Struggling with Church teaching on contraception

[Scottgun]

Priscilla Ann, for some reason I thought you were Catholic, but I see in your profile you are not and I apologize as I tend to sharpen the daggers more for Catholics who poo-poo the teachings on contraception and use a more purely explanatory approach with non-Catholics. My bad.

Scott

 

[Priscilla_Ann]

Priscilla Ann, for some reason I thought you were Catholic, but I see in your profile you are not and I apologize as I tend to sharpen the daggers more for Catholics who poo-poo the teachings on contraception and use a more purely explanatory approach with non-Catholics. My bad.

Scott

Scott:

No need to apologize. I know that this is an emotional issue for a lot of people, including myself.

 

[DadOf11]

the one thing I don’t understand is if condoms can break then they are still open to life and in fact, I have heard that condom use has a higher fail rate than natural family planning when the nfp is done correctly.

WJP - sorry for the delay in my response. Con Science - I never heard of that before - but it will help me remember this - THANKS

Second - relying on the unstability of condoms to break and then saying you are “open to life” isn’t really trusting in God - or being open to life. Remember, if God wanted to - every woman alive could become pregnant - just by the power of the Holy Spirit. It happened before - but that is not God’s way (except for the one notable exception). God gives us free choice - and He tells us how we should be open to life. If we ignore that - then YES - God could circumvent our wishes - but its not really His style. Broken condoms aren’t usually due to an intervention by God as much as due to the sinful nature of us - and how it affects the world around us!!!

Relying on the “broken condom” method to determine “God’s Will” just seems to be too much “in the face of God” - rather than a cooperative effort with God. Almost like we are fighting His will.

The most beautiful concept to me is thinking of the procreative act as a “cooperation” with God. WITHOUT God - there would be no children - no soul for the child. WITH God there is a beautful little child - with a soul given to them BY God - with the purpose of allowing that child to KNOW, LOVE and SERVE God. We allow this to happen - when we open our lives to bringing new children and souls into this world. It is a truly great gift!!!

God Bless,
DadOf11

 

[Mary_girl]

Hello,
I will warn you that I am only a teenager but I feel the need to address this subject because it is dear to me.
One thing disturbed me when I read your post. I am assuming that since you are trying to use NFP that you were married in the Catholic Church. Well you kept repeating things about trying not to get pregnant. I hate to put this bluntly but when you were married you and your husband promised to be open to life. the use of condoms or any other method of trying to prevent pregnancy is ALMOST as bad a abortion. yes, abortion is worse because the baby is already alive but by trying not to get pregnant you are not allowing a baby to be born just as abortion does not allow a child to be born. I can’t say I completely understand your situation because I can’t but I do know that God asks us to be open to life and if your not then you are going against what God wants. yes there are some options like NFP but even that is not meant to differ couples from having children. I love all 4 of my sisters and I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have one of them not because my parents had an abortion but because they simply hadn’t been open to new life. I’m sorry that NFP does not work well with your body but the part where you claim that it is not fair for the Church to force one practice on them without a thought to different body types is not true. the Church does not force couples to practice NFP, you don’t have to. I would suggest looking into another way for you to tell but I advise you to beware in todays anti-baby world. some of the points you make are valid but understand that the Church expects all couples to be open to the creation of a new life. Money might be tight or whatever and it may seem like an inconvenience but God has his master plan, don’t try and fool with it!!! Take comfort in the fact that Jesus promised his father would take care of us. In the Bible Jesus points out how the birds of the air and the flowers are taken care of and then goes on to say, if My Father in Heaven care enough about these things how much more will he care and provide for you, his own likeness.
I really hoped this helped! God Bless you for being faithful when its hard…keep up the fight!
Mary’s devoted girl

 

[Swan]

Is God bound by the man made rules of the Catholic Church? I thought the church was subject to God’s commandments.

Priscilla Ann - I agree with you. I see that you’re not Catholic but I have to say that I’ve always understood Catholic teaching to admit that only God knows our heart. I believe, as do many Catholics (though not the ones on this board, though there may be a few) that God does take our subjective situations into account. Those folks on this board who disagree with the previous statement would say I am Catholic in name only - but that is between me and God. I had my tubes tied when I was 33 for very personal health reasons. Personally, I believe that God understands, even if many on this board do not. Thankfully, my soul is not in their hands (I don’t believe in Papal infallability or the ban on ABC, so there you have it). In the final analysis, I believe that all we can do is the best we can do: follow your heart, your conscience. Jesus loves you and knows how hard life can be. This is my consolation, not the opinions you will find here.

Peace.

 

[jmcrae]

Is God bound by the man made rules of the Catholic Church? I thought the church was subject to God’s commandments.

All of the rules of the Church come from God, and are for our benefit. There is no such thing as a “man made rule of the Church.” That is a contradiction in terms.

 

[Newbie2]

I remind myself that the word “science” is what follows the first syllable, and I don’t have any trouble spelling it then.

Betsy

Any tips on remembering how to spell Piobaireachd (a bagpiping term)?

I have to admit that I have never understood the Catholic Church’s teaching on contraception.
.

It’s not an easy teaching for everyone to understand and accept.

All of the rules of the Church come from God, and are for our benefit. There is no such thing as a “man made rule of the Church.” That is a contradiction in terms.

The other way is looking at it backwards, like the Church made up God and his rules.

 

[ForMary]

What you will do is struggle and continue to struggle.

I am in compliance with the Church on the issue of birth control and have a large family to show for it, that does not mean I agree with it, it does not mean they were all in perfect timing, or that they were/are affordable. We both work out of necessity, as do most couples that I know. We do not have fancy cars, house, cloths, but we have lots and lots of love!

How can any pregnancy be considered unplanned? If one has sex, one might become pregnant. That’s the plan of the highest power.