Enabling abuse is not “mercy”. Her husband needs help, and it is absolutely unacceptable for him to force sex on his wife. Even if she were sterile, that would not be okay. Getting sterilized doesn’t protect the wife from more abuse. It helps it to continue.In its way yes given that the husband is as he is. It is to deal with the reallty and protect the innocent from more abuse… It is mercy . In an ideal world there would be no need but in this and other cases, there is
I dare say. But in the short term, it protects the wife from a pregnancy that might kill her.Enabling abuse is not “mercy”. Her husband needs help, and it is absolutely unacceptable for him to force sex on his wife. Even if she were sterile, that would not be okay. Getting sterilized doesn’t protect the wife from more abuse. It helps it to continue.
Is there no other option than one that is sinful?I dare say. But in the short term, it protects the wife from a pregnancy that might kill her.
I can see that the husband needs re-educating, but that would take months or even years.
Of course it’s unacceptable for him to force sex on his wife, that goes without saying, and could be called marital rape. Rape doesn’t have to involve physical violence. There’s such a thing as emotional pressure, particularly where there’s the existing children at risk of losing a home if the husband deserts her.
Well, in ordinary circumstances (a marriage where spouses do not rape each other or manipulate each other into sex against their will) the answer is either NFP or complete abstinence. Complete abstinence is the only guarantee of not getting pregnant, as all forms of contraception have been known to fail (yes, even tubal ligations sand vasectomies fail, it’s rare but it happens). If being pregnant is absolutely out of the question, you abstain.She’ll probably have to stop living with him for awhile which means finding the resources and support to do that with herself and her six kids. Perhaps her local parish can find a place for her to go or maybe, as some protestant churches do, they have a home that they maintain for people who are in need to use on a short term basis. Otherwise she’ll probably end up pregnant again and put herself and family at risk.
Genuine side question: How does the Catholic teachings on being pro life affect the life of an ill woman of child bearing age? I have heard that Catholics are to use modern medical technology to its fullest extent to stay healthy or prevent an early death. Also, shouldn’t Catholics avoid at all costs any activity that might cause them to die prematurely (as in remaining open to pregnancy despite risk to life)? At first glance, it appears that women are to remain open to life at the risk of their own, and that’s not really 100% pro life.
No. The Church does not teach either of those things.I have heard that Catholics are to use modern medical technology to its fullest extent to stay healthy or prevent an early death.
Also, shouldn’t Catholics avoid at all costs any activity that might cause them to die prematurely (as in remaining open to pregnancy despite risk to life)?
I agree - leaving out the abusive element her the answer if pregnancy is simply not an option is abstinence not sterilisation which simply puts the innocent wife into sin.Well, in ordinary circumstances (a marriage where spouses do not rape each other or manipulate each other into sex against their will) the answer is either NFP or complete abstinence. Complete abstinence is the only guarantee of not getting pregnant, as all forms of contraception have been known to fail (yes, even tubal ligations sand vasectomies fail, it’s rare but it happens). If being pregnant is absolutely out of the question, you abstain.
That doesn’t apply to the situation in this thread, though.