Why do some people use contraception?

[yyyyyyyyyyyyyy0]

It strikes me as horrific the way some people can deprive their own children of existence.If they did not use contraception,they would make somebody new exist.That would be wonderful.The person could grow up and make the world a better place.But instead,they do not even think about this.They just have sex for their own pleasure and do not even care if they stop someone from being born! If your parents had used contraception,you would not exist.Would you like this?No.So it is not fair to do it to your own children.It is very selfish and very unfair.Adults are meant to be wise.So why do they deprive someone of existing?Also,it is just taking the gift of life for granted and totally disrespecting it.

 

[puzzleannie]

many reasons
they do not know, have never been taught in a systematic way, why contraception is wrong and the damage they are doing to their marriages (and to their physical health)
they have not been given the whole truth by medical people
they have real compelling reasons not to become pregnant (life-threatening reasons, not convenience or financial reasons) and have never been given any alternatives
they were poorly instructed in NFP, if they ever even heard of it, and their spouse is not commited to making it work

dozens of reasons
why not instead of a judgement thread, an education thread

 

[yyyyyyyyyyyyyy0]

many reasons
they do not know, have never been taught in a systematic way, why contraception is wrong and the damage they are doing to their marriages (and to their physical health)
they have not been given the whole truth by medical people
they have real compelling reasons not to become pregnant (life-threatening reasons, not convenience or financial reasons) and have never been given any alternatives
they were poorly instructed in NFP, if they ever even heard of it, and their spouse is not commited to making it work

dozens of reasons
why not instead of a judgement thread, an education thread

I am not judging.I just genuinely want to know why because it upsets me.Some things in Gods world are very sad.And what is NFP?

 

[Dale_M]

And what is NFP?

Natural Family Planning
usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/

Detailed information about it can be found on other websites.

 

[deb1]

I am not judging.I just genuinely want to know why because it upsets me.Some things in Gods world are very sad.And what is NFP?

Some people honestly believe that by using birth control that they are doing a good thing. The reasons that I have heard are, the family is not contributing to an all ready overpopulated world, that they don’t want to spread financies thin among their existing children or that they feel unable to care for more then a certain number of kids.

I am not saying that I agree with their thinking but those are some of the reasons.

 

[TweetyBird]

Birth control isn’t sinful simply because it prevents a new person from existing. It is sinful because the ends don’t justify the means, and because it can lead to an anti-child attitude. Potentially abortifacent birth control is even more problematic, for obvious reasons.

The Church does not require Catholics to have as many children as the limits of their fertility will allow. NFP (periodic abstinence) also causes a person to “not exist” (if you abstain from sex during a fertile time, conception cannot occur). Also, maybe a couple just isn’t “in the mood” or available for sex during a woman’s fertile time - conception can’t occur if sex doesn’t occur - this is no sin either. While Catholics are required to be open to life, and I daresay we love all our children, however many we have and whether we “intended” to conceive them or not, this argument that “not” bringing a child into the world is in and of itself sinful is not in line with Church teaching. There are plenty of reasons why couples have or don’t have X number of children.

You asked if I would like it if I didn’t exist - well, if I didn’t exist, there would be no me to like or dislike anything! It’s a hypothetical question that has no rational answer - if I didn’t exist, well, I wouldn’t exist and the point would be moot. There would be no consciousness or awareness or existence, and one would need to exist in order to bemoan the fact that one does not exist - so it’s a moot and circular question.

As to why people use birth control, there are lots of reasons. They have been taught it is the “responsible” thing to do, they have financial difficulties and feel they are unable to adequately provide for a(nother) child, they have medical issues that put their lives or health in danger if they conceive, they just don’t want the responsibility of raising children, etc., etc. Some of these reasons for avoiding conception are just, others are not. But one can avoid conception for just reasons without using artificial birth control.

 

[KCT]

It strikes me as horrific the way some people can deprive their own children of existence.If they did not use contraception,they would make somebody new exist.

There’s a possibility that they would create new life. No guarantees.

No one is depriving children of existence. There aren’t souls floating around waiting for a womb.

