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A couple of years back, a very dear Catholic brother, who I incidentally sponsored when he came into the Church (Cozi Tarau) and friend did an interview on my views on this topic. These are his questions and my answers at that time. I stand with them and the Church.
PLEASE NOTE: the abbreviation CCC refers to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I reference it a number of times here.
Is the Roman Catholic Church‘s contraception policy justifiable?
I believe it is—in the first place no one is forced to become or remain a Roman Catholic, but if they choose to do so, it is meant to be with the understanding that, at least to the best of our ability, we are to follow the official teachings of the Church.
Is Church policy on contraceptives appropriate in context of HIV/AIDS? Can the issue save people from dying in Africa?
My understanding is that this issue has been debated even on the Vatican level, and since many Africans are not Catholic they are free to use condoms in any case. The African Catholics, however, are still under obligation to follow the Church, which also includes the belief that sexual activity outside of marriage is morally wrong in the first place. If this teaching alone were followed, this too would prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading. Uganda has successfully used abstinence programs which have greatly reduced HIV from spreading in their nation.
Does condom use violate principles of sexual morality?
Anything that deliberately stops the natural result of sexual activity between a husband and wife (which often includes pregnancy) is immoral. It defeats one of the main purposes God created sex for. The other, which is self giving between a husband and wife, is also greatly hampered in the process as well, and often reduces sexual activity to more of a selfish act rather than a giving one.
Dignity of life: Does condom use violate the dignity of life?
Same answer as directly above.
Does God’s commandment to “multiply” support a condom ban?
It certainly is one of many things that the Church uses to show that condoms are not the ideal. There is also a passage in the Old Testament where Judah’s son (Onan) withdrew himself during intercourse with his wife (who was the widow of his brother) specifically in order to prevent her from becoming pregnant. The Bible condemned his action as he was supposed to raise up offspring for his deceased brother and refused to do so. One of the underlying issues here is a willingness to obey God, not merely whether a piece of latex is sinful in and of itself. But disobedience to God is always wrong. Sometimes we miss this point when discussing this or other topics that are controversial within the modern Church.
Is condom use bad for marriages?
It can be—it takes away both the fullness of self giving to the other party, lessens the physical pleasure both given and received, and adds guilt to an act that should have no regret within the marriage bed. All of those factors are bad for marriage in general.
Does contraception use degrade women’s bodies?
Some forms do so more than others, but medications such as the birth control pill, which are taken specifically to stop a natural function from occurring rather than to heal disease, done for the motive of attracting and pleasing males, could unconsciously cause a woman to think of herself as an object, and in reality has the potential of degradation of both the male and female involved. And all birth control methods tend to cause promiscuous behavior by taking away the main objective of sex, which is producing children.
How do condoms relate to the Church position against abortion?
They are not allowed. Condoms cannot cause an early abortion. However, condoms are not always effective, can break during use, and then the woman may face an unplanned pregnancy and choose to abort as a result. So the connection is indirect but real.
Are Church approved methods of birth control effective?
Studies have shown that they are almost exactly as effective as the pill but with no physical side effects, since no medication is ingested. There is also strong evidence that couples who use NFP (natural family planning) divorce far less often. It might be also noted that NFP is not truly considered birth control in the same way as contraception is, as it never actually closes the door to life artificially.
Why does the Church ban contraception?
To be mean and to take away our fun! KIDDING—I think that all of the above reasons, added together, provide a compelling argument against birth control. In addition, until 1930, most Christian denominations forbade birth control. Since the later 1960s when using the pill and other birth control became more common, promiscuous behavior has also skyrocketed, as well as the divorce rate, and the family unit as once knew it is on shaky ground. STDs are also at an epidemic. The same organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, who have made contraception more easily available to the general public also support and provide abortion on demand as well—thus further encouraging sexual experimentation among unmarried couples, as well as unfaithfulness within marriages.
Should Christian couples use birth control?
I think the real question is, why would they ever want to, given the above evidence? Obviously Protestants and others who are Christians must follow their own consciences, but there is convincing evidence that it does not improve marriages or the quality of life among any couples, whether Catholic, other Christian, or any religion for that matter.
Does Natural Family Planning really work? Is there a 99% effective and 100% natural form of family planning approved by the Church? What makes Natural Family Planning more acceptable than artificial contraception?
