Self-gift:TheHeartofHumanaeVitae
1.Introduction
TheCatholicChurch’steachingonsexualityisbasedonthedignityofthehuman
personasbeingmadeintheimageandlikenessofalovingGod.Thegiftoflifeisagreat
giftnotonlybecauseitenablesustoenjoythemarvelousgoodsofthisworld;even
moreimportantly,itenablesustoanticipateandstriveforeternallifewheretherewill
beaneverlastingenjoymentofallgoods,madepossiblebyunionwithourLoving
Father.HumanaeVitaebeginsbyreferencingthe“extremelyimportantmissionof
transmittinghumanlife”thatGodhasentrustedtospouses.1Itspeaksofparentsas
thosewhorenderGodagreatservice.Afterall,GodwantstoshareHislimitless
goodnesswithsouls;thatiswhyHecreatedtheuniverse.Havingandraisingchildrenis
anactofimmensegenerosityanddignity;itenableshumanpersonstoparticipateinan
actofinestimablevalue:theactofassistingGodinbringinganewimmortalsoulinto
existence.
TheWijngaardsStatementmakestheerroneousclaimthatHumanaeVitaeis
basedprimarilyon“biologicallaws.”AstheopeningsentencesofHumanaeVitae
indicate,thatisveryfarfromthetruth.Thebiologicalrealitythatsexualintercoursecan
leadtotheconceptionofnewlifeisundeniablyrelevanttoanyconsiderationof
contraception,butbiologyinnosenseprovidestheprimarybasisfortheChurch’s
teaching.Tostartthereistostartinthewrongplace.
1.1GodisLove
Again,theChurchbeginswithanunderstandingofGodasLove,andan
understandingofloveasapowerthatoverflowsintonewloveandnewlife.Thehuman
personsHecreateshaveanimmortaldestiny.Hehasbestoweduponspousesthe
tremendousgiftofbeingparticipatorswithHiminthecreationofnewpersons,agift
thatrequirescompleteself-giving.
Thestatementbelowmakesthisclear,andshowsthatmanycompellingreasons
thathavebeenputforthtojustifytheclaimsofHumanaeVitae.Thesereasonsmaybe
basedonScripture,ontheCatholicTradition,onseveraltheoriesofnaturallaw,andon
thereal-lifeconsequencesofcontraceptiononwomen’sbodies,onnon-maritaland
maritalsexualrelationships,andonsociety.Noneofthesereasonshavebeenaddressed
bytheWijngaardsStatement.Ourintenthereisnottoprovideafull-scaledefenseof
HumanaeVitae.Itis,rather,togiveasketchofsomepowerfuldefensesofthedoctrine
foundintheencyclicalandtoshowthatlove,ratherthanbiology,animatesallofthem.
Theendnotes(wehavetriedtokeepthesetoaminimum)andlistofresourcesoffer
additionalin-depthsupportforthesedefenses.
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1.2MultipleDefenses
Itispossibletoexplainthewrongnessofmanymoralissuesbyavarietyof
defenses.Adultery,forinstance,canbearguedtobewrongformanyreasons:1)itis
againstGod’swill;2)itviolatesoneoftheTenCommandments;3)itisagainstthe
natureofmarriage;4)itisincompatiblewiththevirtuesoffidelityandself-mastery;5)it
violatesavalidpromise;6)itviolatestherightsofaspouse;7)virtuallyallcivilizationsat
alltimesandallplaceshaveconsideredittobewrongandhavehadlawsagainstit;and
8)itcanbeharmfultoone’sself,one’sspouse,one’schildren,one’sotherrelationships,
one’sfinancialstatus,andsociety,too.Someoftheselinesofargumentationleadtothe
conclusionthatadulteryisalwayswrongandsometotheconclusionthatisalmost
alwayswrong.Thustheydonotallhavethesamestrength,butallcarrystrongweight
againstadultery.Itmustbenotedthattherearealsoweakargumentsagainstadultery
(e.g.,thatitisunpleasanttobeknownasanadulterer)butjustbecauseanargumentis
weakdoesnotmeanthattheclaimitismeanttosupportisfalse.Norisittruethatan
argument(e.g.,thatitisunpleasanttobeknownasanadulterer)isnecessarilyvalidor
strongsimplybecauseitleadstoatrueconclusion.
1.3FundamentalTruths
Noteveryonewhohasauthoredorcollaboratedwithcomposingthisdocument
acceptsalltheargumentsputforwardhereinorseesthemasequallyvalid;buteach
signatorydoesaccepttheChurch’steachingthatcontraceptionisneverinaccordwith
God’splanforsexuality,andholdsthatoneormoreoftheargumentspresented,rightly
understood,establishesthatcontraceptiveintercourseisanactionthatisalways
incompatiblewiththegoodsofmarriage.Ourstatementattemptstoprovidethe“big
picture”oftheChurch’steachingratherthanofferingapoint-by-pointrebuttalofthe
claimsoftheWijngaardsStatement,althoughresponsestothoseclaimsareembedded
inourstatement.(AspecificandthroughrebuttaltotheWijngaardsStatementwillbe
postedatalaterdate.)
TheAffirmation(alsopublishedonthiswebpage)providesalistoffundamental
truthsacceptedbyallsignatories.Theyprovidethefoundationforthisdocument.We
restatethemhere.
1.3.1 GodisLove:TheGodwhomadeourbeautifulandorderedworldisaloving
andgoodGod.AllofHiscreationisalovinggifttohumankind.Evenafterthe
Fall,GodcontinuedtoreachouttoHispeople,graduallyrevealingHimself
andthedepthsofhisloveandmercy.GodtheFather’sgiftofHisSonJesus,
whoselifewaspouredoutontheCross,wastheultimateandcompleteselfgift.ThisgreatandradicalloveisborneoutinScripturewherethebiblical
authorsintheOldTestamentoftenspeakofGodintheimageofhusband
andHispeopleasHiswife,andintheNewTestamentwhereChristis
describedasthebridegroomandtheChurchasHisbride.Throughoutthe
historyoftheChurch,manyhaveseenthisspousalimageryasakeyto
understandingGod’srelationshiptoeveryhumansoul.
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1.3.2 MadeinGod’sImage:BecauseGodisLove–acommunionofDivinePersons
–HemademenandwomeninHisimage:abletoreasonandtochoose
freely,withthecapacitytoloveandtobeinlovingrelationships.
1.3.3 CompleteGiftofSelf:GodinvitesallpeopletoshareinHislove.Every
person,therefore,isbelovedbyGodandmadetobeinlovingrelationships;
everypersoniscreatedtomakeagiftofselftoGodandtoothers.Thegiftof
selfneednotincludeanysexualdimensions;itmeanslivinginawaythat
promotesthegoodofeveryone,especiallythosewithwhomoneisinclose
relationship.
1.3.4 Marriage:AUniqueCommunionofPersons:MarriagewasdesignedbyGod
toenableamanandawomantoliveouthumanity’scoreidentityaslovers
andgiversoflife,toenablethetwotobecome“oneflesh”(Gen.2:24)and
forthatonefleshto“befruitfulandmultiplyandfilltheearth”(Gen.1:28).
HumansexualrelationsfulfillGod’sintentonlywhentheyrespectthe
procreativemeaningofthesexualactandinvolveacompletegiftofself
betweenmarriedpartners.
1.3.5 God’sLaw,NotMan’s:“ThedoctrinethattheMagisteriumoftheChurchhas
oftenexplainedisthis:thereisanunbreakableconnectionbetweenthe
unitivemeaningandtheprocreativemeaning[ofthemaritalact],andboth
areinherentinthemaritalact.ThisconnectionwasestablishedbyGodand
humanbeingsarenotpermittedtobreakitthroughtheirownvolition”(HV
12).TheteachingthatcontraceptionisalwaysagainstGod’splanfor
sexuality,marriage,andhappinessisnotbasedonhumanlaw:“Theteaching
oftheChurchabouttheproperspacingofchildrenisapromulgationofthe
divinelawitself”(HV20).
1.3.6 FaithandReason:Godhasrevealedthetruthsaboutsexualitytohuman
beingsthroughthebiblicalvisionofthehumanpersonandhasalsomadeit
accessibletoourreason.Severalwell-arguedversionsof“naturallaw”
defensessupporttheChurch’steachingthatcontraceptionisnotinaccord
withGod’splanforsexualityandmarriage.Eachbeginswithdifferentbasic
truthsandthuseachconstructsitsargumentsdifferently.
