterium of the Church whether you like it or not – it is the Magisterium of the Church just as abortion is a grievous sin – equal (it is the same)… it is Magisterium of the Church… whether you like it or not.”

gloria.tv/media/Q9iv8bMLhYR

This is just my opinion…but as I understand it, the authority of the Magisterium is limited to matters of faith and morals, not science. Thus, the doctrinal principles outlined by the Holy Father in Laudato Si are indeed magisterial (for example, that man has a grave duty to care for the earth / nature). Scientific questions on climate change, which the Holy Father touched on, would not in and of themselves be magisterial.

 

[Galnextdoor]

In 1961, science may not have been as advanced as it is now. So perhaps the three men who wrote that the nuns in the Congo had the right to take birth control pills were unaware that many types of the birth control pill are abortifacients. They allow conception, but slough off the embryo with the uterine lining. Others allow conception, but cause the uterine lining to be too thin and slippery for the embryo to embed. Birth control pills increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer. They also raise a woman’s risk for ovarian cancer. Birth control pills also raise the risk of blood clots and stroke. It’s why you see on t.v. stories about women in their thirties having blood clots and strokes. If a woman smokes and takes birth control, the risk rises exponentially.

In college, I had to write a term paper on the effects of birth control on the behavior and health of adolescent girls. Every woman should do a little research on the subject before they consider taking the pill. If the Pope is recommending it, maybe he should do a little research, too.

Just so you know, I have a son with multiple disabilities. He has PVL, scoliosis, autism, oral dysphagia, a short leg, asthma, psoriasis, a cyst in his spinal cord, and an I.Q. of 67. He throws up about once a week. When I look at him, I know that God gave me my own personal angel. He is a delight and joy to everyone who meets him. Having a child who is different, is not a bad thing, unless people make it a bad thing.

 

[bitterhope]

In 1961, science may not have been as advanced as it is now. So perhaps the three men who wrote that the nuns in the Congo had the right to take birth control pills were unaware that many types of the birth control pill are abortifacients. They allow conception, but slough off the embryo with the uterine lining. Others allow conception, but cause the uterine lining to be too thin and slippery for the embryo to embed. Birth control pills increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer. They also raise a woman’s risk for ovarian cancer. Birth control pills also raise the risk of blood clots and stroke. It’s why you see on t.v. stories about women in their thirties having blood clots and strokes. If a woman smokes and takes birth control, the risk rises exponentially.

In college, I had to write a term paper on the effects of birth control on the behavior and health of adolescent girls. Every woman should do a little research on the subject before they consider taking the pill. If the Pope is recommending it, maybe he should do a little research, too.

Just so you know, I have a son with multiple disabilities. He has PVL, scoliosis, autism, oral dysphagia, a short leg, asthma, psoriasis, a cyst in his spinal cord, and an I.Q. of 67. He throws up about once a week. When I look at him, I know that God gave me my own personal angel. He is a delight and joy to everyone who meets him. Having a child who is different, is not a bad thing, unless people make it a bad thing.

Thank you for sharing about your son. Yes, he is your own personal angel. You are blessed to be his mom. i also have some children that are different and they certainly are not bad. Thank you for reminding people of this.