Why do most people ignore the Church's teaching on contraception?

[loumeland]

This is a question that has been a source of distress for a long time, and I’m going to be straightforward about it.

Why have most Catholics (several sources say at least 80-90%) disregarded what is, as far as I know, the official church teaching on contraception, which is that every sexual act within the bounds of marriage must be ordered toward procreation?

This has to be separated from the infallible teaching that part of the very definition marriage is to be open to procreating new life. I do not believe this is an issue of contention. Also, I am strictly referring to non-abortifacent artificial contraception, as I know several people like to lump this issue with abortion.

However, Humanae Vitae exists. Would this encyclical, as prophetic as it might be, be considered a *misformulation *of true church doctrine? Is the fact that this single issue has created a huge gap between the ecclesia discens (those of us who are not ordained) and the ecclesia docens (the teaching ones) speak to the fact that this is an issue that needs to be re-formulated and possibly reconsidered in light of scientific knowledge, modern realities, and even environmental factors (ie. Laudato Si speaks to this)? Could this possibly be, as a Catholic editor of the America Magazine puts it, another “Galileo affair”?

I conclude my opening post with the words of Pope Paul VI: “May the lively debate aroused by our encyclical lead to a better knowledge of Gods will.”

 

[Sophie_Lawrence]

I believe completely that the Church is correct on its teaching about contraception.

I think many couples might use contraception for a variety of reasons. They don’t know true Church teaching, they know Church teaching but do not trust NFP for whatever reason. They know Church teaching but believe the Church might be wrong, or that they may use their conscience to decide for Themselves.

Sorry for the run on sentence.

 

[1ke]

There are as many reasons as there are people using contraception. But in general they fall into a few categories:

Don’t know/misinformed:

• Were never taught by their parents or in religious ed. Genuinely do not know it is wrong.
• Even worse, were taught is OK, by parents, teachers, or by priest in marriage prep.

Don’t care:

• Know what the church teaches but dissent and believe they can still be a “good Catholic”
• Know what the church teaches but aren’t practicing

Know and have pressure from outside:

• Contracepting spouse, Catholic or non-Catholic
• Think their situation is really unique, perhaps even got counsel from their priest it was OK in their case
• Know it is wrong but have such pressure from family, spouse, society, that they rationalize it

 

[Kelfa28]

Why?

Because having children is incredibly hard.

It’s exhausting. Lack of energy, lack of patience, lack of sleep. Pregnancy can cause major health issues.
For me, it’s the increased risk of diabetes and the crippling Depression I’ve suffered from and have yet to recover from over the past 3 years.

I agree with the Church’s teachings but I’m maxed out. I tried using NFP and you can see my signature. I have 3 very young children and the idea of having another frightens me. I cannot go through with it again because I will break.

I don’t trust NFP. I’ve stopped charting and have zero intention to a) use NFP and b) have anymore children ever again.

I cannot take the anxiety, stress and depression both have caused.

There is still the marital debt to consider. Hubby and I are struggling with this big time.

My OB wants me on the pill now because my PCOS is worse and my cycles are so messed up and painful.

I haven’t started it yet…but next appointment I probably will.

Frankly, I’m at a point where I truly don’t blame people for disregarding this teaching.

 

[1ke]

And let me add, because chastity is difficult no matter one’s state in life. Secular society has reached the point where the idea of abstaining in marriage for serious reasons is seen as crazy instead of admirable.

 

[Kelfa28]

I am sorry you are going through this. I probably won’t change your mind but if I may share that contraception in any form is destructive I have lived it. It is subtle but it is there and I promise you that there is something diabolical present. Contraception is NOT the answer to freedom in a marriage even though it seems like it. A test years ago on primates found that when females were put on contraception the males were “turned off” by them. Something fundamental about the chemicals in a woman’s body are changed and noticed (even subconsciously) by their husbands in a negative way but tyou won’t see that in the commercials. All they show in commercials are happy young women that are “free.” I pray for your situation and depression, you might decide to try the pill anyway or other means, but there are no easy solutions in life. I promise you that you are simply trading one set of problems for another and I hope you do not experience the deep pain that I did. God bless you please be assured of my prayers.

To the original poster: I think the root problem is not contraception. I have read that anywhere from 45-70% (depending on the polls you read or believe) don’t believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist!!! If someone does not embrace the source and summit of our faith, if someone doubts Jesus is there for them body, blood, soul and divinity then of course everything else falls apart! Why would I follow a teaching I believe to be silly and inconvenient, especially when the highlight of my faith is simply eating a piece of dry bread? I think this is the source of our problems, just my two cents.

I’m well aware of those studies and they do not pertain to my situation in the least.