1.3.7 TheTheologyoftheBody:SaintJohnPaulII’sContribution:SaintJohnPaul
II’sManandWomanHeCreatedThem:ATheologyoftheBody(virtually
ignoredbytheWijngaardsStatement)providesapowerfuldefenseofthe
viewthatcontraceptionisnotinaccordwiththeunderstandingofthe
humanpersonasconveyedbyScriptureandsacredCatholicTradition.He
speaksofthe“languageofthebody”andhasshownthattoviolatethe
procreativemeaningofthemaritalactisalsotoviolatetheunitive(the
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“commitment-expressing”)meaningofthemaritalact.Therehe
demonstratesthatourverybodieshavealanguageanda“spousalmeaning”
–thattheyexpressthetruththatwearetobeinlovingandfruitful
relationshipswithothers.
1.3.8 HumanaeVitaeasProphetic:HumanaeVitaespeaksagainstthedistorted
viewofhumansexualityandintimaterelationshipsthatmanyinthemodern
worldpromote.HumanaeVitaewaspropheticwhenitlistedsomeofthe
harmsthatwouldresultfromthewidespreaduseofcontraception.
Abundantstudiesshowthatcontraception,suchashormonalcontraceptives
andintrauterinedevices,cancauseserioushealthproblemsforwomen.The
widespreaduseofcontraceptionappearstohavecontributedgreatlytothe
increaseofsexoutsideofmarriage,toanincreaseofnonmarital
pregnancies,abortion,singleparenthood,cohabitation,divorce,poverty,and
theexploitationofwomen.Ithasalsocontributedtodecliningmarriagerates
aswellastodecliningpopulationgrowthinmanypartsoftheworld.Thereis
evengrowingevidencethatchemicalcontraceptivesharmtheenvironment.
1.3.9 APracticalHelptoHusbandsandWives–FABMs:InordertoliveGod’s
designformarriedlove,husbandandwifeneedmoralfamilyplanning
methods.FertilityAwarenessBasedMethodsofFamilyPlanning(orFABMs,
i.e.,themanyformsofNaturalFamilyPlanning)respecttheGod-given
spousalunionandthepotentialtoprocreate.FABMsarefullyconsistentwith
theChurch’steachingonmaritalchastity.Couplesusingthesemethodsmake
noattempttothwartthepowerofactsthatcouldresultintheprocreationof
newhumanpersons.TheyrespectGod’sdesignforsexuality;theyhelp
individualsgrowinself-mastery;theyhavethepotentialtostrengthen
marriagesandrespectthephysicalandpsychologicalhealthofwomen.
Moreover,sciencedemonstratesthattheyarehighlyeffectivebothin
helpingcoupleslimittheirfamilysizewhennecessaryandconceivewhen
appropriate.
1.3.10 RespectforCulturalValuesandFreedom:Internationalorganizationsand
governmentsshouldrespectthevaluesandbeliefsoffamiliesandcultures
thatseechildrenasagift,andthereforeshouldnotimpose–onindividuals,
families,orcultures–practicesantitheticaltotheirvaluesandbeliefsabout
childrenandfamilyplanning.Governmentsandinternationalorganizations
shouldmakeinstructioninFertilityAwarenessBasedMethods(FABMs)of
familyplanningapriority.FABMsarebasedonsolidscientificunderstanding
ofawoman’sfertilitycycle,areeasilylearnedbywomenindeveloping
countries,arevirtuallywithoutcost,andpromoterespectforwomen.
1.3.11 ChristProvidesGrace:Becauseoforiginalsin,menandwomenbecame
subjecttotemptationsthatsometimesseeminsuperable.Christcamenot
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justtorestoreourOriginalGoodnessbuttoenableustoachieveholiness.
TheCatholicChurchinvitesmarriedcouplestoparticipateinthelifeofChrist,
andtoparticipateinthesacraments,especiallyinReconciliationandHoly
Eucharist.TheChurchasksthefaithfultodeepentheirrelationshipwiththe
LordGodtheFather,tobeopentoreceivingthedirectionoftheHolySpirit,
andtoaskChristtoprovidethegracesneededtoliveinaccordwithGod’s
willfortheirmarriedlives,evenwhendoingsorequireslivingthedifficult
moraltruths.
1.4TheologyoftheBody
The“bigpicture”andthesefundamentaltruthsencompassmuchmorethan
whatwasaddressedintheWijngaardsStatement.Itincludestheviewthattheteaching
onloveandmarriageinHolyScriptureshowsthatcontraceptionisincompatiblewith
God’splanforsexualityandthedignityofthehumanperson.TheWijngaardsStatement
nevermentionsJohnPaulII’sTheologyoftheBody(presentedinhismagisterialMan
andWomanHeCreatedThem:ATheologyoftheBody);indeed,itshowsnoawareness
ofitnorofthefactthatconferenceshavebeenheldandinstituteshavesprungupin
placesallovertheworld(largelyfoundedbymarriedlaity)2toinstructpeopleabout
SaintJohnPaulII’sprofoundmeditationsonScripture,orhisexpositionofthespousal
meaningofthebody.NordoestheWijngaardsStatementacknowledgethatJohnPaul
II’sinsightshaveleadthecountlesscouplesawayfromtheuseofcontraceptiontoan
appreciationofthegreatjoyfoundinembracingGod’splanforsexuality.Neverclaiming
thatScriptureexplicitlycondemnscontraceptionbutclaimingthatitarisesfromthe
logicofthetest,SaintJohnPaulIIshowsthewaysinwhichcontraceptionis
incompatiblewithScripture’sclearteachingaboutloveandmarriage.Focusedasitison
promotingsterilesex,itisperhapsunsurprisingthattheWijngaardsStatementbarely
evenmentionsloveormarriage.
1.5NaturalMoralLaw
TheChurchhaslongreferencednaturalmorallawargumentsinitsteachingon
contraception.Herelettheclarificationbemadefromtheoutsetthat“naturallaw”
doesnotreferprimarilytothelawsofnature;ratheritreferstotheessenceor“nature”
ofthehumanpersonandtheessenceornatureofsexualityandofallothergoods.The
“lawsofnature”arenotinthemselvessacrosanct:itisonlythosethatarepartofthe
goodsbasictohumanbeingsthathavethisstatus.Althoughthepersonisprimary,the
biologicallawsthatgovernthehumanbodymustbetakenintoaccount,sincethebody
isanintegralpartofthehumanperson.Thehumanperson’sbiologyisthoroughly
human;theyareorientedtowardshumangoods,nottowardspurelyanimalgoods.
InhisearlierworkLoveandResponsibility,SaintJohnPaulII(thenBishopKarol
Wojtyła),basinghisthinkingonbothThomism(especiallyThomas’teleologyandviewof
thehumanperson)andpersonalism,heldthatcontraceptiondoesnotcoherewitha
properunderstandingofsexuality.Hisisthephilosophicaldefensethatweexpound
here,butweshallalsosketchthemainlinesofotherunderstandingsofnaturallaw
argumentsrelevanttothisissue.
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1.6FertilityAwarenessBasedMethods(NaturalFamilyPlanning)
WealsobrieflypresentsomeoftheexplanationswhytheuseofFertility
AwarenessBasedMethodsofNaturalFamilyPlanningfostersvirtueandstrengthens
marriages,donotviolateGod’splanforsexuality,andthusdifferradicallyfromtheuse
ofcontraception.
1.7Medical,Relationship,andEnvironmentalDangers
Wewilldrawattentiontothegrowingevidenceofcancers,strokesandother
healthrisksassociatedwiththeuseofchemicalcontraceptives.Webrieflynotethe
damagethatchemicalcontraceptivestoawoman’sphysicalhealth,thedamagethat
contraceptiondoestomale/femalerelationshipsbothoutsideofmarriageandwithin
marriage,thedireconsequencestochildrenbecauseofthatdamage,andthelegal
consequencesofawidespreadacceptanceofcontraception,amongthem,the
multiplicationoffiercethreatstoreligiousliberty.Wewilldrawattentiontothegrowing
evidencethatsuggeststhatthehormonesthatareinthechemicalcontraceptivesare
damagingtotheenvironment.Wewillalsocommentonthecrossofinfertilityandwhat
lightitshedsoncontraception.
