C
carol_marie
Guest
You, your wife and your children are remembered in my prayers. May you all have peace.
CM
CM
What does the church teach about contraception when the mother is seriously ill?
- Status
S
sparkle
Guest
I respond to your question with a question:
What does the Church teach about contraception when the mother is seriously over-burdened with numerous kids already or seriously broke?
Hummmmm—just food for thought…
BTW–one of my cousins is Bi-Polar, has been since about 11 yrs. on meds, had one of her children while on meds, and he is soooo bright, a genius actually, an awesome musician, a tender soul, one in a million. He did inherit her Bi-Polar though, but I just say----God Will and Does work out all things for good Rom. 8:28 to those that Love Him…
I do think though friend, no one can tell you or your family what to do—not even the Church. We all have to make decisions on our own, using our conscience…and hope to make the right one --with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
God Bless You
W
Writer
Guest
I think this advice says it the best. I would suggest you speak to your priest. There are many tangled issues here, and your best advice will come from someone who knows and understands your present crisis.This is something you should be talking to your pastor about. What I do think is wrong is abstinence, the loss of the marital bond could be devestaing to your wife and push her over the edge, nor is it healthy for a couple that is stressed. Again see a Priest, ultimaly they are the ones who will steer you to the correct place.
Peace
Jermosh
R
rheins2000
Guest
DVIN CKS:
The Saints are given to us faithful by God as an example of the kind of life we are able to live.
If we do not strive to become saints, then we are in the wrong Church.
The Saints are given to us faithful by God as an example of the kind of life we are able to live.
W
Writer
Guest
A couple parting observations… It is my understanding, if birth control is taken for medical reasons, it does not represent a sin. It seems to me that risking a seriously injured baby (due to the other medicines being taken) is reason enough to substantiate birth control prescription, but I could be wrong. Bottom line, though, there is some well-intended advice within this thread which, if accepted, could be disastrous to you family. Your wife feels seperated from you already due to the family demands. If you seperate yourself further from her emotionally and physicaly, you may very well do grave harm to her mental condition. I would suggest you take some time off work and focus on your wife’s condition and obtain good medical and spiritual counseling. Your priest should be able to set you on the right track, but I pray that you think with care before you implement some of the suggestions presented here. They are given in love, but they might not accomplish their intended goal. Prayers are with you and your family’s struggle.
P
Princess_Abby
Guest
Okay, not to lay the smackdown on any of you well-meaning posters, but I just finished reading this thread from top to bottom and I am surprised by the lack of true representation of the Church’s stance on morality regarding contraception.
I think we would all do well to remember that when a poster is SPECIFICALLY ASKING what the CHURCH teaches, we should take care to respond with what the Church ACTUALLY teaches–not our interpretation or opinion.
Dear friend,
I am so happy you contacted Fr. Vincent Serpa. He is indeed leading you correctly. Stay close to God and surround yourself with the armor of His truth. God’s fullness of truth is found in the Catholic Church, instituted by Christ.
Whatever poster may have said that the Church can’t tell you what to do, is wrong. Sure, the Church can’t twist your arm, but it can, indeed, lead you in the way that God wills for your life. Jesus gave Peter, our first pope, the keys to the kingdom and told him that whatever is bound here on earth will be bound in heaven. Meaning that whatever the Church teaches in faith and morals (such as contraception being wrong to use in all circumstances) will be upheld in eternity!
I would also speak to a doctor about med possibilities. It sounds like you have been through the ringer with med changes, but there might be a medicinal possibility out there that exists for your wife to take that will not hurt future babies nor affect her fertile signs.
You are a very loving husband. I’m sure this is very difficult.
Abby
I think we would all do well to remember that when a poster is SPECIFICALLY ASKING what the CHURCH teaches, we should take care to respond with what the Church ACTUALLY teaches–not our interpretation or opinion.
Dear friend,
I am so happy you contacted Fr. Vincent Serpa. He is indeed leading you correctly. Stay close to God and surround yourself with the armor of His truth. God’s fullness of truth is found in the Catholic Church, instituted by Christ.
Whatever poster may have said that the Church can’t tell you what to do, is wrong. Sure, the Church can’t twist your arm, but it can, indeed, lead you in the way that God wills for your life. Jesus gave Peter, our first pope, the keys to the kingdom and told him that whatever is bound here on earth will be bound in heaven. Meaning that whatever the Church teaches in faith and morals (such as contraception being wrong to use in all circumstances) will be upheld in eternity!
I would also speak to a doctor about med possibilities. It sounds like you have been through the ringer with med changes, but there might be a medicinal possibility out there that exists for your wife to take that will not hurt future babies nor affect her fertile signs.
You are a very loving husband. I’m sure this is very difficult.
Abby
W
Writer
Guest
Thanks for the good comments, Princess. Jim Blackburn (Ask an Apologist) had an interesting answer on this general issue, as well–although there are added dimensions of complexity posed by this thread. (See below.) I think there is a danger in these threads in providing unsound “off the cuff” advice because one wants to lend a hand. I also think the tone of some of the replies in this thread, for example, seem more concerned with elements of akin to legalism than the wounded heart looking for solace. Hope no one took my comments as in support (in general circumstances) for birth control. As the article I am finishing-up right now for a Catholic magazine emphasizes, it is simply another example of the “Culture of Death” within our culture.