I agree abc is wrong, but children who do not exist yet are not being deprived of existence. —KCT

 

[Mijoy2]

Sexual relations are viewed one of two ways.

A pleasurable experience that so happens to be procreative.

A procreative experience that so happens to be pleasurable.

The view of society is the former, the view of the Catholic the later. Society views a pregnancy as a by-product of sexual relations that with very little effort can be avoided. For many (I’d suggest most) the concept of doing something wrong is not even considered. The potential of having a baby, when one is not yet prepared is life altering and viewed as highly irresponsible.

Sex, is for fun, not for making children (according to the world we live in).

 

[crohnie4life]

I’ve seen it advertised on TV that women’s fertility is treated as a disease. The wording advertisers use: the birthcontrol pill can be used “to prevent unwanted pregnancy”.

To me it’s like saying, hey, you can fool around any time& this pill will protect you from having a baby.

It’s so sad that society is against families. I mean, half of these huge companies(ex-Johnson & Johnson, P&G, Walmart, etc.) that provide funds to Planned Parenthood are really hurting themselves. They are killing off potential customers. Don’t they realize that or are they that ignorant.

 

[mark_a]

As to why people use birth control, there are lots of reasons. They have been taught it is the “responsible” thing to do, they have financial difficulties and feel they are unable to adequately provide for a(nother) child, they have medical issues that put their lives or health in danger if they conceive, they just don’t want the responsibility of raising children, etc., etc.

Or maybe we contracept because our parents did and their parents did.

 

[1ke]

“Birth control” came up several times this week in my office. Two employees were chatting with each other about their BCPs… blah blah blah.

Funny, growing up as a Protestant, this was just a given… and I never thought twice about the matter.

Now, as a Catholic, I’m so far away from that position the thought of contraception makes me ill. It’s so repulsive and offensive to me! It’s just sickening to me.

I thank God every day for the Catholic Church teaching the Truth to all who will hear the Word of God.

 

[Celeste88]

It strikes me as horrific the way some people can deprive their own children of existence.If they did not use contraception,they would make somebody new exist.That would be wonderful.The person could grow up and make the world a better place.But instead,they do not even think about this.They just have sex for their own pleasure and do not even care if they stop someone from being born! If your parents had used contraception,you would not exist.Would you like this?No.So it is not fair to do it to your own children.It is very selfish and very unfair.Adults are meant to be wise.So why do they deprive someone of existing?Also,it is just taking the gift of life for granted and totally disrespecting it.

While I respect your view you have to understand that some people should not only not have children, they should not even be married in the first place! From a realistic point of view, you have to admit that there are many couples out there with serious problems. Alcholism, gambling, financial problems, illness, abuse, etc. I don’t think it is fair to bring children to suffer into these marriages. I speak from a personal point of view. My own son is struggling in his marriage with a wife who has mental illness. I am not sure what will happen to his marriage. It seems this mental disorder is hereditary and could very well be passed on to any children they have. I don’t think she’s capable of taking care of children at this point. (prayers are appreciated here)

For the most part couples do space their families, I don’t think they’re being selfish in doing it. I think they’re trying to give their children the best opportunities they can, like a good education, a decent home, etc. This isn’t being selfish IMO.

 

[Melissa2007]

I personally used BCP from 14-28 to prevent ovarian cysts that could rupture and cause me to loose my ovaries and in turn loose any chance of having children. I used BC pills so that I would have the chance to have children. I now have 2 and use NFP instead. My sister lost an ovary when she was in highschool.

ETA: Not everything in life is black and white. IT would seem that something like the use of contraceptives would be, but it is not. The OP came across judgemental and self-righteous, but you asked why and I hope that my post will help you understand that not every use of contraceptives is a sin.

 

[deb1]

I personally used BCP from 14-28 to prevent ovarian cysts that could rupture and cause me to loose my ovaries and in turn loose any chance of having children. I used BC pills so that I would have the chance to have children. I now have 2 and use NFP instead. My sister lost an ovary when she was in highschool.