1.8AuthorityofHumanaeVitae
OneofthewelcomefeaturesoftheCatholicChurchisthatisprovidessure
guidanceonmoralmattersandthusCatholicscanhaveconfidencethattheyare
followingGod’swill.ThereisnodoubtthattheteachingsinHumaneVitaearetobe
acceptedasanauthoritativeteachingoftheCatholicChurchbindingonallbelievers.
SomescholarsbelievefurtherthattheChurch’steachingoncontraceptionhasbeen
proclaimedinfallibly,andsowealsoprovideasketchoftheclaimthattheChurch’s
understandingoftheincompatibilityofcontraceptionwithGod’splanforsexualityis
taughtinfalliblybytheCatholicChurch.AllChristianchurchesupuntil1930sharedthis
viewandincreasinglyindividualsofvariousfaithsarecomingtoembraceit.
TheChurchhasnomoreauthoritytoalterherteachingoncontraceptionany
morethanithasauthoritytochangeitsteachingsonadultery,murder,andtheft.
1.9CondomsandHIV
Wewillbrieflytreatthequestionofthemoralityoftheuseofcondomsto
reducethetransmissionofHIV.
AveryimportantsectionspeaksoftherealityofthecrossineveryChristian’s
life.Themorallawitselfisdemandinganditcanbeacross,thougharedeemingand
healingcross,ineveryChristian’slife.Spousesoftenfinditdifficulttorespectthegoods
thatGodhasembeddedinsexuality.ButthosewhoturntoJesustoaskforthegraces
hesofreelygivesgenerallydiscovertheprofoundjoyandsatisfactionthatcomeswhen
thehumangoodsGodhasprovidedarehonoredandembraced.
1.10RecommendationsforPromotingtheTruthaboutHumanSexuality
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Finally,thisdocumentwillmakeafewrecommendationsabouthowtheChurch
andsocietycanhelpadvancehappymarriagesandstrongsocietiesbypromotingthe
truthaboutsexuality.Prosperousnationsshouldnotbethreatenedbythelovethat
parentsinmanydevelopingcountriessoevidentlyhaveforchildren,andshoulduse
theirresourcestohelpthosechildrenliveandprosper,asPopesBenedictXVIand
Francishaveemphasizedintheirteaching.
2.SaintJohnPaulII’sPhilosophicalDefense
oftheChurch’sTeachingonSexuality
TheTheologyoftheBody(laidoutinManandWomanHeCreatedThem:A
TheologyoftheBody)isadefenseoftheChurch’steachingonmarriagebasedon
Scripture,particularlyonascripturalviewofthehumanperson.TheChurchhas,
however,usednotonlyscripturaldefensesofChurchteachingbutalsonaturallaw
defenses.Asmentionedintheintroduction,thereareseveralvarietiesofnaturallaw
theory,allofthembasedontheunderstandingthatthehumanperson,byvirtueofthe
abilitytoreason,hasaccesstoimportantfundamentalmoraltruthswithouttheaidof
revelation.Forinstance,somenaturallawtheoriesarebasedonThomisticteleological
metaphysicsandtheunderstandingthathumandignityrequireshumanpersonstolive
inaccordwiththetruthaboutsexuality;othersarebasedontheunderstandingthatfor
humanpersonstoactmorallytheymusthaverightintentionsinaccordwithbasic
goods.Spaceandtimeconsiderationsdonotpermitanythingmorethanbrief
descriptionsofsomeofthebetter-knownunderstandingsofnaturallaw(theywillbe
providedbelow).
ThissectionwillbrieflylayoutaphilosophicaldefenseoftheChurch’steaching
oncontraceptiondevelopedbySaintJohnPaulII,primarilypresentedinLoveand
Responsibility(writtenwhenhewasBishopKarolWojtyła).Thepurposeofthatbookis
toexplainhowtotransformtheself-seekingsexualurgeintoanimpetusforself-giving
loveinmarriage.
2.1ThePersonalisticNorm
Thefirstprincipleheestablishesisthathumanpersonsarenevertobeused,
becausehumanpersonsarefreeandthushaveaninnatedignitythatmustbe
respected.Indeed,heenunciateswhathecallsthe“personalisticnorm,”whichstates
thattheonlyjustresponsetoapersonislove;andbylovehemeans“seekingwhatis
goodforanother.”Inspousallove,eachspouseseeksthegoodoftheotherinacontext
oftotalmutualself-giving.
2.2MutualAffirmationandConsciousParenthood
Wojtyłaspeaksoftwogoodsthatthemaritalactconveys:adeepunionthrough
atotalmutualself-givingandreceiving,andthecommongoodofconceivingandraising
achild.Indeed,hespeaksofanendofthesexualactas“parenthood,”inwhichthe
parentsbringforthandeducatenotjustanewmemberofthehumanspecies,buta
newhumanperson:twopeoplecommittedtoeachothertakepartinco-creatinganew
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humanpersonwhoneedsnearlyalifetimeofcare.Centraltohissexualethicsisthe
claimthatthedignityofhumanpersonsresidesintheabilitytoknowthetruthandto
choosefreelytoliveinaccordwithit.
Wojtyłaholdsthatintheorderofnature,thesexualactcanleadtothecomingto-beofanewmemberofthehumanspecies,whereasintheorderoftheperson,the
sexualactleadstotwopersonsbecomingparentsofanewhumanperson.Thegoodof
fertilitybelongstobothordersandthustorejectone’sownoranother’sfertilityisto
rejecttheperson,andistoallowone’sselftobeusedortouseanother.Thatis,tohave
sexualintercoursewithanother,andnotbeingwillingtobeaparentwiththeotherand
toacceptachildasagreatgift,istotheuseanotherpersonand/ortoallowone’sselfto
beused.
Wojtyłamaintainsthatbeingawarethesetruthsandmakingdecisionsinaccord
withthemisthefoundationofmoralchoicesaboutsexualmatters.ThisWojtyłarefers
toas“consciousparenthood.”Moreover,sincelovebyitsinnerlogicislife-giving,
blockingthecreativedimensionoftheactoflovebetweenthespousesposesathreat
totheloveitself.Thosewho,whentheyengageinsexualintercourse,andwhoare
intendingtoexpressalifetimeunionwitheachother,andwhobelievetheywillbegood
parentswitheachotherandwhowouldwelcomeachildasagift,engageinanaction
whichbyitsverynatureexpressesprofoundandcommittedlovefortheother.
2.3JusticetotheCreator
LoveandResponsibilityhasachapterentitled“JusticetotheCreator.”Inthat
chapter,KarolWojtyłaspeaksofeachpersonasGod’sownandexplainsthatusing
anotherpersonisanoffenseagainstGod.Wojtyłashowshowinconjugalrelations,the
bodyservesasameansforanewanddeeperunionbetweenspousesnototherwise
opentothem.Thatis,withhumanbeings,Godhasmadethe“orderofnature”notto
beseparatefrombuttoparticipateinthe“orderofpersons”,whichexplainswhythe
bodilyactofunion–nolongeramerely“biological”reality–canbeincorporatedinto
theactoflove.Wojtyłashowsthatbyadivinely-establishedorder,thebodyalsoserves
thefruitfulnessintegraltospousallovebygivingitanew,awe-inspiringscope:the
possibilityofthecreationofnewhumanlife.Onthebasisofthisintegrationofthe
bodilyactintotheorderofpersonandlove,Wojtyłamakesitclearthatbyrejectingthe
possibilityofparenthoodinanyindividualactthespousesrejecttheauthorityofthe
Creator,actagainsttheinnerlogicoflove,andtakeupanattitudeofuse.
ElsewhereSaintJohnPaulIIspeaksofsexualityandtheabilitytoparticipatein
theactofcreationofanewhumanpersonasagreatgiftfromGod:humanpersons
engageinthephysicalactthatprovidesGodwiththeopportunitytocreateanew
immortalsoul.Themaleprovidesthesperm,thefemaleprovidestheovum,andGod
providesthesoul.Godactsoutoflove;so,too,shouldthespouses.Justicetothe
creatorrequiresthatwedonothingtothwartthepossibilityofthecreationofanew
humansoul.SaintJohnPaulIIexplainsthatconfiningone’ssexualactstotheinfertile
periodforthepurposesofresponsibleparenthooddoesnotthwartthepossible
creationofanewhumansoulandpermitsthespousestoaffirmeachotherasintegral
wholesthroughthemaritalact.
