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You are here: Home / You Know? / What Catholics Really Believe About Contraception

What Catholics Really Believe About Contraception

May 11, 2012 By Jenna 19 Comments

I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about the HHS mandate (requiring all organizations to provide insurance coverage which includes sterilization, contraception and abortion “services” to its employees) that has been all over the news lately. You can read about it here. I received a few great comments and questions on the matter, and I have been praying and researching for a good answer. So, here is what I have for you:
Question: 
“I would really love the opportunity to ask a Catholic who shares the views that you do, why exactly birth control is considered to be so bad. Now I have the chance, so I am asking.”
Short Answer:

Long Answer: 
Please understand that this post comes out of a place of love and guidance. As a Catholic, it is my job to love, guide and pray – not judge. I would venture to say that most people I know use some form of contraception, and my intention is not to condemn them, but only to offer a bit of understanding. Also, the contraception issue is closely related to the abortion issue, so you will see them overlap quite a bit here :)
The Politics
OK. I want to start my answer off by clearing up a little misunderstanding that I hear often. In regards to the HHS mandate, the Catholic agenda is NOT to outlaw contraception. We absolutely are not in the business of forcing our values on to those who are not Catholic. However, our agenda is one that we feel all Americans should be in line with. We feel that the religious freedom in our country is being jeopardized. We do not want to be forced to pay and provide “services” that we are morally opposed to. We also oppose the idea that the government should be allowed to force religious (or any other interest) groups to align with these types of mandates if it is against their moral code. It would be as if the government banned Muslim women from wearing an hijab. We would be outraged if that happened. It is socially unjust. This is the same case with Catholics and the HHS mandate.
So, regardless of your religious beliefs, this mandate should worry you greatly. If this injustice is possible, what else is possible? What slippery slope are we skidding down? Is it far reached to say that the government will begin to allot health care to each individual? Will the government begin to tell us that they cannot cover your mother’s cancer medication anymore because she has gone over her health care allotment?  Will the government require us to abort Downs Syndrome children because they will be too costly to our system? These ideas seem outlandish, but they are not a huge jump from what is being forced upon us right now. Now, on to contraception.
Technical Answer
Here is the nitty gritty answer from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The rest of this post will attempt to explain our views in language that is a bit more brain-friendly.
“(2370) Periodic continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self- observation and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria of morality. (158) These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In contrast, “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: (159)

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. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality…. The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle . . . involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality. (160)”

And, in my own normal words: Any action that prevents fertilization is considered contraception. We believe that the moment an egg is fertilized, it has a soul. It is a human. Even if you don’t believe it has a soul, there is no way we can attach its human identity to any other milestone outside of conception because it would be arbitrary and subjective. When a baby is born, is it human? Five minutes before a baby is born, is it human? Five days before a baby is born, is it human? Five months before a baby is born is it human? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. It is always a human, and it has been since conception – even before implantation.

Here is a sciency picture to go along with that:

Let Me Explain Further
Catholics believe that we are put on this earth to do the will of God and that will is to create life and to imitate the love of God. We must create life in order to actualize that love because, well, love is a verb that is need of a recipient. I mean, think about it. As humans, we often ask what the purpose of all of this is. Do we really think it is just to live on the planet, have a good time and try not to step on others’ toes? Or, can we look at it more deeply and say that our purpose is to create more love in order to replicate God’s love here on earth until we can join Him again in Heaven?
Now, here is where contraception comes in. When we get married, we are saying that we choose this person not only to love, but also to partner up with in order to make sure the other one goes to Heaven and to create more souls to get up there too. That is what marriage is. It’s like the buddy system when you go swimming. Make sure the other one doesn’t drown. It’s not just a person who makes you feel special and loved, although that is a part of it. Contraception says we take this person in marriage, but we only are taking the part we want. We do not want the life giving part of that person.
But I Would Never Have an Abortion
So, you might say, “But, Jenna. I use birth control and I plan on having/already have children. And, if contraception failed, I would never have an abortion.” Well, I say that is fantastic. Although, using contraception still says that you are operating on your own plan and not the will of God. It is saying that you want control and God does not have it. You are also potentially creating a hostile environment for a baby that has already been conceived. The most popular form of contraception, The Pill, is also an abortifacient. An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. And, above all, the Catholic Church is opposed to the destruction of life.
The Feminist View
You hear many self-proclaimed feminists and women’s interest groups fighting for their right to contracept. Again, the Catholic Church isn’t trying to ban their right, but let’s think about this a little differently. Contraception really is the ultimate slap in the face to women. It is saying that there is something innately wrong with us because we are fertile. We must take a pill in order to correct this defect and when that fails, we need an abortion to be made free. Wouldn’t the ultimate feminist view be a society that praised women for their fertility and ability to bring life into the world? A society that encouraged and supported women who are vessels for other human beings? And, ultimately, contraception says we are in charge, when, let’s face it, we’re not.

