Vatican analyst: Catholic use of contraception linked to silence of clergy

[1holycatholic]

Vatican analyst: Catholic use of contraception linked to silence of clergyRome, Italy, Sep 9, 2010 / 02:58 am (CNA).- Vatican analyst Sandro Magister highlighted a recent book that shows a link between the widespread usage of contraception among Catholics in the early 20th century and the silence of clergy in presenting Church teachings on the subject.

In a Sept. 8 article in the Chiesa section of the Italian newspaper L’Espresso, Magister discussed the 2010 book from author Gianpiero Dalla Zuanna, a professor of demography at the University of Padua. The book, explained Magister, “analyzes and thoroughly explains for the first time – with documents never studied before – why the Church did not stop the spread of contraception" in the early 20th century.
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[crazzeto]

Vatican analyst: Catholic use of contraception linked to silence of clergyRome, Italy, Sep 9, 2010 / 02:58 am (CNA).- Vatican analyst Sandro Magister highlighted a recent book that shows a link between the widespread usage of contraception among Catholics in the early 20th century and the silence of clergy in presenting Church teachings on the subject.

In a Sept. 8 article in the Chiesa section of the Italian newspaper L’Espresso, Magister discussed the 2010 book from author Gianpiero Dalla Zuanna, a professor of demography at the University of Padua. The book, explained Magister, “analyzes and thoroughly explains for the first time – with documents never studied before – why the Church did not stop the spread of contraception" in the early 20th century.
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How sad, I feel very blessed that our high school yougth ministry spends a lot of time focusing on the theology of the body… We’re doing our best to end this kind of error. I pray the whole church gets back into line with the orthodox moral teaching.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Its an interesting theory that shows the “Novus Ordo” spirit was around long before V2…

 

[Garyjohn2]

Did the church’s silence cause the use of contraceptives…or did the widespread use of contraceptives silence the church?

It’s almost impossible to identify causes in these types of cases…but I guess I’d have to read the book!

 

[challam2010]

I certainly don’t remember the Church being silent in the 1950’s-1960’s about birth control. We were railed at by every teacher that birth control was nearly as bad as murder and that Margaret Sanger was the devil incarnate. It was, in fact, mentioned much more than abortion (still illegal at that time).

Just my experience – (attended Dominican grammar school and Notre Dame de Namur’s high school & college in the West).

 

[chaunceygardner]

It is interesting that the study cited was in Italy from 1921 to 1951. Thinking historically, the decline in the birth rate per family household may have been due to factors other than a conscious decison to contracept. Italy was going through many changes during that time, and was in the middle of wars from the late 30’s to the mid-40’s. The guys were away playing army, not at home with their wives.

Also, just as in other places and cultures, the move from mostly agrarian to manufacturing and from rural to urban life had its own effects. It may have been nothing more than a change in family and economic conditions that resulted in the decrease in births.

Of course, these economic and cultural changes would cause couples to choose to have fewer children, and contraception was the only logical option. Perhaps the reason this wasn’t preached from the pulpit was because the local clergy knew and understood what was happening and were being pastoral, instead of doctrinal.

Come to think of it, in over 40 years of listening to many homilies and many priests, I can not recall any who spoke on this. Nor do I recall any who privately cautioned against the use of certain contraceptives, such as the pill, but know of some who “allowed” it. They likely knew it wouldn’t make any difference to the laity, and most were probably more in tune with the people than with the Vatican on this one.