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2.4ThomismandPersonalism
Theabovesketch,whichprovidesthemainlinesofSaintJohnPaulII’s
philosophicaldefenseofthepositionthatcontraceptionconflictswiththedignityofthe
humanperson,isbasedbothonThomisticprinciplesandpersonalistprinciples.From
ThomismhetakestheobjectivetruththatwhatGodcreatedisgoodandthatitisgood
thatweliveinaccordwiththenatures/essencesofwhatGodhascreated.From
personalism,hetakestheviewthattheabilityofeachpersontochooseinaccordwith
thetruthandtherebyshapehischaracteristhesourceofhumandignity:suchcreatures
deservetobeloved.Theseprinciples,alongwiththeprinciplesoftheTheologyofthe
Body,arebeingutilizedmoreandmoreinmagisterialdocumentsandinstatements
producedbyepiscopalconferencesanddiocesesthroughouttheworld.TheWijngaards
Statementevincesnoknowledgeofthem.
3.SeveralApproachestoNaturalMoralLaw
3.1.1TheRoleofNaturalMoralLawintheChurch’steachingoncontraception
SincethecloseoftheSecondVaticanCouncil,anditscallto“renew”moral
theology,theChurchhaswitnessedseveralapproachestonaturalmorallawoverthe
pastfivedecades.Thosescholarsandschoolsofthoughtthathaveworkedbroadlyin
theThomistictradition,forexample,andwhomaintainfidelitytotheMagisterium,have
developedvarioustheoriestounderstandthelawthatSt.Paultaughtis“writtenonour
hearts”(seeRom.2:15).Theproponentsofthesetheoriesdonotallsee“eye-to-eye”
onhowtoproperlyunderstandnaturalmorallaw.Butallagreethatthenaturalmoral
lawisrootedinthecreatedorder,thatthereisanobjectivemoralorder,andthat
certainacts,suchascontraceptionfreelyengagedin,arenotcompatiblewithGod’s
planforhiscreatedorderandwithsexualityinparticular.Thus,althoughthesetheories
ofmorallawarenotineveryrespectharmonious,allschoolsofthoughtareonein
affirmingabsolutemoralnorms–includingthatcontraceptioniscontrarytothenatural
morallaw.
3.1.2Biologicallaws
Itisessentialtonotethatnoneofthetheoriesofnaturalmorallawholdthat
biologicallawsaresufficienttogroundacondemnationofcontraception.TheChurch
hasnoobjectiontoviolatingbiologicallawsinrespecttosexforanimals:animals
neitherachievepersonalunion,nordotheyprocreate.Animalsachievebodilyunion;
humansseekintimatepersonalunion;animalsreproduce;personsprocreate.Human
biologyisnotdirectedmerelytothecontinuationofthespeciesbuttothecreationof
newhumanpersonswhohaveaneternaldestinywithGod.Interferingwithaprocess
thatsimplyblocksanothermemberofaspeciesfromcomingintobeingisverydifferent
frompreventingthecomingtobeofanewimmortalsoul,fromrefusingtorespect
God’splanforhumanmarriageandsexuality.
Thisteachingofnaturalmorallaw–onethatisalso“illuminatedandenrichedby
divineRevelation”(HV4)–isgroundedinthenatureofthehumanpersonasabody
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soulunityandinwhattheChurchteachesaboutthenatureofmarriageasa“oneflesh”
reality(seeGen.2:24;Mt.19:5,etc.)whichisopentobothunionandprocreation.This
“openness”isnotonlyamoraltruthtoguideconscience,butatruthaboutthehuman
personandthemeaningofhumansexualityaswell(seeJohnPaulII,Familiaris
Consortio,32).Therefore,theviewthatwefindintheWijngaardsstatement,which
wouldcaricaturetheChurch’steachingagainstcontraceptionasbeingbasedona
“physicalist”or“biologistic”understandingofnaturallaw,isgreatlymistaken.
3.2AThomisticTheoryofNaturalMoralLaw
Thomisticmetaphysicsforcenturieshasprovidedthefoundationforthe
Church’smoralteachings.Thomisticmetaphysicsentailsateleologicalunderstandingof
nature.Itholdsthatnaturalthingshavepurposes;thatthosepurposesaregood;and
thatforthingstoflourish,theirnaturesmustberespected.Themain-streamThomistic
naturalmorallawisnotbasedonbiologicallawsbutonthefactthatthingshave
essencesornatures.
Thenaturesofmanythingsareinstrumental.Indeed,allofcreation,exceptfor
humanpersons,wascreatedforthegoodofhumanpersons:thuswecanusethose
thingsforourpurposes.Wood,forinstance,canbeusedformanyhumangoods.
Humanpersons,however,areagoodinthemselvesandshouldneverbeusedasthings
fortheadvantageofothers.
Whatisgoodforallotherthingsmaynotbegoodforhumanpersons.Marriage,
forinstance,isnotaninstitutionneededbyanimals,sinceanimalsdonothaveaneed
tobeinintimaterelationship,becausetheydonothaveimmortalsoulsanddonotneed
thewiseguidanceofparentstohelpthemdevelopvirtueandholiness.Animaland
humansexualityhave,atbase,radicallydifferentpurposes.Animalsexualityhasasits
purposethereproductionofthespecieswhosedestinyisonlytemporal.Human
sexualityhasthepurposeofprovidingawayformaleandfemaletojoininaspecialkind
oflove/friendshipthatenablesthemtobringforthnewhumanbeingswhohavean
eternaldestiny.Sincehumanbeingshaveanintrinsicvalue,theveryprocessesthat
bringaboutanewhumanbeingshareinthatintrinsicvalue.Toviolatethepurposesof
thesexualactistoviolatethepurposesthatGodhasembeddedinthesexualact.
Therefore,contraceptionisalwayswrong.
SomescholarsarguethatthepersonalismofSaintJohnPaulIIdrawsoutof
Thomismsomethingthatisalreadytherebutthatneededtobeexpandedand
expressedinmoremodernterms.
3.3ContraceptionisContralife
HumanaeVitaedefinesandexcludesasmorallywrong“anyactionwhicheither
before,atthemomentof,oraftermaritalintercourse,isspecificallyintendedto
preventprocreation–whetherasanendorasameans.”3Theencyclical’sdefinitionof
contraceptionthusmakesitclearthatwhatisrelevantisnotthebehaviorinvolvedbut
theintentiontoimpede,nomatterhowthatintentioniscarriedout.
Althoughcontraceptionpresupposesanactofintercourse,itisnotitselfasexual
act,foritinvolvesadistinctchoice.Acouplechoosescontraceptionwhentheyhave
10
alreadydecidedtohaveintercourseandfearthattheircomingtogetherwillresultinthe
conceptionofachild.Theirdecisiontousecontraceptionisaimedpreciselyat
preventingthechildtheyfearwillcomeintoexistencefromactuallydoingso.
Contraception,then,isacontra-lifeact.
Inrejectingcontraceptionascontra-life,theChurchmakesitclearthat,like
otherchoices,thechoicetocontracepthasanintrinsicmeaning.Acouplecannot
reasonablydefinetheactpurelyintermsoftheendtheyhaveinviewanddiscountthe
significanceoftheirchosenmeans.Amarriedcouplemaywellhaveinviewthegood
endofenjoyingintercoursewithoutriskingconceptionwhentheirotherresponsibilities
wouldmakeitirresponsibleforthemtoconceive.If,however,contraceptionistheir
chosenmeans,thenoneofthereasonsforitswrongnessisthatitisacontra-life
choice.4
Thisproblembecomesespeciallyclearwhenoneconsiderstherelationofthe
coupletothechildwhencontraceptionfails:sincetheytriedtopreventthatchildfrom
existing,theyalmostinvariablytosomeextentregretthefactthatthechildhascometo
exist.Giventhatconceptionisseenasafailure,itisnotdifficulttoseehow
contraceptioncanleadtoabortion,foritisalltooeasyforthecoupletofollowthefatal
logicoftakingthelifeofthechildtheyfailedtoprevent.
Whiletheywilllikelycometoacceptandlovetheirchild,thefactisthattheir
choiceshavecausedthemtosomeextenttohaveacontra-lifewill.