I’ve said my piece.

It’s a medical issue and I trust my OB.

No one will change my mind on it at all. No, I’m not going through anyone else but my OB.

So do me a favor everyone. Lay off me. I’ve struggled enough. I’m at peace with it and I’m done here.

 

[loumeland]

Why?

Because having children is incredibly hard.

It’s exhausting. Lack of energy, lack of patience, lack of sleep. Pregnancy can cause major health issues.
For me, it’s the increased risk of diabetes and the crippling Depression I’ve suffered from and have yet to recover from over the past 3 years.

I agree with the Church’s teachings but I’m maxed out. I tried using NFP and you can see my signature. I have 3 very young children and the idea of having another frightens me. I cannot go through with it again because I will break.

I don’t trust NFP. I’ve stopped charting and have zero intention to a) use NFP and b) have anymore children ever again.

I cannot take the anxiety, stress and depression both have caused.

There is still the marital debt to consider. Hubby and I are struggling with this big time.

My OB wants me on the pill now because my PCOS is worse and my cycles are so messed up and painful.

I haven’t started it yet…but next appointment I probably will.

Frankly, I’m at a point where I truly don’t blame people for disregarding this teaching.

It’s struggling people like you that Pope Francis is listening to and wanting to walk alongside with. Do not despair.

 

[rotlex]

I think there are a number of reasons of course. However, from my own perspective there are a few that stand out and come up when the conversation leads that way:

• Wishy washy teaching on the subject. I’ve had my own parish priest, a number of them, tell me point blank that when your married and have kids, you have obviously been open to life. The Lord understands this and as long as you are not using anything other than barrier methods, it’s fine. (Not always the exact words, but you get the idea).
• The Church teaches that unity ogetherness is as important as anything. I’ve had kids. I have been open to life. I’m older now and frankly can’t afford more kids and don’t trust NFP as a sole method for not conceiving a child.
• NFP - This is no different than barrier and other non chemical methods of birth control. Yes, it can be used to conceive as well as to prevent pregnancy. The bottom line is 99% of people using it are using it as birth control.
• A LOT of married couples think the Church needs to stay out of their bedroom period.
• The Church is going to tell me what to do with my married sex life? Yeah, OK, maybe when they stop hiding there own demons on this subject I’ll listen. (Yes, I hear this more than any of them when discussed with friends).

These all sound harsh. I’m sure I’ll get lambasted for them, especially on these forums where someone is going to point out the Catechism and a bunch of other writings.

The bottom line for me is that I truly don’t believe God is going to condemn me for not being open to life during every single sexual act my wife and I perform together. He has blessed us with 26 years of marriage. Two beautiful children, and a life I could have only ever dreamed of.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Because having children is incredibly hard. …I’m at a point where I truly don’t blame people for disregarding this teaching.

Does the difficulty of a teaching make violating it a virtue? Perhaps people are called to heroism in the face of difficulty.

 

[Evania]

I’m well aware of those studies and they do not pertain to my situation in the least.

I’ve said my piece.

It’s a medical issue and I trust my OB.

No one will change my mind on it at all. No, I’m not going through anyone else but my OB.

So do me a favor everyone. Lay off me. I’ve struggled enough. I’m at peace with it and I’m done here.

I’m sorry, but I’m genuinely puzzled by your response. The OP posted a thread on a Catholic forum regarding church teaching on contraception, you posted a rebuttal, and a poster responded charitably to you in return. She responded to you with a great deal of empathy and yet she still upheld Church teaching. Why did you comment to “Do me a favor everyone. Lay off me”?

Who is “everyone”?

I’m sorry that you are suffering. We still have the obligation to speak truth. By “laying off”, do you mean that we should stop informing people about the Church’s teaching on contraception? Looking at the former posts in this thread, no one has posted anything judging you.

 

[Sarcelle]

And let me add, because chastity is difficult no matter one’s state in life. Secular society has reached the point where the idea of abstaining in marriage for serious reasons is seen as crazy instead of admirable.

You hit the nail on the head. The idea of continence is an alien concept nowadays.

 

[1ke]

I’m at peace with it and I’m done here.

But you keep posting about it. You post a lot about it.

You dare anyone to tell you it is wrong knowing you are on a Catholic site with people who strive to follow church teaching and share that teaching with others (the entire purpose of an aplogetics site).

You claim you are going to boldly contracept knowing that using hormonal pills for bonafide medical reasons is NOT contaception at all. Frankly, it sometimes seems you want to provoke a reaction so you can say, “lay off me”.

If you are done with it, then maybe it is time to stop posting about it.

 

[MaryHelp777]

I believe completely that the Church is correct on its teaching about contraception.