The Real Human Rights View
While we are on the topic of social justice, let’s talk about human rights. We fight for so many things in this world. We fight to save the environment, we fight to save animals, we fight to keep libraries open and fight every dumb Facebook change that comes our way. But, an unwanted pregnancy? Prevent it at all costs. Kill it.
Choosing to not use contraception is saying “yes” to life and is really the ultimate humanitarian mindset. Catholics are called to not only respect every form of life in the outside world, but also to respect life inside the womb. We know that we do not own the life that is created inside of us. God owns it. Now that is human rights and social justice.

Overpopulation
But what about overpopulation? If we just have babies at random, our resources will be used up and our planet will continue to be destroyed. Ok. What about the obesity epidemic we are currently facing? Or, what about what you eat on a typical day? Would you say that you eat more than your fair share of food during a day? I know I do (And I do know that many Americans face hunger; that is not to be overshadowed. However, many of us do not fall in that category). What about the incredible greed and consumerism in our society? I’d say it would be safe to assume that if we all took what we needed and nothing more, there would be plenty for all. I would also say that if we all lived in an environmentally conscious way, we would be able to sustain a healthy planet and population. Yet, not all people are willing to live in this way. But why should we deny new lives from joining our world because of that? It’s not their fault.

Then Why is NFP ok?
NFP (Natural Family Planning) is considered a moral option by the Catholic Church. You may wonder what the difference is between using NFP and a chemical or barrier method of birth control. Well, I just said it right there. NFP shouldn’t be considered birth control. My husband and I use NFP, and we are not trying to control God’s plan. Instead, we are using the method with a mindset that is open to life. We know we can get pregnant and we are ok with that! We also know that with NFP (99% effective), we can space our children out very effectively. We also pray for God’s guidance on how many children we should have. We aren’t just throwing caution to the wind in hopes of 16 kids. We are inviting God in to tell us how many kids we should have.

Let’s Stay Together
Which brings me to my next point, which is on the topic of marriage. NFP is a great way to include your partner in on the fertility process. It keeps you connected and open to lots of communication. Those who practice NFP have less than a 5% divorce rate while the rest of the country is still hanging out around 50%.

I Still Don’t Buy It

Let’s say you don’t buy into all of this God talk. Choosing to not use contraception is healthy for your body, natural and eco-friendly. Do you like to eat organically? Do you disagree with artificial hormones in your meat and genetic engineering in other foods? Then why put a foreign chemical in your body that alters the way it is naturally supposed to work? It seems a bit contradictory to want to eat clean, but then pump yourself full of chemicals that change the beautiful way your body was designed.
Not only is NFP good for your body, it is also good for the environment. Think about the footprint that these drug companies are leaving on our planet: the factories, the chemicals, the packaging, etc. And, I cannot comment on the validity of this, but I have to assume that when using The Pill, you are flushing synthetic hormones down the toilet and into our environment. We try so hard to be “green”, but when it comes to our own desires and pleasures, that goes out the window.

What Can You Do? 
So what if you’ve changed your mind? What if you have decided that contraception is not for you? Congratulations! You have joined the radical group that I like to call the “True Liberals”. You are liberated from the contraceptive mindset. You are liberated from depending on a man-made fertility squasher. You are a bleeding heart liberal who loves all forms of life!
Changing your mind and speaking out about it isn’t easy. We tend to demonize “the other side” because it makes it easier to fight our fights. Especially on social media. We can say things we would never say to another’s face. So, be prepared to be treated like the radical you are!
The next step is learning about NFP. Please, contact me if you want more information. I swear I won’t tell a soul if you don’t want me to. Or, you can head on over to this site to get more information. You can also read this blog. Or this blog where I got the pretty graphics! Or look for a doctor here. I’m telling you, it’s so easy and so freeing!
Final Word

We’ve become a culture of acting on what feels right instead of what is right. We say that there is no moral code that is an absolute truth. But, if we believe that, then we cannot condemn the actions of Hitler, Stalin, Koni, Manson or the like because they were simply acting on what they felt was right. Now you’re saying, “Whoa, Jenna. That’s a bit extreme.” And, yes, it is. But that doesn’t make it untrue. So what does this mean then? It means that there is such a thing as a moral absolute. We hold things to be innately right or wrong…unless of course it gets in the way of our own quest for pleasure. (Thank you Relevant Radio for that one!)