It’sworthnotingthatcoupleswhopracticenaturalfamilyplanningnevermake
suchachoice.Sincetheymakethesacrificeofabstainingwhenevertheythink
conceptionispossible,theynevermakethedistinctcontra-lifechoiceoftryingto
preventachildtheyfearwillcomeintoexistencefromdoingso.Ifachildnevertheless
isconceived,theymayinitiallybeemotionallydistraught,buttheyaremorallysecure.
Nochangeofheartisnecessary.
Inshort,HumanaeVitae’sdefinitionofcontraceptionperfectlycapturestheidea
thatitiscontra-life–wrongpreciselybecauseitisintendedtopreventanewperson
fromcomingtobe.
4.TheDifferencesBetweenNaturalFamilyPlanningandContraception
4.1TheDifferentMethods
FertilityAwarenessBasedMethodsorNaturalFamilyPlanningmethods(NFP)
arethegeneraltitleforthescientific,natural,andmoralmethodsoffamilyplanning
thatcanhelpmarriedcoupleseitherachieveorpostponepregnancies.Mostwomen
andtoomanyphysicianshavelittleknowledgeofawoman’spatternsoffertilityandof
thevarioussignsthatindicatewhensheisfertileandwhensheisnot.
Themajorityofthesemethodsprovideathorougheducationinthecombined
fertilityofamanandawoman.MostNFPmethodsarebasedonthedailyobservation
ofthenaturallyoccurringsignsandsymptomsofthefertileandinfertilephasesofa
woman’smenstrualcycle,suchasavariationinthemucusshesecretes,arisein
temperatureaftersheovulates,andachangeinhercervix.Thesemethodstreateach
womanandeachcycleasunique;thereforeallwomen,despitevaryinglengthsof
11
menstrualcycles,canusemostNFPmethods.Inaddition,duetothevarietyofNFP
methods,womenofdifferentculturesandeducationcanfindamethodofNFPthatis
effectiveforthem.5Finally,womenwholearnto“chart”ordiscerntheirownpatterns
offertilitycanoftendiscovervarioushormonalimbalancesthatmaybecausing
infertilityorotherhealthissues.6
4.1.1Effectiveness
NFPresearchdemonstratesthatNFPmethodscanbeupto99%
successfulinpostponingoravoidingpregnancywhencouplesunderstandthe
methods;aremotivatedtousethemethodaccordingtotheirfamilyplanning
intentions(i.e.,spacingorlimitingbirths);andfollowthemethodguidelines
consistently.
4.1.2NFPandtheCoupleRelationship
ResearchsupportsthebenefitsofNFP,demonstratingthatcoupleswho
switchfromacontraceptivetoanNFPmethodimprovetheirrelationships,feel
morerespectedbytheirpartners,andmoreincontroloftheirfertility.7Infact,
someevidenceexiststhatsuggestsapositivecorrelationbetweenNFPuseand
lowerdivorcerates.Anecdotalstudiesandnon-populationcomparisonstudies,
forexample,consistentlyshowlowlevelsofdivorceamongcoupleswhouse
NFP.
4.2TheMoralDifferences
TheChurchteachesthatcouplesaretodiscernprayerfullywhenitisrightto
limittheirfamilysize.TheChurchpraisescoupleswhogenerouslyandprudentlydecide
tohavealargefamilyandalsopraisesthosewhoresponsiblylimittheirfamilysizewhen
health,financial,psychological,orsociologicalreasonsindicatethattheyshoulddoso.
Theyareprotectingthegoodoffertilityratherthanviolatingit.
Manyfailtoseeanymoraldifferencebetweencontraceptionandmethodsof
NaturalFamilyPlanning.TheythinkthatsinceacontraceptingcoupleandoneusingNFP
bothdonotwanttohaveachildandintendtohavesexualintercoursethatdoesnot
issueinachild,whattheyaredoingamountstothesamething.Inshort,bothwantto
havesex,butnotbabies.
AsuccinctjustificationfortheuseofNFPcanbemadethisway.Thereisnothing
wrongwithdeciding,forgoodreasons,thatitisnotagoodtimetohaveanotherchild.
Thereisnothingwrongwithabstainingfromsexatanytime,andthatincludesthe
fertiletime.Thereisnothingwrongwithhavingmaritalintercourseduringtheinfertile
time.Ergo,thereisnothingwrongwithusingNFP,whichsimplyinvolvesnothaving
maritalintercourseduringthefertiletimeandhavingitduringtheinfertiletimewhen
thespouses,forgoodreasons,havemadethedecisionnottohaveanotherchildata
giventime.
Still,thereismorethatcanbesaid.Thedistinctionbetweenmeansandendis
certainlyoperativehere.Althoughbothcouplesmayhaveequallygoodreasonsfor
wantingtolimittheirfamilysize,onecouplechoosesthemeansofthwartingtheir
12
fertility,ofengaginginpotentiallyfertileactsandsimultaneouslyworkingtodestroy
thatfertility.Theyengageinanactwhichgivesonlypartiallyofthemselves;theygive
andrefusetogiveatthesametime.Theothercouplerespectstheirfertilityandwhen
notpreparedtoacceptachild,theyrefrainfromfertileacts.Theydonotdiminishthe
giftofself;rather,theygivealltheyhaveatthatmoment.
Astandardexampledemonstratingthedifferencebetweencontraceptionand
naturalfamilyplanningistheroughanalogywithbulimia.Someindividualswhowishto
avoidweightgaineatandthenforcethemselvestovomit.Theywishtohavethe
pleasureofeatingbutnottoaccepttheconsequences.Otherswhowishtoavoida
weightgaindonoteatfatteningfoods.Theyabstainfromrichfoodsandonlyeatthem
whenpreparedfortheconsequences.TheparallelswithcontraceptivesexandNFPare
clear.
Thedifferencesbetweenthetwomeansofbirthcontrolaremuchgreaterthan
theabovetoo-quickargumentportrays.Contraceptiontreatsfertilityasthoughitwere
adefecttobecorrectedratherthanagifttobecherished.Moreover,thereis
somethingradicallyanti-femaleincontraceptives–theysuggestthatitisbettertohave
amalebodythatcanengageinsexualintercourseandnotgetpregnant.Manywomen
resentcontraceptivesfortheunpleasantside-effectsandalsoresentthemalewho
wantsthemtousecontraceptives.WomenwhouseNFP,ontheotherhand,are
generallyverypositiveaboutit,becauseitdoesnotinanywaythreatentheirhealth.
NFPrespectstheirfertilitywhereascontraception,asnotedabove,treatstheirfertility
asaliability.Theyhaveconfidenceintheloveoftheirhusbandswhoreveretheir
fertilitytotheextentthattheydonotwishtointerferewithit.Theyunderstand
abstainingtobeanotherformoflove.Afterall,manysavethegiftofselfuntilmarriage,
preciselyoutoflovefortheirbeloved.
ThereisnodenyingthattheabstinencerequiredforNFPcanbedifficult,more
forsomethanforothers;thosewhohaveabstainedbeforemarriageusuallybringselfmasteryintothemarriagewhereasthosewhoindulgeinsexbeforemarriage(whichis
nearlyeveryoneinthecurrentculture)havetolearnnewhabitstouseNFP.
Nonetheless,spouseswhouseNFPnearlyalwaysfindthatinspiteofthe
difficulties(which,likethoseofdieting,canbeconsiderable),therearegreatbenefits
realizedovertimebothfortheirrelationshipwitheachotherandfortheirrelationship
withGod.NFPenablesacoupletounderstandandtocooperatewiththeplanofGod
theirCreator,whilecontraceptivestemptthemintothinkingthattheycancontroltheir
destinieswithoutanyreferencetotheorderofcreation.Finally,NFPinvitesamarried
coupletobuildagreaterintimacygroundedincommunicationandmutualself-mastery,
whilecontraceptiveslullthemintothinkingthattechnologycanreplacepatienceand
virtue.
5.Authority,InfallibilityandtheSensusFidelium
5.1CriteriaforInfallibleTeachings
Whileanencyclicalisaparticularlysolemnexpressionofpapalauthority,the
significanceofHumanaeVitaeisnottobefoundprimarilyinthestatusofthedocument
13
butintheteachingitcontains.Thecoreofthatteaching–contraceptionisalways
wrong–“isbasedonthenaturallawasilluminatedandenrichedbydivineRevelation”
(HV4).Indeed,asSaintJohnPaulIIshowedatlengthinhisTheologyoftheBody,8when
theteachingissetagainstthefullercontextofbiblicalanthropology,oneseesthatit
“belongsnotonlytothenaturalmorallaw,butalsotothemoralorderrevealedby
God.”9
ItisclearthatCatholicsareboundtofollowtheteachingoftheChurchon
contraceptionbecauseofitsteachingauthority.
