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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