Contraception

Introduction

There are some Christians who claim there is nothing wrong with using contraception. As Catholics, we believe that it is immoral to take a natural instrument created by God and use it for unnatural purposes. If you were a watchmaker that created a watch, you would say that it is good if it tells the correct time. If it does not tell the correct time as it was designed to do, you would say that it is bad. Just as God created everything good, they only remain good if we do not pervert their intended design and purpose. If procreation is consciously blocked, we are perverting what is natural and good. Procreation which should be done only within the sacramental confines of matrimony is reduced through contraception from being unitive, covenantal and life-giving, to that of a selfish and destructive act. It is a hallmark of the Culture of Death.

Catechism

Lust is disordered desire for, or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes.

"...Every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, 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” is intrinsically evil: Thus the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other..."

Scripture

Gen. 1:28; Gen. 9:1,7; Gen. 35:11 - The Lord God commands us to be fruitful and multiply.

Gen. 38:8-10 - Onan is slain by God for practicing contraception.

Lev. 18:22-23; Lev. 20:13 - Wasting seed with non-generative sexual acts brings the judgment of death.

Deut. 23:1 - Whoever is castrated cannot enter the assembly. Contraception is contrary to moral and natural law.

1 Cor. 7:5 - Married couples should not refuse each other except by agreement, naturally. Natural Family Planning .

Rom 1:26-27 - Sexual acts without the possibility of procreation is sinful.

Tradition & Fathers

"Because of its divine institution for the propagation of man, the seed is not to be vainly ejaculated, nor is it to be damaged, nor is it to be wasted"… "To have coitus other than to procreate children is to do injury to nature."

"Women who were reputed to be believers began to take drugs to render themselves sterile, and to bind themselves tightly so as to expel what was being conceived, since they would not, on account of relatives and excess wealth, want to have a child by a slave or by any insignificant person. See, then, into what great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by teaching adultery and murder at the same time!"

"[Some] complain of the scantiness of their means, and allege that they have not enough for bringing up more children, as though, in truth, their means were in [their] power . . . or God did not daily make the rich poor and the poor rich. Wherefore, if any one on any account of poverty shall be unable to bring up children, it is better to abstain from relations with his wife."