SomearguethattheChurch’steachingoncontraceptionisinfallibleinvirtueof
heruniversalordinarymagisterium.10VaticanIIclearlysetsouttheconditionsthatmust
bemetforbishopsdispersedthroughouttheworldtoproclaimChrist’steaching
infallibly.Theymust“maintaincommunionwithoneanotherandwithPeter’s
successor,authoritativelyteachonamatteroffaithandmorals,andagreeinone
judgmentassomethingtobehelddefinitively.”11Therequireduniversalitycannotbe
undoneevenbyalaterlackofconsensus.12
Thehistoricalevidencemakesitabundantlyclearthatalloftheseconditions
havebeenmet.13Alistofhighlightsmustsufficehere:
• CertainFathersoftheChurchcondemnedcontraceptionandnoneever
approvedit.
• Throughouttheages,manybishopshavetaughtthatactsintendedto
preventconceptionarealwayswrong,ashavenon-bishopswhoare
canonizedsaintsandsomewhoarealsodoctorsoftheChurch.Butnosaint
orChurchdoctoreverapprovedcontraception.Andthereisnoevidenceofa
Catholicbishopteachingotherwiseuntilatleast1962.
• Fromthethirteenthcenturyuntil1917,theChurch’scanonlawincludeda
canonseverelycondemningcontraception.Needlesstosay,canonlawhas
neversuggestedthatitislicit.
• Inmoderntimesuntil1962therewasaconstantconsensusoftheologiansin
supportofthereceivedteachingoncontraception,andbishopsauthorized
theuseofthesetheologians’worksinseminaries.
• WhenPiusXIreaffirmedtheteachinginhis1930encyclicalCastiConnubii,
bishopsdidnotobjectbutreadilyacceptedit,andmanysupporteditwith
theirownstatementsandprograms.
• Noevidencehasshownthatbishopshandedontheteachingasjustaprivate
opinion,probablejudgment,oridealthatneednotberealized.Itwasalways
authoritativelyproposedasagravemoralobligation.
• Theteachingwasoftenproposedasadivinelyrevealedmoralnorm,which
bydefinitionmustbehelddefinitively.
Theteachingthatcontraceptionisalwayswronghasnotbeenformallydefined
bytheChurch.Nevertheless,theologianshaveneverrefuted–indeed,havelargely
ignored–theclaimthattheteachingisinfalliblebecauseCatholicbishopsin
communionwitheachotherandthepopehaveauthoritativelyproposeditinone
judgmenttobehelddefinitively.
14
5.2SensusFidelium
Some,ofcourse,claimthatwidespreaddissentfromtheChurch’steachingon
contraceptionmanifestsa“sensusfidelium”or“senseofthefaithful.”Butthisbegsthe
questionofwhatcountsasbeingfaithful.Thatsenseisnotauthenticifitcontradicts
revelation,tradition,andthemagisterium.Moreover,toaffirmthatclaimonemust
denythatthosewhoaccepttheteachingoncontraception–includingalmostall
Catholicsbeforethe1960sandthegreatmajorityofotherChristiansuntilseveral
decadesearlier–hadasenseofthefaithful.Reasonablepeoplewillrejectsuch
culturallymyopicchauvinism.
6.TheUseofCondomstoPreventTransmissionofHIV
TherehasbeenadebateintheCatholicChurchonthemoralityoftheuseof
condomstopreventthetransmissionofHIV.Sometheologiansmaintainthattheuseof
acondomisintrinsicallycontraceptiveandthatevenifone’sprimaryintentionisto
avoidthetransmissionofHIV,sinceitisnevermorallypermissibletodoamoralwrong
toachieveagood,theuseofacondomwouldbemorallywrong.Theargumentisalso
madethattheuseofacondomisimmoralbecauseitisimmoraltoengagein
incompletesexualacts,andhavingsexwithacondommakesthesexualactincomplete:
whilethereispenetration,theunionofbodiesdoesnottrulytakeplacebecausethe
maledoesnotdeposithissemeninafemale’svaginabutinacondom.
ThosewhoarguethatonemayuseacondomtopreventthetransmissionofHIV
withoutviolatingtheChurch’steaching,maintainthatthemoralevaluationoftheact
mustbedeterminedbytheintentionalityoftheagent.Sincetheintentionistoavoid
transmissionofHIVandsincethe“structure”oftheactremainsthesame,theuseis
goodandthefactthatconceptioncannottakeplaceisnotthedefiningfeature.
Themagisteriumhasnotmadeadeterminationonthismatter.
Itisveryimportanttokeepinmindthatthedistributionanduseofcondomsin
thirdworldcountrieshasprovenveryineffectiveinreducingtherateoftransmissionof
HIV;abstinence-basedprogramsaretheonlyonesthathavesucceeded.14
7.TheMedical,Social,Legal,andEnvironmentalConsequencesofContraception
7.1Medical
Althoughmuchofthepublicbelievesthatcontraceptivesprovidesubstantial
healthbenefits,ithaslongbeenestablishedintheprofessionalmedicalandscientific
literaturethatcontraceptivescarrysubstantialriskstolifeandhealth,aswellasbeing
relativelyineffectiveinpreventingdiseasetransmission.AttheveryoutsetoftheirFact
SheetforPublicHealthPersonneloncondomeffectiveness,theCentersforDisease
ControlandPreventionstateemphaticallyinboldtype:
15
Themostreliablewaystoavoidtransmissionofsexuallytransmitteddiseases
(STDs),includinghumanimmunodeficiencyvirus(HIV),aretoabstainfrom
sexualactivityortobeinalong-termmutuallymonogamousrelationshipwith
anuninfectedpartner.15
Inotherwords,theCDChasrecapitulatedtraditionalChristianmoralteaching:
virginityfollowedbyfidelity.ThiscorecomponentofGod’sdesignforhumansexuality
carriestheveryhealthbenefitsthatCDCandthemedicalestablishmenthavefailedto
securewithcondoms.NoticehowCDCdoesnotincludethecondomintheirfactsheet
asbeingamongthemostreliablewaystoavoiddiseasetransmission.Infact,theygoon
inthedocumenttosay(againinboldtype):
GenitalulcerdiseasesandHPVinfectionscanoccurinbothmaleandfemale
genitalareasthatarecoveredorprotectedbyalatexcondom,aswellasin
areasthatarenotcovered…CondomusemayreducetheriskforHPV
infectionandHPV-associateddiseases(e.g.,genitalwartsandcervicalcancer).
Beyondthethreatstolifeandhealthfromtheirfailures,condomshavenotlived
uptotheirpromiseinpreventingunintendedpregnancies.Accordingtothetext
ContraceptiveTechnology,whichiswidelyrespectedinthefield,themalelatexcondom
isonlyslightlymoreeffectivethanthewithdrawalmethod,18%and22%,respectively.16
Consideringthenarrowwindowoffertilityinthemonthlycycle,andthefactthat
ContraceptiveTechnologydefinesafailureasresultantpregnancy,itmustbededuced
thattheabsolutemechanicalfailurerateofcondomsismuchhigherthanthe18%of
thetimetheiruseresultsinpregnancy.
Ifthediseasepreventionandpregnancydataoncondomsislessthanreassuring,
theinherentrisksfromhormonalcontraceptiveuseareevenmorealarming.Inaddition
tothewell-knownroleoforalcontraceptives(OCs)incausingthemostcommonforms
ofbreastcancer,OCuseraisestheriskofthedeadliestandmostdifficulttotreatform
ofcancer,premenopausalTripleNegativeBreastCancer.Ina2009study17theelevated
risksrangedfrom250%forwomenwhostartOCsatage22orolder,to540%for
womenwhostartedOCusebelowtheageof18.Thisshouldn’tcomeasasurprise.The
InternationalAgencyonResearchofCancer,whichisapartoftheU.N.'sWorldHealth
Organization,hasclassifiedestrogen-progestinhormonalcontraceptivesasGroup1
carcinogensforbreast,cervicalandlivercancer.18Oralcontraceptivesincreasea
woman'sriskofpossiblylethalandalwaysdisablingpulmonaryembolism,myocardial
infarctionandcerebralvascularaccidentsaswellasincreasedsusceptibilitytoHIVand
HPVvirusesandtheirattendantmorbidity.