ETA: Not everything in life is black and white. IT would seem that something like the use of contraceptives would be, but it is not. The OP came across judgemental and self-righteous, but you asked why and I hope that my post will help you understand that not every use of contraceptives is a sin.

I don’t think that the OP was self-righteous.

Your situation sounds as if your primary purpose was not to prevent conception but instead to treat a physical condition. From what I understand The Church allows BC under these conditions.

The Op was not talking about people with physical conditions who need BC as a form of medical treatment.

 

[deb1]

While I respect your view you have to understand that some people should not only not have children, they should not even be married in the first place! From a realistic point of view, you have to admit that there are many couples out there with serious problems. Alcholism, gambling, financial problems, illness, abuse, etc. I don’t think it is fair to bring children to suffer into these marriages. I speak from a personal point of view. My own son is struggling in his marriage with a wife who has mental illness. I am not sure what will happen to his marriage. It seems this mental disorder is hereditary and could very well be passed on to any children they have. I don’t think she’s capable of taking care of children at this point. (prayers are appreciated here)

For the most part couples do space their families, I don’t think they’re being selfish in doing it. I think they’re trying to give their children the best opportunities they can, like a good education, a decent home, etc. This isn’t being selfish IMO.

My prayers are with you.

My mother also was mentally unstable but I seem to have turned out moderately sane. Although some days I seriously wonder about my own self. :hypno:

 

[1ke]

ETA: Not everything in life is black and white. It would seem that something like the use of contraceptives would be, but it is not.

Not everything is black and white, but the morality of contraception is. There is no question that contraception is gravely disordered.

The OP came across judgemental and self-righteous,

I disagree.

but you asked why and I hope that my post will help you understand that not every use of contraceptives is a sin.

This is not an accurate statement.

The use of a **medical procedure or medicine **that has the secondary and unintended side effect of sterility is morally acceptable.

**Contracepting **-- purposely taking an action before, during, or after an act of intercourse to prevent conception-- is always morally wrong.

 

[onmywayagain]

Some people use contraception for one reason. That reason is so that they are able to enjoy the pleasures of sex without the responsiblities that may come from sex. Remember I said some. Some people may have to take it for medical reasons. The majority of it do it so they don’t have to get tied down with resposibilities. My :twocents:

 

[Sina]

People contracept because they are bombarded with information in school about all the different methods of birth control and how important they are to use. Doctors routinely ask female patients who are still teenagers what method of birth control they are using.

I agree with the statement that some people grew up with parents who used it, and whose grandparents used it.

Women also grow up these days going to school and university and they are taught to pursue their careers just like any man would. Children aren’t often part of the equation ( or more than 2 often aren’t ).

Yes, I also agree with the statement that society, the government, your friends etc… are not family friendly. In fact, it is widely viewed by many ( ignorantly of course ) that having may children is irresponsible.

Using birth control properly and sucessfully is a sign of responsibility in our culture ( that is it in a nutshell ).

 

[Peregrino]

I know a couple who contracept (use ABC) because they have been told by a doctor to not conceive while the woman is taking certain drugs for depression due to the birth defects that result from those medicines. They are being responsible with their reproductive potential and the potential for harm to children that come from their union. This seems completely morally valid to me and has nothing to do with “sexual freedom” or whatever it is that people want to call it based on some moral judgement.

Frankly, there is no difference in the intent element of using ABC and NFP: the purpose is to avoid conception, plain and simple. A couple that uses ABC can just as easily say “we are open to God and children in our marriage if we become pregnant” as the couple who uses NFP. The difference? The likelyhood of conception between the two. I person could theoretically behave just as immorally using NFP as ABC to avoid conceiving a child.

I am in complete agreement that NFP increases the intimacy and helps a marriage grow in love. Sadly, ABC is often a prerequisite to immoral behavior and the abuse of our sexuality. This seems to be a perfect example of the “bullets/guns don’t kill people, people kill people” argument. It is not “the pill” but the mentality behind the pill that counts.

 

[Yerusalyim]

Why do some people use contraception?

Because some people are selfish, and because quite frankly, the Church has done a VERY POOR job of explaining why natural family planning is not a sin, but artificial catholic planning is.