Choosing to use NFP in place of contraception says that you value the lives of others as much or even more than your own. It says you value yourself as you were designed. It says you value human rights. It says you are a true feminist. It says you buy into the radical idea that all life is important, not just life outside the womb.

So, does that answer your questions? I hope so. If not, please leave me a comment telling me what else you would like to know. I love talking about this to you! And, side note, while I was finishing this post, the Michigan Pro-Life movement called me to ask if they still had my support. Um yeah! If that isn’t a sign that I was supposed to write this, what is? 

**Update: I have been receiving a lot more comments and questions as the day goes on. Instead of replying to each individually, I will do another post addressing all of your thoughts. Thank you for continuing to comment and keeping the conversation going.**

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  1. Mary says

    May 11, 2012 at 10:59 am

    excellent, sharing :)

    Reply
  2. LM says

    May 11, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    This is great, but I do think i tis hard not to get into that ‘contraceptive mindset’ even with NFP.  For example, one of your pictures is about bragging that all your children were ‘planned’.  I do not oppose using NFP in a prudent, prayerful way, but I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that NFP is NOT supposed to be the default state. Accepting children is, and if you have a serious reason to avoid, THEN you use NFP.  Ideally, we’re not supposed to be ‘planning’ our children if we don’t have to.

    Also, while I don’t belive that we are supposed to all be the Duggars, there is nothing wrong with that either – there are, shock and awe, Catholics that don’t even use NFP.  So I think your graphic insulting her is not at all charitable.

    Reply
  3. RD says

    May 11, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    Hello! I enjoyed reading your perspective. Though, I noticed you failed to mention the use of condoms as contraception. What is your viewpoint on that? With condoms an egg is never fertilized or becomes “human” and there are no harmful effects to te body or environment.

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth says

    May 11, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    As a
    feminist, I believe you have the feminist view all wrong. I use contraception
    because I work full time and want to enjoy married life with my husband before
    we decide it’s time to have children. 
    Further, I do not see my ultimate purpose in life as a baby-maker nor would
    I be honored to think of myself as a walking vessel. I
    am so much more.  Yes, I think that that reproduction is an
    amazing and sacred thing! I look forward to one day use my body to
    create life– but when it’s best for me. I believe I’m equipped to influence
    that decision. However, I also I take Aspirin when I have a headache, messing
    with god’s plan for me to be in pain. Sometimes I color and straighten my hair,
    so I’m messing with her plan in a lot of ways, I suppose.

    I see your
    view and appreciate that you’re passionate. However, you use the slippery slope
    fallacy way too much here: “women who WANT birth control are going to be able
    to have access to it, and next time you know, they’re going to be forced to cut
    off their hands!” Come on. And of course you bring Hilter into it! Why not?!

    Really, at
    the end of the day, this fight against women is insane and dangerous. It’s
    harmful to a woman’s place in society and ability to operate in the workplace/marketplace
    and for her to have a voice in their health way they live their lives.

    Shouldn’t
    Catholics be worrying less about their neighbors “vessels” and more time/mental
    space/blog content fighting social injustices that birthed humans are facing?

    Reply
  5. JE says

    May 11, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    Fantastic discussion!!  One of the most concise and thoughtful summaries I’ve read!  Thanks for your time and thought put into this!  I believe God was speaking through you with this!

    Reply
  6. Jenna@CallHerHappy says

    May 11, 2012 at 4:05 pm

     **Update:
    I have been receiving a lot more comments and questions as the day goes
    on. Instead of replying to each individually, I will do another post
    addressing all of your thoughts. Thank you for continuing to comment and
    keeping the conversation going.**

    Reply
  7. Andrea says

    May 12, 2012 at 1:07 am

    In my opinion, I think the biggest hurdle is agreeing life begins at conception.  If that ever happens (and I pray that it does) I doubt this HHS mandate would even be an issue.