Boththeestrogen-progestincombinedpillandtheprogestin-onlypillhave
contributedgreatlytotheincidenceofectopicpregnancieswherebabiesimplant
outsideoftheuterus,afataleventforthebabyandlife-threateningeventforthe
mother.19Apartfromectopicpregnancy,OCswithtypicalusehavefailureratesofclose
to10%.20
16
Inallofthesefailurerateswhatbecomesclearisthatthemorepeopleengage
thesecontraceptivetechnologiesthathavenotliveduptotheirbilling,themore
unintendedpregnanciesandthehigherabsolutenumbersofdiseaseincidenceresult.
Noneofthesedataexistedfiftyyearsagointherun-uptoHumanaeVitae,and
manywhowerenotawareoftherationalebehindtheChurch’sclearandconsistent
teachingbelievedinallgoodwillthatcontraceptivesmightbeamodernandhumane
wayofaddressingallmannerofsocialills.Thatwasthen.Intheensuinghalf-centurythe
worldhashadtheclearteachingoftheChurchexplicatedinthesimplestlanguage,and
nowthatwiseteachinghasbeentragicallyunderscoredbythetsunamiofvictims
producedbythefailuresinherentinthecontraceptiveculture.God’swisedesignisnot
a“No”tohappiness,butaprotectionoflifeandhealth.Thenumberstellthestory.
7.2HormonesandRelationships
Althoughthepsychologicalandbehavioralimpactofhormonalcontraceptives
(HCs)hasbeenalargelyunderstudiedareauntilrecently,areviewofscholarlyresearch
todatefoundsignificantcauseforconcern.21Theauthorstates,"WomenwhouseHCs
reporthigherratesofdepression,reducedsexualfunctioning,andhigherinterestin
short-termsexualrelationshipscomparedtotheirnaturally-cyclingcounterparts.Also,
hormonalcontraceptivesusemayalterwomen’sabilitytoattractamate,aswellasthe
materetentionbehaviorsinbothusersandtheirromanticpartners.Someevidence
evensuggeststhathormonalcontraceptiveusealtersmatechoiceandmaynegatively
affectsexualsatisfactioninparouswomen,withpotentialeffectsonfutureoffspring."22
Regardingtheissueofmateattractionandretention,asubsequentstudy
supportedthefindingsreportedabove.23Again,itfoundthatwomenareattractedto
differenttypesofmendependinguponwhethertheyareonoroffhormonal
contraceptivesandthatmaritalstabilitycanbenegativelyimpactedwhenawomanwho
wasonHCsatthebeginningoftheirrelationshipsubsequentlydiscontinuesHCuse.24
7.3ChemicalContraceptionandtheEnvironment
Itisaninconvenienttruththatchemicalcontraceptiveuseiswreakinghavocon
theenvironment.Thechemicalethinylestradiol(EE2)inhormonalcontraceptivesis
transferreddirectlytothewatersupplythroughurination.Thereisnopracticalor
economicwaytoremovethesetoxinsfromthewatersupplyusingcurrent,standard
watertreatmentmethods.25Becauseofthis,artificialreproductivehormonesare
accumulatinginboththenaturalanddrinkingwatersuppliesandarehavinga
significantnegativeenvironmentalimpact,especiallyonfishpopulationslivingininland
estuariesand,inparticular,nearwatertreatmentplants.26Malefisharefeminizedand
havelessreproductivesuccess,tothepointwherepopulationcollapsehasoccurred
amongsomespeciesincertainlocations.27Vertebrates,includingmaleamphibiansand
rats,appeartobesimilarlyaffectedaswell.28
Theevidenceofintersexandotherfertility-relateddisordersinhigher-order
malevertebratescontributestothegrowingconcernsthatenvironmentalEE2toxicity
17
maybeasignificantcontributortothedecades-long,globalincreaseintheratesofpoor
reproductivehealthinhumanmalesincludingincreasesintheratesofhypospadias,
undescendedtesticles,testicularcancer,andlowspermcounts.29
7.4Social(andPersonal)ConsequencesofContraception
Fordecadesindependentscholarshavedoneempiricalresearchthatdocuments
theharmfulsocialeffectsofcontraception.30
Oneofthemostharmfuleffectsofcontraceptionisthatithasfosteredan
astronomicalincreaseinsexoutsideofmarriageand,whenitfails–anditoftendoes–
itleadsalltoooftentosingleparenthood.Andthatleadstothesadnessofcountless
childrenbeingraisedinlargelyfatherlesshouseholds.Socialsciencehasrepeatedly
demonstratedthebenefitstochildrenofanintacthome,andconverselyhasshownthat
growingupinasingle-parenthomeincreasestherisksofsexualabuse,criminality,
truancy,emotionaldisorders,andotherchildhoodandadolescentharm.
Moreover,thewidespreaduseofcontraceptionhasinfactledtoariseinboth
illegitimacyandabortion.InEvangeliumVitae13,SaintJohnPaulIIspokeof
contraceptionandabortionasfruitsofthesametree.Itisaneasilyobservablefactthat
trendlinesforbothcontraceptionandabortionriseinparallel.Tosaythattherelationis
onlyacorrelationandnotasignofcausationistorefusetoseewhatisobvious.Itis
hardtodenythatcontraceptionisamajorcauseofabortion,inpartbecauseit
contributestotheperceptionthatpregnancyisa“failure”oran“accident”tobe
remediedbykillinganunbornchildasthebackupplan.
Thosewhoadvocateforincreaseduseofcontraceptionshouldrealizethatnot
onlyisincreasedabortionaresult,butalsototheformofabortionthatisgender-cide.
Acrosstheplanetmillionsmoreunborngirlsarekilledbyabortionthanboys.Insome
culturesthishappensbecauseparentswantboystocarryonthefamilylegacy;inothers
itisaresultoftheconsumermentality(wewantwhatwewant,whenwewantit)
instilledbywidespreadcontraceptionthatextendstokillingachildwhosesexdoesnot
matchone’spreference.
Inmanywaystheharmfuleffectsofcontraceptionarecloselyconnectedtoa
consumermentalityoneveryone'spart,perhapsespeciallyamongmen.Itleadstothe
treatmentofwomenasinterchangeablepartnersforrecreationalsex,ratherthanas
potentiallifelongpartnerscommittedtooneanotherandtothecommoncauseof
childrearing.HumanaeVitae(17)predictedthatthesexualrevolutionwouldlessen
respectforwomenamongmen.Theaccumulateddataof“happinessstudies”suggests
thatfemaleunhappinesshasincreasedsincethesexualrevolutiontookhold.Onestudy
foundthatduringthepast35years,women’sself-reportedfeelingsofwell-beinghad
declinedbothabsolutelyandrelativelycomparedtomen’s.
Theenthusiasmforcontraceptionarosewhenpeoplethoughttheworldwould
soonbeoverpopulatedtothepointofannihilation.Today,incontrast,moreandmore
scholarsandleadersarerealizingthedamagedonetoaneconomyandculturewhen
birthratesfallbelowreplacement.Indeed,someportionsoftheglobefearthatthe
wealthiernationskeeptryingtoimposetheircontraceptivelife-stylesondeveloping
nationsbecausethewealthiernationsfearcompetition.
18
Theerroneousviewthatcontraceptionisnecessarytohappinesshasledtothe
attemptofmanytoforcesocietiestoprovidecontraceptionforfree,which,asisbeing
experiencedinmanycultures,leadstoviolationsofreligiousliberty.
Themultiplewaysthatcontraceptioncontributestosocialdecayhavebeen
cataloguedelsewhere;heresufficeittosaythatitisverynaïvefortheWijngaards
Statementtospeakof“provenbenefits”whilenotatallacknowledgingtheharms.
Certainlytherearegreatbenefitstospousesbeingabletoshapetheirfamilysize,but
thatcanbedoneusingmethodsofNaturalFamilyPlanning,whichareveryeffective,
withoutbadhealthconsequences,virtuallyfreetouse,andcontributetomarital
stabilityandhappiness.