*When taken as necessary for therapeutic reasons, use of “the pill” is not immoral. Humanae Vitae states, “the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from—provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever” (HV 15).
Also, in such circumstances, abstinence is not required. For more on this see the post Pill allowed as an abortifacient?
For alternatives to the pill check out Pope Paul VI Institute.*
P
Princess_Abby
Guest
Hello, Writer.
Thanks for your comments and perspective. I read the link you posted that took me to Fr. Vincent’s response. I think it’s important to note that Fr. Vincent would not, by what I read in that response, condone the use of the pill in this case.
Using birth control for a medicinal reason to cure a medical problem is licit. For instance, many women take birth control pills to cure acne. The primary purpose, then, of birth control pills being prescribed is to control a woman’s dermatology needs. It is not to use the pill as a form of contraception and/or abortafacient.
In this case, the original poster was very clear that birth control pills would be used specifically to contracept and to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb. This is not licit. We must never act in any way that purposely and intentionally thwarts the life-giving aspect of sex between two married persons. The taking of birth control pills in this instance would have nothing to do with righting the chemical imbalance within the wife’s brain that causes bipolar disorder.
Abby
Thanks for your comments and perspective. I read the link you posted that took me to Fr. Vincent’s response. I think it’s important to note that Fr. Vincent would not, by what I read in that response, condone the use of the pill in this case.
Using birth control for a medicinal reason to cure a medical problem is licit. For instance, many women take birth control pills to cure acne. The primary purpose, then, of birth control pills being prescribed is to control a woman’s dermatology needs. It is not to use the pill as a form of contraception and/or abortafacient.
In this case, the original poster was very clear that birth control pills would be used specifically to contracept and to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb. This is not licit. We must never act in any way that purposely and intentionally thwarts the life-giving aspect of sex between two married persons. The taking of birth control pills in this instance would have nothing to do with righting the chemical imbalance within the wife’s brain that causes bipolar disorder.
Abby
W
Writer
Guest
I agree with you completely, but the other aspect of the issue is that, if a child were to be conceived, the medication currently being taken could do serious harm to the child. I guess the bottom line is go speak to well-grounded priest!
P
Princess_Abby
Guest
An evil means can never justify a good end. Taking birth control pills to thwart conception is never morally okay, even if it could result in a fetus with special needs.
We always have abstinence as a choice, though I do not discount in any way how absolutely difficult such a choice would be.
We always have abstinence as a choice, though I do not discount in any way how absolutely difficult such a choice would be.
B
bear06
Guest
Just another clarification (yes I know you’ve already seen some) - The only way it would possibly be OK to take the pill for health reasons (I’m thinking maybe you didn’t hear the statement in context) is if you are single (and of course practicing abstinence) or if you are married and practicing abstinence.
I’ve said this before in other posts. Call Creighton University/ Pope Paul VI institute for medical advice on this issue. They probably have a wealth of knowledge in this area in-line with Church teachings.
I’ve said this before in other posts. Call Creighton University/ Pope Paul VI institute for medical advice on this issue. They probably have a wealth of knowledge in this area in-line with Church teachings.
I posted in another thread about my brother-in-law’s wife who had Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. She was put on the experimental drug, Tracleer, which causes extreme mental and physical damage to unborn children. Not only that, but the pregnancy and childbirth could put an extreme amount of stress on my sister-in-law’s heart and lungs and could kill her. Therefore, not only was it suggested that she go on the pill, but that my brother-in-law get a vasectomy.
They both refused.
They refused to jeopardize my sister-in-law’s soul and eternal salvation for what could amount to maybe a few months or years of earthly pleasure. Was it easy for two loving people to give up marital physical intimacy, especially knowing that their time together here on earth was drastically limited? I’m sure it wasn’t. But isn’t love made up of sacrifices? What greater love is there than for spouses to help each other achieve holiness? Though they were married less than ten years, I believe they reached a level of intimacy that most couples who have been married for decades never achieve with regular physical intimacy.
Maybe it can be argued that their call was easier to make since my sister-in-law (and her name was Hope, by the way) had eternity clearly in sight. She passed away two years ago. But she was a mother and she knew her decisions would be part of the parcel of faith she would leave for her children and her husband. No one can ever say that she didn’t trust God with her whole heart.
She continues to be an inspiration to us all. And I’ll ask her to pray for you and your family.
BlueRose
They both refused.
They refused to jeopardize my sister-in-law’s soul and eternal salvation for what could amount to maybe a few months or years of earthly pleasure. Was it easy for two loving people to give up marital physical intimacy, especially knowing that their time together here on earth was drastically limited? I’m sure it wasn’t. But isn’t love made up of sacrifices? What greater love is there than for spouses to help each other achieve holiness? Though they were married less than ten years, I believe they reached a level of intimacy that most couples who have been married for decades never achieve with regular physical intimacy.
Maybe it can be argued that their call was easier to make since my sister-in-law (and her name was Hope, by the way) had eternity clearly in sight. She passed away two years ago. But she was a mother and she knew her decisions would be part of the parcel of faith she would leave for her children and her husband. No one can ever say that she didn’t trust God with her whole heart.
She continues to be an inspiration to us all. And I’ll ask her to pray for you and your family.
BlueRose
- Status