I think many couples might use contraception for a variety of reasons. They don’t know true Church teaching, they know Church teaching but do not trust NFP for whatever reason. They know Church teaching but believe the Church might be wrong, or that they may use their conscience to decide for Themselves.

Sorry for the run on sentence.

Is it that these people cannot abstain.

Also: the church is infallible on all moral issues, as the true church founded by Jesus Christ

Either the Church Jesus founded is completely infallible on all moral issues or it isn’t,

Jesus said; “If you love Me you would keep my Commandments.”
Our Lady of Fatima said, more Souls go to hell for sins of impurity than any other sin. She said the majority of marriages are unpleasing to God.

A Catholic believing and acting against catholic doctrine is in an automatic state of excommunication,

And those who use contraception are in a state of mortal sin, those who receive communion and also do not confess this sin commit.the sin of sacrilege.

 

[1ke]

A Catholic believing and acting against catholic doctrine is in an automatic state of excommunication,

This is not accurate at all. The excommunicable offenses are defined in Church law. What you describe is being a sinner, and thankfully for all of us sinners that is not one of them.

 

[Xantippe]

This is a question that has been a source of distress for a long time, and I’m going to be straightforward about it.

Why have most Catholics (several sources say at least 80-90%) disregarded what is, as far as I know, the official church teaching on contraception, which is that every sexual act within the bounds of marriage must be ordered toward procreation?

This has to be separated from the infallible teaching that part of the very definition marriage is to be open to procreating new life. I do not believe this is an issue of contention. Also, I am strictly referring to non-abortifacent artificial contraception, as I know several people like to lump this issue with abortion.

However, Humanae Vitae exists. Would this encyclical, as prophetic as it might be, be considered a *misformulation *of true church doctrine? Is the fact that this single issue has created a huge gap between the ecclesia discens (those of us who are not ordained) and the ecclesia docens (the teaching ones) speak to the fact that this is an issue that needs to be re-formulated and possibly reconsidered in light of scientific knowledge, modern realities, and even environmental factors (ie. Laudato Si speaks to this)? Could this possibly be, as a Catholic editor of the America Magazine puts it, another “Galileo affair”?

I conclude my opening post with the words of Pope Paul VI: “May the lively debate aroused by our encyclical lead to a better knowledge of Gods will.”

Apologies for not catching up with the thread, but I think the answer is very simple: because it’s hard.

 

[loumeland]

Is it that these people cannot abstain.

Also: the church is infallible on all moral issues, as the true church founded by Jesus Christ

Either the Church Jesus founded is completely infallible on all moral issues or it isn’t,

Jesus said; “If you love Me you would keep my Commandments.”
Our Lady of Fatima said, more Souls go to hell for sins of impurity than any other sin. She said the majority of marriages are unpleasing to God.

A Catholic believing and acting against catholic doctrine is in an automatic state of excommunication,

And those who use contraception are in a state of mortal sin, those who receive communion and also do not confess this sin commit.the sin of sacrilege.

Ouch! You definitely represent one side of this argument.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Is it that these people cannot abstain.

Also: the church is infallible on all moral issues, as the true church founded by Jesus Christ

Either the Church Jesus founded is completely infallible on all moral issues or it isn’t,

Jesus said; “If you love Me you would keep my Commandments.”
Our Lady of Fatima said, more Souls go to hell for sins of impurity than any other sin. She said the majority of marriages are unpleasing to God.

A Catholic believing and acting against catholic doctrine is in an automatic state of excommunication,

And those who use contraception are in a state of mortal sin, those who receive communion and also do not confess this sin commit.the sin of sacrilege.

Agree 1000%. No need to even confess a sin if the sinner intends on repeating it.

 

[Xantippe]

Related: Why don’t most people love their neighbors as themselves?

 

[Allegra]

Apologies for not catching up with the thread, but I think the answer is very simple: because it’s hard.

That’s pretty much it. Though certain factors make it harder for some than others and those factors are becoming a lot more prevalent. For example, having a spouse that is not on board with NFP makes it really hard. Having a family that is unsupportive or even disdainful of having more than the average 1.5 children makes it hard. An economic system that requires two full-time working adults to support a household and offers absolutely no paid maternity leave makes it really hard. The societal pressures of keeping up with the Joneses and providing the highest possible “quality of life” for the allotted 1.5 kids makes it really hard. Legitimate medical issues makes it hard. Decades of college loan payoffs make it really hard. An over-sexed media and society that sells the idea that sexual expression should never be stifled in anyway makes the entire idea of period abstinence difficult That doesn’t mean we have a pass on it though, but it IS hard.

 

[Crusaderbear]

7.28 BILLION humans on the earth today.