I follow Catholic teaching on contraception. Ask me anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question I have always wanted to ask someone who is anti-birth control; forgive me if anyone has already asked it, but this thread has gotten rather long. Some of us who have ovarian cysts or other issues like endometriosis have been on birth control pills not only for the intended use, but also because they can help prevent further issues with those conditions. Let's suppose you were not going to be having sex with anyone; would you not feel like you could take oral contraception, even though not taking it could result in your developing numerous cysts which would result in pain and eventual surgeries?

This invokes the principle of double effect. You are not taking the Pill to contracept; you are taking it to heal your cysts. Even the Catholic institutions fighting the HHS mandate include therapeutic uses of the Pill as covered services. It would be the same if a mother had to have a hysterectomy for some medically indicated reason. The double effect would be healing an illness and rendering the woman infertile. But the intent was not to render her infertile, so it is not illicit.

So even a fertile, married woman can take the Pill, but the intent cannot be contraceptive.

But there's a catch!! Ever afraid that someone somewhere might be having fun, the RCC has declared that BCP's cause abortions. So the fertile, married woman can take the pill - she just can't have sex while doing it.

These guys think of everything!

[Anonymous]

Op is a convert. That explains a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op is a convert. That explains a lot.

Good point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op is a convert. That explains a lot.

Good point.

Thank you for pointing that out. I am Catholic and I don't think she really has grasp the Catholic teachings. Holding on to Catechism and Scripture so tightly she has squeezed the life out of it.

I am Catholic and I would love to have the time to go through and reanswer all the questions with my answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where exactly does the Bible prohibit contraception anyway? What is the biblical basis?

Can someone please answer my question? OP?

I found this - http://www.gotquestions.org/birth-control.html

LOL!

I am a Catholic with two kids - and I am IN FAVOR OF birth control.

This is utter nonsense - complete bullshit.

And it's simply a way of keeping women dumb and down. OP is a perfect example of that.

OP - Who gives a shit that you have sex daily (even on your period, I guess). I know way too many Catholics who can't keep up with their brood. One had lice infestation for months b/c she didn't have the time or energy to eradicate the infestation.

Get a life.

[Anonymous]

Seriously, OP? You said if we had more questions go to the source. I've asked 3 times what is the biblical basis for the Catholic Church's teachings against contraception and you haven't answered my question. Do you not know the answer? What exactly is the source, if not the Bible? I know what the Vatican says. I want to know what the Bible says.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op is a convert. That explains a lot.

Good point.

Very true. The most "devout" Catholics I know who really absorb and live this BS come from Bible thumping traditions. We "real" Catholics aren't nearly as fanatical as these newcomers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op is a convert. That explains a lot.

Good point.

Very true. The most "devout" Catholics I know who really absorb and live this BS come from Bible thumping traditions. We "real" Catholics aren't nearly as fanatical as these newcomers.

Unfortunately, the Pope has emboldened this foolishness. That's why I am looking for a new church. I have had enough. I had to ask my self, "What am I saying to my daughter by remaining faithful to a church that does not empower women?" Life is too short. Let the converts have at it.

[Anonymous]

But in response to your question, I can only say...these are not my rules. These are the rules of creation. If that sounds harsh, remember that these rules were made in love. A love beyond our comprehension.

There are the rules of creation? Please. These are the rules of the Catholic Church. I understand the reasons behind the rules and belief structure, but wurn you try to give them the imprimatur of natural law, you just make yourself look silly. These are rules created by by man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But NFP is not supposed to be used lightly, and there are many other situations that restrict spouses' access to one another (travel, long-term illness, stresses). And yet spouses are called to be faithful to one another.

Two questions:
Why is NFP acceptable, but other methods of contraception are not? Is there a biblical basis for this?

First question: NFP is not a "method of contraception," because it is in no way contraceptive. Contraception is the choice (by any means) to impede the procreative potential of a given act of sex. If you are "using NFP," you NEVER choose to impede the procreative potential of a sexual act. It is the difference between sterilizing yourself and recognizing God-given times of infertility.

