Catholic Church and Artificial Birth Control Methods - Research Paper Example

Catholic Church and Artificial Birth Control Methods When birth control methods were introduced as a way of controlling human population in the world, different people and organizations took different sides about it. Some decided to support it while others decided to oppose it. All of these interest groups had their reasons for taking sides. The Catholic Church has opposed it for a long time and discourages their faithful from using any of the birth control methods with special regard to contraception. The Catholic Church imposed a ban on birth control methods since the early days of the bible. The Catholic Church is emphatic on the notion that birth control is not only wrong but also a grave sin. This paper will discuss the Catholic Church or doctrine and its emphasis on the ban of artificial birth control methods. From the date of its inception, the Catholic Church has insisted that birth control is a sin. Birth control and its methods have been understood from the times of ancient Roman and Greek empires. During this period, birth control was undertaken using condoms made from animal skin and other poisons that were used as spermicidal. The Catholic Church has followed the first mention of birth control issues recorded in genesis 38:8-10. According to the catholic doctrine, this is where birth control methods have been banned in the bible. Here Onan was instructed to engage in sexual intercourse with the widow of his brother. However, in that activity, Onan withdrew his penis so that he could not impregnate her. This resulted to the slain of Onan (Jutte 142). The Catholic Church also cites Deuteronomy 23:1 that says that a person who crushes his testicles or cuts off his member will not be allowed in the Assembly of God. Crushing testicles and cutting off the member were considered as effective ways of sterilization at that time. Therefore, the Catholic Church states that this verse is clear on the Bible’s stand on birth control issues. The ban on birth control methods were also reiterated by the Catholic Church leaders in their time. For instance, the Clement of Alexandria in 195 AD said that the seed has a divine institution towards the propagation of human species. Therefore, the seed should not be ejaculated vainly, damaged or be wasted. This assertion agrees with the song of Monty Python called Every Sperm is Sacred. During the industrial revolution in 1930, Pope Pius XI was angered by the acceptance of birth control by other churches of the Christian doctrine (Tentler 7). This made him put a casti connubii in December 1930 that read, “… therefore, openly departing from the uninterrupted Christian tradition some recently have judged it possible solemnly to declare another doctrine regarding this question, the Catholic Church ... in order that she may preserve the chastity of the nuptial union from being defiled by this foul stain, ... proclaims anew that any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin.” (Genovesi 174) The Catholic Church has hold on to the ban even in modern times. The catholic doctrine states that God created sex for the procreation of children and maintain the chastity of marriage. It is in this sense that the Catholic Church forbids sex outside marriage. This is because the church emphasizes that the teachings of birth control methods should be taught and understood in the context of marriage specifically for the husband and his wife. However, the modern day Catholic Church has slightly changed on its emphasis on birth control methods. The traditional Catholic Church did not allow for any birth control method. On the other hand, the modern Catholic Church allows married couples to use natural birth control methods (Rengel 198). The modern day Catholic Church states clearly that it does not condemn the use of pills or condoms. This is because, condoms can be used to protect people from contracting sexually transmitted diseases and pills can be used to control the fertility periods of a woman who is not sexually active. However, it states that it is morally wrong for pills and condoms to be used to prevent conception. However, because the use of pills and condoms for the other purposes eventually lead to the prevention of conception, the Catholic Church prohibits their use. The Catholic Church prohibits its faithful from using artificial contraception because of several reasons. First, it is considered to be against the natural law that allows human beings to procreate. It also breaks the connection that exists between the procreate aspect and uniting aspect intended for sexual intercourse for married couples. Thirdly, the Catholic Church states that artificial birth control methods encourage sexual intercourse outside marriage as prohibited by the bible. This is turn leads to pervasive immorality because people take advantage of it to become promiscuous. It also damages the institution of marriage. According to the bible, sex is supposed to be performed between married couples because it up holds the holy institution. By engaging in sex outside marriage, its holiness is destroyed. Artificial birth control methods also reduce the respect men have for women because they see them as sex objects. Human beings are also made to think that they have full control of their bodies, an idea that God despises (Robinson and Ross 149). In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI made headlines when he said that condoms are ineffective and counterproductive in preventing HIV/AIDS infections and spread. The Pope stated that despite its use, it could not prevent HIV/AIDS infection because it is not 100 percent preventive. Instead, it increases the risk of infection because many people become promiscuous by using it. Many people interpreted this to be the take of the Catholic Church having been said by its most respected leader. The main argument The Catholic Church holds to the idea that contraception is immoral because it fertility in the part of couples and leads to miss use of sex for pleasure. Therefore, the church teaches that because of the immoral aspect of the method it cannot be used as a moral solution to HIV/AIDS infection and population control. The church proposes that instead of people using artificial birth control methods they should use natural family planning methods. For instance, couples can choose to abstain from sex at the fertility periods. This means that they should learn about the fertility periods of the woman and avoid sexual intercourse to avoid conception. Therefore, they should only engage in sex when the fertility period is off (Curran and Griffin 209). The ban on artificial birth control methods and the explanations of the catholic doctrine towards the ban has been one of the most controversial topics in the moral teachings of religion. This is because most of the birth control methods are widely used in the whole world. More so, these methods are also used by some of the Catholics. The artificial birth control methods have been useful in controlling unwanted pregnancies over time. Therefore, the catholic doctrine has been criticized because of its stand on morality versus the importance of the artificial birth control methods. Most people state that the natural birth control method advocated by the Catholic Church does not work most people finds it difficult to abstain when in marital companionship. Therefore, the advocacy of the church is faulted to be ineffective (Tentler 15). The Catholic Church, on its part, has defended its decision based on the premise that it is founded on the nature of responsible parenthood and marital sexuality. Thus, it emphasizes that physical love between a married man and wife cannot be separated from reproductive ends of the act. To them sex is a Godly act and designed for married people. Therefore, the church does not give any importance to any benefit derived from the use of contraceptives because it is against God’s will and purpose of marriage. Sterilization is also discouraged by the catholic doctrine because it is considered as destruction of God’s creation, which is the human body. It is also seen as a way through which man destroys or alters the function of the body organ that God intended it to perform. Man should not interfere with the system that God created. Therefore, sterilization is a sin and should not be allowed to happen (Genovesi 189). In conclusion, the Catholic Church or doctrine has held on to the ban of artificial birth control methods for a long time. These methods include cuts in the body and introduction of foreign objects to the body. The church has given many reasons for its emphasis on the ban. Most importantly, the church has cited the bible and its teachings to show that artificial birth control methods are sin. The church emphasizes that these methods are not Godly and should not be accepted. Despite the criticisms laid against the church, it has held on to its decision irrespective of the changes in the leadership of the church. Most of the reasons that the church has given for the ban point out to its moral basis and the function of sex in marriage. Works cited Curran, Charles E. and Leslie Griffin. The Catholic Church, morality, and politics. New Jersey: Paulist Press, 2001. Genovesi, Vincent J. In pursuit of love: Catholic morality and human sexuality. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1996. Jutte, Robert. Contraception: a history. United Kingdom: Polity, 2008. Rengel, Marian. Encyclopedia of birth control. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000. Robinson, Warren C. and John A. Ross. The global family planning revolution: three decades of population policies and programs. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications, 2007. Tentler, Leslie Woodcock. Catholics and contraception: an American history. New York: Cornell University Press, 2004. Read More