Current Events- Contraceptives and the Catholic Church

A big dispute in today's society is the use of contraceptives, whether they be condoms or drugs in order to have sex without causing pregnancy. The Catholic Church's view on contraceptives has remained  firm from the beginning of time until the modern time. In 1994, Pope John Paul II clarified the Church's position saying,

"Unfortunately, Catholic thought is often misunderstood ... as if the Church supported an ideology of fertility at all costs, urging married couples to procreate indiscriminately and without thought for the future. But one need only study the pronouncements of the Magisterium to know that this is not so. Truly, in begetting life the spouses fulfill one of the highest dimensions of their calling: they are God's co-workers. Precisely for this reason they must have an extremely responsible attitude. In deciding whether or not to have a child, they must not be motivated by selfishness or carelessness, but by a prudent, conscious generosity that weighs the possibilities and circumstances, and especially gives priority to the welfare of the unborn child. Therefore, when there is a reason not to procreate, this choice is permissible and may even be necessary. However, there remains the duty of carrying it out with criteria and methods that respect the total truth of the marital act in its unitive and procreative dimension, as wisely regulated by nature itself in its biological rhythms. One can comply with them and use them to advantage, but they cannot be "violated" by artificial interference."

Essentially, John Paul II's message was that the Church holds sex as a marital act of unity, whose intent is procreation. Therefore, artificial interference such as contraceptives are against the Church's teachings, because they take a key element, creation of new life, from sex.



However, a 2007 study from Catholics for Choice conducted by president Jon O'Brien found that "plenty of Catholics disagree with Church teachings on contraception, especially when the distribution of condoms can help curb the spread of HIV and AIDS."


So, we can see that many modern groups, from the White House to Catholics themselves, disagree with the Church's ban on contraception especially in areas with high risk of HIV and AIDS. A truly interesting topic indeed.

-atohme