Second question: Church teaching is found in encyclicals (Casti Connubii and Humanae Vitae) and the Catechism, because Catholics accept the authority of the Church. But all of these teachings have a biblical basis. Christ Himself taught that men and women become "one flesh," and what God has joined, no man may put asunder (Mt 19:6). God created sex to be unitive and procreative, and it is not our place to separate sex from babies. Ephesians states that men are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church, and His love would never be deliberately sterilized. Genesis states we were created in the image and likeness of God, that His creation was "good," that we are "fruitful.". Children are referred to over and over again as great blessings.

Scripture is a love story. God is love, God loves us, we are to love as God loves. God chose to have sex be the way more humans, with eternal souls, come into being. The uncreated Love that is God touches the created world, between husband and wife, and a unique new person begins. Amazing.

The real question is, how can contracepted sex be biblical?

For PP asking for OP's biblical prooF, see above...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But NFP is not supposed to be used lightly, and there are many other situations that restrict spouses' access to one another (travel, long-term illness, stresses). And yet spouses are called to be faithful to one another.

Two questions:
Why is NFP acceptable, but other methods of contraception are not? Is there a biblical basis for this?

First question: NFP is not a "method of contraception," because it is in no way contraceptive. Contraception is the choice (by any means) to impede the procreative potential of a given act of sex. If you are "using NFP," you NEVER choose to impede the procreative potential of a sexual act. It is the difference between sterilizing yourself and recognizing God-given times of infertility.

Second question: Church teaching is found in encyclicals (Casti Connubii and Humanae Vitae) and the Catechism, because Catholics accept the authority of the Church. But all of these teachings have a biblical basis. Christ Himself taught that men and women become "one flesh," and what God has joined, no man may put asunder (Mt 19:6). God created sex to be unitive and procreative, and it is not our place to separate sex from babies. Ephesians states that men are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church, and His love would never be deliberately sterilized. Genesis states we were created in the image and likeness of God, that His creation was "good," that we are "fruitful.". Children are referred to over and over again as great blessings.

Scripture is a love story. God is love, God loves us, we are to love as God loves. God chose to have sex be the way more humans, with eternal souls, come into being. The uncreated Love that is God touches the created world, between husband and wife, and a unique new person begins. Amazing.

The real question is, how can contracepted sex be biblical?

For PP asking for OP's biblical prooF, see above...

These scripture verses don't outlaw contraception, and interpreting them as such is quite a stretch, in my view. And please don't suggest that Catholic Church teaching = Scripture. It doesn't. That was the point of the Reformation, after all.

[Anonymous]

Let's say a woman has a problem, such as a bicornate uterus, that causes fetal loss. Is she not supposed to get married? Have sex? Use birth control?

Are people over the age of 50 allowed to marry in the church?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's say a woman has a problem, such as a bicornate uterus, that causes fetal loss. Is she not supposed to get married? Have sex? Use birth control?

Are people over the age of 50 allowed to marry in the church?

Based on OP's earlier responses, I'll take a crack at this one: she can marry and have sex (w/o birth control, of course) or marry and practice abstinence. But under no circumstances could she use birth control, because that would be damaging. It's fine to create a fetus that will die, as long as you haven't severed the unitive and procreative aspects of sex.

And the over 50 couple is fine too. Not an issue of they CAN'T conceive, but they're certainly not allowed to do anything that might interfere with the procreative aspect of sex. Impossibility is irrelevant.

How did I do OP? Am I getting it?

[Anonymous]

Just FYI, every world religion and every Christian denomination taught birth control was wrong until the Anglican church made an exception for married couples in dire straights in 1930.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just FYI, every world religion and every Christian denomination taught birth control was wrong until the Anglican church made an exception for married couples in dire straights in 1930.

Jewish teaching has always allowed for the use of birth control. It was limited to specific circumstances but there was never a complete ban. Jewish law also has always allowed for abortion when the life (and health) of the mother is at stake.