It not only works, and is approved by the Church, but it can be used in reverse, very effectively, to cause pregnancies as well! It works by determining the woman’s most fertile time, and a couple wishing to have children can “go at it like bunny rabbits” during those times hehe. From personal experience, 3 of our 4 pregnancies happened exactly that way. No other family planning method works in both directions. It also tends to give the husband a fuller role, in that he plans his sexual activity along with his wife, and therefore has to be more self giving and communicative with her. Even the training and charting of the woman’s fertility also is generally done with the assistance of both partners, instead of taking an impersonal pill once a day or just throwing on a condom when the moment is convenient.
More than half of American teenagers are having sex. While it isn’t good, it’s inevitable. Is it right to refuse contraception?
It depends on what you mean by “refuse.” Any teen can get condoms easily at most pharmacies if they choose. Should schools be handing out free condoms? I do not think that is the role of our tax dollars at work. By the way, who said sex outside of marriage is “inevitable?” A much better option would be for parents to teach, both by example and conversation, why morality is important and not just a list of “do’s and don’ts.” A very effective tool for this is a series of teachings done by Pope John Paul II called the “Theology of the Body.” It is probably the best supplement to sexual education out there, and can actually help motivate the teen towards chastity (or those at any age) by helping them to know why sexual activity outside of marriage is not God’s model. It may just put the condom business “out of business” one day!
Do you feel birth control is abortion? Do you think pregnancy occurs when the egg is fertilized or when the fertilized egg meets the uterine lining? Please explain.
A matter of simple science, not religion, shows that each of us come from a single entity formed at the time of conception. This entity includes living matter from both the male and female, and grows independently from then on. The location of this entity has nothing to do with whether it is “alive” or not. The very definition of life is this union of egg and sperm. It has been proven that the pill does not always prevent pregnancy, and when it does not, it stops the new life from attaching to the uterine lining. Although very early, intellectual honesty would necessarily describe this as an abortion.
Does the Bible condemn self-induced, sterile sexuality–artificial contraception and masturbation?
I would reverse this question by asking if we actually need a specific Bible verse to condemn self induced sterility! What the Bible does clearly say, on a positive note, is for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church, and “gave Himself” for her as a bride! How birth control could ever fit into that equation is a very big question. However condemning is a harsh word. I would just say that the person’s own understanding and willingness to obey God is the real issue here. Regarding masturbation, the Catechism teaches it to be morally wrong, but also that there are circumstances when people may be under much stress or anxiety and do this or other activities without God imputing it as sin (see CCC # 2352). That is not to excuse it, but rather a recognition of the commonness of this temptation, particularly for single people. Someone may have very good intentions but very bad habits and God does understand this. But it is never the ideal.
What’s so wrong with using artificial birth control?
I think this question is already answered. Read all the rest of the answers on this page…
Did the early Christians (and even the “Protestant Reformers”) condemn abortion and abortive drugs as murder?
Contrary to US House Speaker and “ardent Catholic” Nancy Pelosi, the Didache, less than 100 years after Christ lived on earth, does indeed condemn abortion (see CCC # 2270-2271). St Augustine, who Pelosi partially quoted on “Meet the Press”, implied that St Augustine was almost “pro choice”, because he does state that he was not sure if a child in the womb who had not shown signs of life (kicking and the like) had received a soul or life from God yet. However, that same St Augustine still taught that abortion was wrong at all stages, and the Church definitively has taught this through its entire history. Now with science able to prove that at least some form of life and cell growth activity that is independent from the woman’s body, including brain waves and a heartbeat within the early part of the first trimester, there should be no question on this.
Can a woman morally have an abortion if it is truly done to save her life?
I do not believe it is up to us to condemn anyone’s morality at such a moment. However, our Church teaches that miracles can and do occur, and that our priests have the sacramental authority to anoint those who are gravely ill. I will just say that, if I was in that position, I would (and did when I was in that position with my former spouse) do my best to trust God for the results, even if there is some danger involved. There are also doctors out there who will do their utmost to save both the child and the mother, and, if during that process the child dies, as a side effect only, no sin is committed.
Is Artificial Contraception a Mortal Sin?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is objectively so. However, a mortal sin is only committed when the person knowingly and then deliberately commits it (see CCC # 1857-1860) , and many are unintentionally ignorant of the Church teaching, or think it has changed since Vatican II and the like, and so in some of those cases that person may not always be in mortal sin. However, ignorance is not bliss, so to speak—if the person becomes aware of the Church teaching and then continues to do use contraception anyway, a mortal sin could indeed be involved.
Does the pill cause (accidental) abortions?
Already answered—if you consider life to be at conception then yes.
