Should Catholics who use contraception remain in the Church?

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I was discussing this with a friend of mine. Most Catholics use birth control and plan to continue doing so. Also, many, once they’ve had their families will have permanent surgery done to sterilize either the husband or wife.

Otherwise, they may be picture perfect Catholics, attending Mass as required, being active in Church ministries of one type on another.

The Church in America would rapidly empty out if these people joined churches that permit contraception.

Should people live up to their beliefs and leave the Catholic Church over this issue? Are they being hypocrites to stay?

What about Catholics who opt for sterilization? That seems to be a loophole, since they can go to confession one time and technically be able to follow Church law and receive communion. Technically, couples who use the Pill or other forms of contraception are mortally sinning every time.

Any opinions offered would be interesting, thanks in advance.
 
Leaving the Church is never the right answer. The proper course of action is education on the Church’s teachings and the reasons behind them. In my admittedly limited experience, most “Catholics” who disagree with Church teachings only do so because they do not properly understand them.
Middleman said:
What about Catholics who opt for sterilization? That seems to be a loophole, since they can go to confession one time and technically be able to follow Church law and receive communion. Technically, couples who use the Pill or other forms of contraception are mortally sinning every time.
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There is no loophole for two reasons: one cannot confess a sin unless one truly feels repentant and to commit a sin with the idea that one can simply confess it is an additional sin.
 
If the Church took the steps to remind the parishioners of their Catholic duties and what are common mortal sins, it would certainly keep a lot of people away, that would hurt the bottom line.

That is likely why you’ll never here a priest tell the congregation that it is a mortal sin to miss weekly mass, or that masturbation is a mortal sin, contraception a mortal sin, taking Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin, going to confession at least once a year etc…

It is in the Church’s best interest to maintain the status quo, to keep the flock ignorant of the true teachings, for it is essential to keep the coffers full.
 
Of course they should remain in the church. They just need to abstain from communion and confession until they can make the necessary change and cease using the contraception. They are Catholics. And should avail themselves of that membership while working hard to overcome thier issue.
 
I saw that right away.

Wonder what he or she thinks are “true” teachings. 🤷
 
Caesar517 said:
Leaving the Church is never the right answer. The proper course of action is education on the Church’s teachings and the reasons behind them. In my admittedly limited experience, most “Catholics” who disagree with Church teachings only do so because they do not properly understand them.
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Even though my experience in such matters is also limited, I have to disagree. I know several Catholics who do not follow all of the Church’s teachings even though they are well aware of them and understand them fully. They simply disagree.
 
rick43235 said:
Even though my experience in such matters is also limited, I have to disagree. I know several Catholics who do not follow all of the Church’s teachings even though they are well aware of them and understand them fully. They simply disagree.
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Right, I think most people in America are aware of Catholic teaching on contraception. That’s no secret.
 
phantasm said:
If the Church took the steps to remind the parishioners of their Catholic duties and what are common mortal sins, it would certainly keep a lot of people away, that would hurt the bottom line.

That is likely why you’ll never here a priest tell the congregation that it is a mortal sin to miss weekly mass, or that masturbation is a mortal sin, contraception a mortal sin, taking Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin, going to confession at least once a year etc…

It is in the Church’s best interest to maintain the status quo, to keep the flock ignorant of the true teachings, for it is essential to keep the coffers full.
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I grew up in the Lutheran Church and, quite honestly, never heard a bad word uttered about the Catholic Church while there. However, I did have some relatives who never missed the opportunity to express their anti-Catholic views, and it often had to do with their idea that the Catholic Church was “all about money.” Even as a child I recognized that this argument was “an unadulterated load of manure.” I did, however, have an interesting experience while taking RCIA a few years ago.

The priest was talking about the Church’s rules regarding marriage, and he mentioned that “there is a couple in our parish who is in an invalid marriage who present themselves for Holy Communion every Sunday. They really shouldn’t be receiving the sacrament, but I don’t consider it my place to deny them. That is between them and God. Besides, they are one of the more financially generous couples in our parish.”

Now, the priest did NOT say that he allowed them to receive the sacrament because he feared losing their financial support if he denied them. However, the fact that he mentioned their generosity indicates that it was at least in the back of his head.

Fast forward to today…as it turns out, I have determined that a couple at church who I have become friends with is the couple the priest was referring to. Since I am one of the people who are in the rotation to count the collection every few weeks, I am in a position to know who gives what when the basket is passed around. Indeed, if this couple were to withdraw their financial support, our parish would have to do some serious belt tightening.

Again, I don’t believe that the Church is “all about money.” As a practical matter, however, I’m sure that finances are taken into consideration.
 
I do think financial considerations are part of this equation. There are some very high profile Catholics who lean left, and have consideration economic clout.
 
As (name removed by moderator) is trying to assert, abandoning someone suffering from perpetual (perhaps even mortal) sin is never the way.

We also can’t leave it to the clergy alone to speak to these people. If we, as individual Catholics, are aware of our brothers/sisters suffering in these sins, we are called to help heal “the body of Christ”, through prayers, fasting, and perhaps charitable counseling, education and exhortation.

We don’t need to repeat the “rules” of The Church to them. They obviously aren’t affected by mere “rules” - they are enslaved to their sin…it will take MUCH more than a “rule”. We need to remind them who GOD is, what His Church is, and who THEY are as part of it all. It’s not about “sinning” or breaking the “rules”, it’s about bonds with God that are severed and dying…bonds that must be mended and brought back to life…back to God.