    Also, thoughts on “free abortions” yet to purchase private maternity insurance it could cost $500 or more a month on top of health insurance costs. 

    I think this is an excellent post, and I don’t think I could have
    explained it better myself.  I am looking forward to reading the next.

    Reply
  8. Liz Timmerman says

    May 12, 2012 at 1:41 am

    Your thought process was so clear and concise Jenna and I applaud your courage in standing up for what you believe in as well as putting an often misunderstood value of the Catholic faith into “regular” language. There are so many additional topics that I think you could spin off of this one that I hope to see in the future – namely religious freedom for all to include Catholics and over population vs. overconsumption. Well done Jenna!

    Reply
  9. Mary says

    May 12, 2012 at 2:05 am

    Ha!  I posted this to my fb wall, and I saw that several of my friends hit ‘share’ so…hopefully it is okay that I sent some traffic this way :)  

    Reply
  10. Pat says

    May 12, 2012 at 2:33 am

    If you understand the HHS mandate, you would know, nobody is trying to take away birth control. As Catholics, because it is against our religious beliefs, we just don’t want to have to pay for it.  It’s already readily available. We are trying to protect our religious freedom and as a woman, my right to live my life the way I want to.

    Reply
  11. Jen @ Ginger Guide says

    May 12, 2012 at 2:35 am

    Oh dear, I hope this doesn’t hurt our friendship but I do not agree at all. First I would like to know where you got your information about birth control pills causing abortion. I actually wrote about this topic for my senior thesis and it’s not true. Birth control and Plan B stop a fertilized egg from attaching, it will not detach an already attached embryo. I was still on the pill when I got pregnant and no issues whatsoever. I use birth control because I cannot financially or emotionally handle more babies right now. I also cannot handle no sex. I am personally very pro life but I vote pro choice bc I do not have the right to force my beliefs on others. Do catholic organizations have the right to deny birth control coverage for their employees? Absolutely. It’s their right as a private organization. But I should not have to subject myself to one religion’s beliefs to live in a free country that claims to support all religions.

    Let’s still be friends but just promise not to talk about religion or politics when we meet for lunch, ok. :)

    Reply
  12. Pat says

    May 12, 2012 at 2:36 am

    Great post. I hope this helps people understand how beautiful and freeing NFP is.

    Reply
  13. priest's wife says

    May 11, 2012 at 11:36 pm

    facebooking…twittering….(and I am not ‘into’ zombies- but I LOVE that IUSENFP button!)

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    May 12, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    Jenna
    Thanks for standing up and choosing to write about such a difficult topic. It’s very well done. I wish more people knew the true Catholic views on this stuff, and I also wish that non-Catholics would be more understanding of our perspective. I don’t see people arguing Muslims or Jewish people for their beliefs, so I just can’t understand why it’s so cool to pick on Carholics. This article should help!
    Love
    Mike

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      May 12, 2012 at 4:32 pm

      And by Carholics I mean Catholics. :)

      Mike

      Reply
  15. Elizabeth Hillgrove says

    May 16, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    A fertilized egg has all of the building blocks of a 25-year-old accountant who likes to hike on the weekends and goes to dancing class on Thursday nights. When the pill and Plan B unnaturally evict those embryos from the womb, they are aborting a human being.

    Reply
  16. Elizabeth Hillgrove says

    May 16, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Also, it’s a free country, but you don’t have to work for a Catholic organization if you know their beliefs would prevent them from paying for your birth control. If you want people to stay away from your body, why do you think you can then force them to pay for a choice you make with it?

    Reply
  17. momto8blog says

    June 1, 2012 at 1:24 pm

    I love this post!!  My daughter is in grad school and she wanted to do a research paper on the side effects of  birth control pill…the professors discouraged this and then disallowed it…we were discussing this at the dinner table and my 7th grade son informed us they learned in health class how good the pill is for girls…even makes them prettier by keeping their face acne free…can you even believe it?!!!!!  and it doesn’t stop…in another grad course the topic of the paper was why the health care mandate is good for our country!!!!  what?  most of these young professionals have never thought this stuff through and so believe as Gospel what they are being taught, and then adopt these beliefs.  

    Reply
  18. callherhappy says

    June 1, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    They are brainwashing our kids to think that their bodies don’t work correctly. And then they are marketing it as human rights. It’s sick. That is why hubs and I are going to a home school conference tonight. We just want to keep our options open if things keep going in this direction.

    Reply
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