US bishops issue pastoral letter on marriage, condemn contraception, homosexual unions [CWN]
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onthenarrowpath
Guest
While I cannot comment about the morality or immorality of contraception, I will say that I believe the Catholic teaching (as I understand it to be) on the purpose of sexual intercourse in marriage is misguided. Humans have a natural inclination toward relieving their pent-up sexual urges. Paul himself stated it was better to marry than to burn. Surely that indicates that sex in marriage isn’t strictly for the sake of procreation alone, but rather to also keep one free from fornication outside marriage.
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rep140
Guest
You have probably heard the question “If a tree falls in a woods and there is nobody there to hear it does it make a sound”. You could apply it to the bishop’s statement about contraception. The next time I hear a priest mention it from the pulpit will be the first. Our pastor will talk about the evils of euthanasia, abortion, and embryonic stem cell research. But, the Catholics sitting there with their 2 kids never hear a word about contraception. It’s about time we got honest and dropped the word contraception from the catechism.
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manualman
Guest
That wouldn’t be “getting honest” that would be despair, a mortal sin. By your logic, the bishops of the Arian heresy era should have “got honest” and folded to popular error to, eh?
To poster #2, I think you misunderstand the document. Catholic teaching is clear that for married couples, sex is BOTH unitive AND procreative, not “just for procreation.” What most folks fail to realize is when a couple attempts to sterilize sex with the intent to have “just” unitive sex, the act of sterilizing it damages the unitive aspect as “collateral damage” so to speak. It’s a much more subtle teaching than you imagine. Try reading “Humanae Vitae” (available online) first, then “Good News About Sex & Marriage” for a layman’s explanation of John Paul’s further development of the themes in the 40 year old Humanae Vitae. For really heavy duty explanation, read “Love & Responsibility” by John Paul II.
To poster #2, I think you misunderstand the document. Catholic teaching is clear that for married couples, sex is BOTH unitive AND procreative, not “just for procreation.” What most folks fail to realize is when a couple attempts to sterilize sex with the intent to have “just” unitive sex, the act of sterilizing it damages the unitive aspect as “collateral damage” so to speak. It’s a much more subtle teaching than you imagine. Try reading “Humanae Vitae” (available online) first, then “Good News About Sex & Marriage” for a layman’s explanation of John Paul’s further development of the themes in the 40 year old Humanae Vitae. For really heavy duty explanation, read “Love & Responsibility” by John Paul II.
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marci
Guest
Why not leave the intrinsic evil in there? Afraid to tell it like it is? After reading the revision one is left with the question, “So is it a mortal sin or not?”
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manualman
Guest
Because they want people to understand it. Too many people see catholic morality as an arbitrary list of things that aren’t allowed. That’s nonsense, and people need to learn that. By removing “intrinsically evil” and replacing it with a longer definition that means the same thing, they are doing their job: teaching the faith.Why not leave the intrinsic evil in there? Afraid to tell it like it is? After reading the revision one is left with the question, “So is it a mortal sin or not?”
Sins aren’t sins because they are “on the list.” Sins are things that damage our ability to give and receive love, both God’s love and one another’s. That’s all they are doing here, and about time too.
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