This goes for contraceptive behavior, everything on (name removed by moderator)'s list, and all the rest of our shortcomings and weaknesses. We are also reminded to check OURSELVES even more often than we look for others to help. A sinner has to help themselves, as much as God gives the grace and Love, and as much as we try to help them.

I don’t know how you figure out who’s leading perpetually sinful lives (I also don’t know how the OP figured out that “most use contraception” and “most will sterilize” - perhaps that’s some statistic?)…but the bottom line is, the entire Church (including us) must remind others (through the way we live our lives) that the Church is not just a hodgepodge of rules to follow so that we can check off the boxes on the way to heaven, but rather a relationship with God that must be nurtured and healed when it is sick and dying.

God Bless
 
I would suggest that it’s more likely that Catholic clergy aren’t enforcing the rules because the overwhelming majority of Catholics are breaking those rules. If it’s true that 97% of sexually active Catholic women are using contraception, then the pews could end up very, very empty.

I don’t doubt, by the way, that it’s true. I live in a very Catholic area. (There are FIVE Catholic churches in a five minute walk!) People who rely exclusively on NFP tend to have larger-than-typical families. I don’t see any difference in the size of families around here. One to three kids seems pretty normal.

My sweetie just popped up with “That’s because they’re all on the pill! I’ve never had a Catholic girlfriend who wasn’t. And older women do like my mom did and get their tubes tied when they’ve had two or three kids.”
 
Middleman said:
Right, I think most people in America are aware of Catholic teaching on contraception. That’s no secret.
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Why then doesn’t the Church refuse them all communion or publically state that no Catholic who uses contraception should take communion, for they are in a state of mortal sin, and if unconfessed, worthy of the punishments of hell upon their deaths.

Why doesn’t the Church do that? It’s all true, or can you safely ignore some Catholic teaching and keep on gettin’ your communion?
 
MarieCB said:
I would suggest that it’s more likely that Catholic clergy aren’t enforcing the rules because the overwhelming majority of Catholics are breaking those rules. If it’s true that 97% of sexually active Catholic women are using contraception, then the pews could end up very, very empty.

I don’t doubt, by the way, that it’s true. I live in a very Catholic area. (There are FIVE Catholic churches in a five minute walk!) People who rely exclusively on NFP tend to have larger-than-typical families. I don’t see any difference in the size of families around here. One to three kids seems pretty normal.

My sweetie just popped up with “That’s because they’re all on the pill! I’ve never had a Catholic girlfriend who wasn’t. And older women do like my mom did and get their tubes tied when they’ve had two or three kids.”
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This was my point exactly and I got shot down by a few posters and of course, I was called Godless. 😦

It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who can see this reality.
 
phantasm said:
This was my point exactly and I got shot down by a few posters and of course, I was called Godless. 😦

It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who can see this reality.
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Did you forget that THIS was your point also?..
It is in the Church’s best interest to maintain the status quo, to keep the flock ignorant of the true teachings, for it is essential to keep the coffers full.
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Perhaps that’s why the shoot down?

Personally, I don’t think local parish priests are as AWARE of this problem as many on here are suggesting. What, are there all of a sudden contraceptive yes-or-no’s on a questionnaire when you sign the registry at a church? We know the couples aren’t confessing it, so what…do all the churches just react based off of some generic survey of Catholics, supposedly revealing 97% are practicing contraception? Where’d this “data” come from anyway? Highly speculative.

I’ll concede that the number is probably quite high, and perhaps there needs to be more public exhortations and reminders of Church teaching. But to suggest that there’s fear of empty pews for financial reasons is an insult to The Church, the priestly vocation, and is a remark made most likely by those whose personal negative experiences with a particular parish or clergy give them reason to take cheap shots at the whole Body of Christ. Statements like “that’s because they’re all on the pill!” is exhibit A.

Why are non-Catholics even providing opinion on this topic? You decided to leave, or you’ve purposely remained outside, remember? I would recommend you return to the Church and the Truth, so then you can make more constructive suggestions.
 
I really don’t have an answer. But I do think the Church is influenced by donors. I don’t have a solution nor a strong opinion. I wanted to see what others thought, so brought it to the table here for discussion.
 
I think the basic problem is that the Church claims to teach the truth, and yet at the same time holds up the inviolability of the individual’s conscience.

I believe the Church teaches the truth, yet I also, in the end, act according to my conscience (which may or may not, despite my best efforts, be formed 100% the way the Catholic Church…or more precisely, certain people in the Catholic Church…wish it was).

The Church teaches that it’s wrong for an individual to violate their conscience. Period.

This is the “gray area” (as I see it) that so many moral/practical questions hinge on.
 
phantasm said:
Why then doesn’t the Church refuse them all communion or publically state that no Catholic who uses contraception should take communion, for they are in a state of mortal sin, and if unconfessed, worthy of the punishments of hell upon their deaths.

Why doesn’t the Church do that? It’s all true, or can you safely ignore some Catholic teaching and keep on gettin’ your communion?
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The Church has a bigger bark than its bite. It’s ultimately a softie, erring on the side of compassion for the foibles of men.
 
Of course they should stay in the Church. If they know they are not in a state of grace then they know not to accept the Eucharist but receive a blessing. Going to mass one receives graces, graces to turn away from sin, graces to reconcile and finally the grace to accept the Eucharist. We’ve all “been there and done that” and all fall short – thank and praise God for His mercy and forgiveness.
 
I would think that a couple living this way would automatically compel them to stay away from all things related to God. I would hope they stay and figure things out, but anyone living this way should natually live like a pagan.
 
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