Catholic.

Yes, and pretty much all of my Catholic friends did. Even the one who didn't ended up getting a vasectomy. They had a child and then triplets came next. Enough is enough.

Raised Catholic, have had a total of 5 sexual partners. Used birth control pills on and off from when I lost my virginity (19) until I met my husband (27). We started using Fertility Awareness when we were engaged, and used it to concieve our kids. Used condoms between kids. When #2 was 2, DH got a vasectomy.

We have since left the Catholic Church, and are happy Unitarians. I am not a Catholic basher. There is so much that was wonderful about the way I was raised in this faith tradition. However, the issue of birth control is one of MANY that influenced our decision to leave the Catholic Church. Besides the Fertility Awareness, my experiences with contraception mirror those of most of my friends from my Catholic high school and Catholic college. My uber Catholic MOTHER used the pill in the 70s after having a couple babies in quick succession. With all due respect to the theology behind the issue, it just doesn't jive for me. The complexities of sex, conception, love and relationships, as well as the emotional, physical, and financial marathon of raising children is not something best evaluated by individuals who have never had to face those challenges.

I have not used birth control with my husband, but we currently do. I understand the Church's position and the rationale, and urge anyone to really learn about it as well. However, for me, it is choosing the lesser of two evils. In a perfect world, the no birth control would be beautiful, but we live in a flawed world where people want (and some NEED) to control their fertility. To me, I would much rather see someone use birth control, then get pregnant and have an abortion. Yes, birth control fails, but I bet it prevents a lot more pregnancies, and by extension, abortions, than no birth control!

And I do NOT receive Communion. I attend Mass weekly but haven't been to confession in long time, hence why I refrain from Communion.

My problem is the obsession with certain sins but the acceptance or others. Why name one and not the others. Here they are...

St. Paul gives us a list of grave sins. He states that anyone who commits these sins shall not enter the kingdom of God. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-20).

The Church also tells us that the sins of anger, blasphemy, envy, hatred, malice, murder, neglect of Sunday obligation, sins against faith (incredulity against God or heresy), sins against hope (obstinate despair in the hope for salvation and/or presumption that oneself can live without God or be saved by one’s own power) and sins against love (indifference towards charity, ingratitude, and/or hatred of God) also constitute grave matter. This list of grave sins, is based on Jesus Christ’s interpretation of the gravity of the Ten Commandments. Grave sins can be classed as sins against God, neighbor and self, and can further be divided into carnal and spiritual sins (CCC 1853).

I can go on forever.

Enough with homosexuality, birth control, divorce and abortion. The obsession with these subjects are a little creepy.

No birth control and am happy with our choice

Anonymous wrote:Do you drive? do you go over the spped limit? Do you fart in public and blame others? Did you cheat on an exam, are you returning your diploma? Did you drink before 21, did you turn yourslef in? Do you lie and tell your friends you wear an 8 instead of a 12?

Not sure exactly what your point is. Some offenses are more serious than others. Culpability also can change based on a number of factors.

According to the Church, birth control poses a very grave risk; although admittedly the vast majority of Catholics have not been adequately educated about the risk they are taking. Therefore, we find that many Catholics simply do not regard it as a big deal. However, those who take the time to learn, discover that it is indeed a serious issue and that following the teaching can actually be fairly simple and very rewarding. I am hopeful that the debate which has been spawned by the HHS mandate will inspire many currently uneducated Catholics to study it, recognize the beauty of it, and perhaps eventually live the truth that the Church teaches on this matter.

Anonymous wrote:Catholic family in our mid-30's with three great kids. We have never used artificial contraception of any kind. Been married 10 years. We are successful, happy, love our Church and participate in it fully - including receiving communion at Mass.

There a few years when I was in college where I didn't take my faith so seriously, and I was living with a boyfriend. During that time we used condoms, as I still found hormonal contraceptives to be problematic (especially the potential abortifacient properties).

Like all people, I'm a sinner - always will be - and certainly have sinned in the past; when I feel that it is sufficient enough to be separating me from God and when I know the matter is serious, I make sure to take it to confession before receiving communion.

Thanks for sharing that. Very interesting and thoughtful.

Do you drive? do you go over the spped limit? Do you fart in public and blame others? Did you cheat on an exam, are you returning your diploma? Did you drink before 21, did you turn yourslef in? Do you lie and tell your friends you wear an 8 instead of a 12?

Anonymous wrote:I am so tired of the anti-catholics on this board. I guarantee you that if someone started a post that asked "Are you Jewish, do you eat pork?" people would be up in arms. We get it already, you don't like catholics.

I think that's a valid question too. I'll start. My husband is Jewish and eats pork.

Catholic family in our mid-30's with three great kids. We have never used artificial contraception of any kind. Been married 10 years. We are successful, happy, love our Church and participate in it fully - including receiving communion at Mass.

There a few years when I was in college where I didn't take my faith so seriously, and I was living with a boyfriend. During that time we used condoms, as I still found hormonal contraceptives to be problematic (especially the potential abortifacient properties).

Like all people, I'm a sinner - always will be - and certainly have sinned in the past; when I feel that it is sufficient enough to be separating me from God and when I know the matter is serious, I make sure to take it to confession before receiving communion.

Anonymous wrote:I am so tired of the anti-catholics on this board. I guarantee you that if someone started a post that asked "Are you Jewish, do you eat pork?" people would be up in arms. We get it already, you don't like catholics.

No, I like Catholics just fine! But after reading the hatred from some Catholics (maybe just one) towards that lesibian woman denied Communion at her mother's funeral by a priest because she was in a relationship with another woman... I did wonder how many Catholics on this board use borth control... but yet receive Communion. Imagine if all Catholics who didn't follow Catholic teachings 100%... sat out at Communion.

I am so tired of the anti-catholics on this board. I guarantee you that if someone started a post that asked "Are you Jewish, do you eat pork?" people would be up in arms. We get it already, you don't like catholics.

Not currently using it but I have done, and yes, I do receive Communion at mass.

oops -- birth control, that should be, obviously!

If so, do your receive communion at Mass every Sunday?