What is the Catholic stand on birth control?

[The idea]

Do they say that there must be no effort to lower the probability of conception?

Do they say that the probability of conception must be higher than some particular number?

Do they say that it must be possible for conception to occur even if there is no miracle?

[DangerousBeliefs]

In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued his landmark encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (Latin, "Human Life"), which reemphasized the Church’s constant teaching that it is always intrinsically wrong to use contraception to prevent new human beings from coming into existence.

Contraception is "any action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act [sexual intercourse], or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible" (Humanae Vitae 14). This includes sterilization, condoms and other barrier methods, spermicides, coitus interruptus (withdrawal method), the Pill, and all other such methods.

http://www.catholic.com/library/Birth_Control.asp

Naturally sterile people having sex appears to be OKAY.

And of course, the Bible doesn't really mention any of this... but that never stopped the Church (no siree!).

[TragicMonkey]

The Rhythym Method is still okay, I think.

And it works so well! It's why my grandmother only had fifteen siblings instead of more. (But don't worry, they did just fine. Because of the poverty, four died in infancy, so there was more food to go around the survivors. Yay, Church!)

[The idea]

Contraception is "any action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act [sexual intercourse], or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible" (Humanae Vitae 14).
Okay.


This includes sterilization, condoms and other barrier methods, spermicides, coitus interruptus (withdrawal method), the Pill, and all other such methods.
Condoms make procreation impossible? Spermicides make procreation impossible? The Pill makes procreation impossible?

Is this the same Church that says that a 90-year-old woman got pregnant and gave birth thousands of years ago?

[Ralph]

How tough would it be for God to just make the condom break---assuming he's still into begatting and populating the earth.

[TragicMonkey]

Originally posted by Ralph
How tough would it be for God to just make the condom break---assuming he's still into begatting and populating the earth.

Since God can't make transubstantiation occur without gluten, apparently he has pretty severe limits to his powers.

[DangerousBeliefs]

Take and poke a pin into a condom and I think you're good to go with the P and big daddy G.

Then you've greatly reduced your changes of pregnancy but still made it possible. :rolleyes:

[Gulliamo]

I can't believe he actually mentioned the "pull-out method!"
I can't believe he actually had a Latin phrase for it!
For a guy who has never (supposedly) done it (with a girl) he sure has put a lot of thought into this.

I wonder if it is a sin for young kids to "interrupt" their parents. Because, if so, these kids of mine are some serious sinners! They constantly "render procreation impossible"!!

[The idea]

Here's a list of methods from the FDA. None of the methods renders procreation impossible. Maybe the Catholic Church needs to do more research on failure rates for various birth control methods? Of course, even a failure rate of exactly 0% for past use would not guarantee that the method will never fail.

Pregnancy Rates for Birth Control Methods (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1997/conceptbl.html)

Maybe the Catholic Church should offer a million dollar reward for anyone who gets pregnant while using the Norplant Implant. If they claim that it is impossible, then there's no financial risk for the Church, right?

[DangerousBeliefs]

Originally posted by The idea
Here's a list of methods from the FDA. None of the methods renders procreation impossible. Maybe the Catholic Church needs to do more research on failure rates for various birth control methods? Of course, even a failure rate of exactly 0% for past use would not guarantee that the method will never fail.


No no... what he's saying is... have sex... enjoy it... but we want another kid from you pronto! How else can we keep up with the disillusionment rate?

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by The idea
Do they say that there must be no effort to lower the probability of conception?

Do they say that the probability of conception must be higher than some particular number?

Do they say that it must be possible for conception to occur even if there is no miracle?
*cue music "Every Sperm is Sacred"*

I thought Catholic orthodox forbaid any kind of non-procreative sex as sinful, so I would imagine all of your questions can be answered with the straightforward grimace of an unhappy nun.

I think the catch-all answer is that any means (excluding acts of God) that would reduce the opportunity to produce more Catholic babies is a no-no.

As far as conception-probability requirements, I think there are only two ideals: baby-making factory, or celibacy.

[Renfield]

I believe the policy is still that procreation is only for conception. Otherwise you are not supposed to do it.

[WildCat]

Aw, c'mon. You have to admit that the world is dangerously underpopulated.

[arthwollipot]

Originally posted by The idea
Here's a list of methods from the FDA. None of the methods renders procreation impossible. Maybe the Catholic Church needs to do more research on failure rates for various birth control methods? Of course, even a failure rate of exactly 0% for past use would not guarantee that the method will never fail.

No, no! What the church is saying is that the only birth control method that is sinful is abstinence! Because abstinence is the only method that guarantees prevention of conception.

I wonder if George Dubya has thought of that...

[ceo_esq]

Originally posted by WildCat
Aw, c'mon. You have to admit that the world is dangerously underpopulated. Western Europe is certainly heading in that direction.

[ceo_esq]

Originally posted by Renfield
I believe the policy is still that procreation is only for conception. Otherwise you are not supposed to do it. Humanae Vitae refers to two meanings or purposes of the sexual act, unitive and procreative (in that order, interestingly enough). The unitive dimension, as I understand it, is the expression and reinforcement of mutual love between spouses. It is distinct from the purpose of the transmission of life, but apparently the Church believes that the two values of the conjugal act (unitive and procreative) are sufficiently related to warrant a prohibition on unnaturally suppressing one or the other.

[I'll_buy_that]

Coitus interruptus, was used by Onan to avoid fulfilling his duty according to the ancient Jewish law of fathering children for one’s dead brother. "Judah said to Onan, ‘Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.’ But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife he spilled the semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother. And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him also" (Gen. 38:8–10).

The way i read it here, Onan was punished for not fulfilling his brother in law duties. Not because he pull out, but because he didn't father a child with is brothers wife as he was commanded.

This has nothing to do with just pulling out because i have enough kids to feed and anymore will make me want to go out for cigaretts some night and not come back.

It basically falls back to; these rules are made by really old men, who are locked away from normal society and from women, don't have sex and aren't supposed to have it. They have absolutely no knowledge of how to live a normal life, have a spouse, kids, job, etc.

[arthwollipot]

It's also covered in the book of Leviticus, that marvellous collection of archaic prohibitions:

Because I never tire of linking to the Brick Testament (http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/sexual_discharges/lv15_16a.html)