7.5LegalConsequences
PopePaulVIspokepropheticallyinHumaneVitaewhenhewarnedthatwith
widespreadcontraceptiongovernmentswouldbeginviolatinghumanrights:
Let[reasonableindividuals]alsocarefullyconsiderthatadangerouspowerwill
beputintothehandsofrulerswhocarelittleaboutthemorallaw…Whowill
preventpublicauthoritiesfromfavoringwhattheybelievetobethemost
effectivecontraceptivemethodsandfrommandatingthateveryonemustuse
them,whenevertheyconsideritnecessary?Andclearlyitwillcomeaboutthat
peoplewhodesiretoavoidthedifficultiesthatarepartofthedivinelaw,
difficultiesthatindividuals,families,orsocietymayexperience,willhandoverto
thewillofthepublicauthoritiesthepowerofinterferinginthemostexclusive
andintimateresponsibilityofspouses.(HV17)
Oncealargesegmentofsocietyacceptscontraceptionasasocialgood,ittakes
butafewshortstepsforgovernmentstobegintoforcethis“good”uponothers.These
stepsbeginwitheliminatingorreducingalllegalimpedimentstocontraceptiveaccess,
followedbyheavystatesubsidizationofcontraceptivedrugsanddevices,andtheactive
governmentsuppressionofreligious,familial,andculturaloppositiontocontraception.
Thissuppressiontakestheformofmandatorysexualeducationinpublicschools
(whichmayalsobemandatedforprivateorreligiousschools)thatindoctrinates
childrenanderodesparentalauthorityasschooladministrators,counselors,and
teachersassumetheprimaryroleofparentsinthesematters.Manyyoungchildrenwill
returnhomefromschoolhavingreceivedcondomsandinstructionsonthemannerof
theiruse,withnopossibilityofopting-out,whileatthesametimeschoolofficials
disingenuouslyclaimthattheywillleavethemoralquestionastotheirusetofamilies.
Butoncethestatedecidestopromotecontraceptiveuse,takingapositiononthemoral
questionisunavoidable.Thestate,havingacceptedcontraceptionasasocietalgood,
willtreatitassuch.
Whenconcentratedgovernmentpowercombineswithanideologyofradical
sexualautonomy,thereligiousfreedomofallwillalsocomeunderassault.Inthe
UnitedStates,thegovernmentactualizedthisthreatbymandatingnear-universal
coverageofcontraceptivesandabortion-inducingdrugsanddevicesbyemployersand
19
insurancecompanies.Objectingprivatebusinessownersandreligiousnonprofits,
includingareligiousorderthatservesthepoorestofthepoor,werethreatenedwith
millionsofdollarsinfinesiftheyfollowedtheirfaithandrefusedtocollaboratewiththe
provisionofcontraceptives.Althoughnarrowly-decidedcourtdecisionshavesofar
protectedsuchgroupsfromsuchgovernmentcoercion,thedurabilityofthosedecisions
remainstobeseen.
Inanyevent,itisclearthatgovernmenthascometoseereligiousauthorityasan
obstacletogovernment-endorsednormsregardingcontraceptionandthusanobstacle
toprogressitself.Religiousinstitutionswillthusbetargetedbythestateforexclusion
fromthepublicsquareandpublicprogramsiftheydonotadoptorendorsethe
government’sviewsonhumansexuality.
Asseeninotherpartsoftheworld,itisthevulnerablepopulationsservedby
religiousinstitutions–betheywomen,racialandethnicminorities,thepoor,orthe
undereducated–thatwillbeinducedandultimatelycoercedbygovernmentinto
acceptingcontraceptivepractices.Oneneedonlylookatforcedsterilizationpracticesin
IndiaandAfricaorforcedabortionsinChinatoseethisthisdynamicinpractice.
AsstatedbyPopePaulVIinHumanaeVitae,peopleunderindividualorsocietal
pressure“maygiveintothehandsofpublicauthoritiesthepowertointerveneinthe
mostpersonalandintimateresponsibilityofhusbandandwife”(HV17).Oncethis
authorityisceded,itwillnoteasilyberestored.
7.6CulturalConsequences
ManyAfricannationshavebeenunderenormouspressurefordecadesto
distributecontraceptives.SincetheCatholicChurchprovidesnearly50%ofthe
healthcareinmostAfricannations,therehavealsobeenattemptstocoerceandforce
CatholicInstitutionstodistributecontraceptives.Thisisaseriousviolationofreligious
liberty.HumanaeVitaeprovidesasolidlineofdefenseforbishops,religious,andlaity
whoarecommittedtotheChurch’steachingandcommittedtonotbeingusedby
governmentsandinternationalagenciesfortheiragendas.Catholicleaders,ecclesial
andlay,haveseentheharms(ifnotdevastation)towhichwidespreaduseof
contraceptiveshascontributedindevelopedcountries.Theyareconvincedthatthe
valueshonoredbyFertilityAwarenessBasedMethodsaremorecompatiblewiththe
familyvaluesoftheircultures.Itisscandalousthatinternationalagenciesattimes
refusetoprovidefoodandhealthcareunlessagovernmentinstitutespopulationcontrol
measuresbasedonwidespreaddistributionofcontraceptionandaccesstoabortion.
Africanslovetheirchildren:theydonotsomuchwantfewerofthemaswantfoodand
healthcareforthem.Themoneyspentprovidingcontraceptionandpromotingabortion
couldeasilyfunduniversalinstructiononFertilityAwarenessBasedMethods,withlarge
amountsremainingforprovidingfood,cleanwater,andhealthcare.
20
8.TheCostofDiscipleship
8.1TheRealityofGrace
LivingbytheChurch’steachingthatitisgoodforeachandeveryactof
maritalsexualintercoursetoretainitsopennesstolifecanpresentmanychallenges,
challengesthatcanseeminsuperable.ButtheGospelor“GoodNews”isgoodnews.
Wearenotonourown.OurSaviorJesusChristcametomakeavailabletousthe
gracesthatenableustoliveuptothedemandsandgreatnessofournature.Heis
eagertotakeourburdensontohimselfandhasprovidedmanysourcesofgrace,
suchasprayer,theEucharist,andthesacramentofreconciliation.Attimes,wemust
allpracticewhatcanseemafrighteningradicalrelianceupontheLord,butwemust
haveconfidencethatHeistheretohelpus:“Castallyourworriesuponhimbecause
hecaresforyou”(Peter1:7).Thetimewespendworryingwouldbetterbespentin
prayer,fortherewecanhearthevoiceoftheLordandwecanlearnhisplanforus,a
planhewillhelpusachieve.
8.2TheChallengeofInfertilityandContraception
Justasthelanguageofmaritalloverequiresspousestoaccepteachotherinall
oftheirdimensions,richness,andwholeness(herefertility),sospousesmustwelcome
eachotherintheirweaknesses,limitations,andlackofwholeness(hereinfertility).In
thecaseofspousessufferingfrominfertility,thetemptationcanbestrongtoseek
anotherpartnertofulfillthenatural(butsometimesobsessive)desireforchildren.The
absenceofchildren(muchlikethefailuretofindagoodspouse)canbeexperiencedas
aninsuperablebarriertohappiness,avoidthatcannotbefilled,leadingsometimesto
permanentheartbreak.Yetabandoningone’sspouseforthisreasonisagravebreachof
love,abetrayal,andamountstousingthenewpartnerwithwhomoneseekstohave
children.Thosewhohaveexperiencedtheheavycrossofinfertilitycantestifytowhata
greatgiftfertilityis.
Hence,infertilitycanyieldanimportantperspectiveonthequestionof
contraception,highlightingitscontradictiontolove:stayingtruetotheother.Lovingthe
fertilitythatspousesoffereachotherisjustasnecessaryaslovingeachotherwhen
infertilityisapartoftherelationship.Rejectingthegiftoffertilitybyuseof
contraceptionamountstotellingone’sspousethatheorsheisnotlovedininall
respects.Spouseswhousecontraceptionarerejectingakeyelementoftheirmarital
pledgeandaretherebywoundingtheirloveinitsverycore.
9:Recommendations
9.1ToCatholics,especiallyhusbandsandwives
WeurgeCatholics,especiallyhusbandsandwives,toconsiderthatGod’soriginal
intentionformenandwomen.Theirgiftofsexuality,fertility,and(ifcalledtomarriage)
the“onefleshunion”areagiftandaninvitationtoshareinHislife.Andweurgeyouto
considerthatCatholicteachingsonhumansexuality,marriage,andprocreationcome
21
fromtheLordGodofallcreationasrevealedtotheChurch–theyarenotinventedby
academictheologiansortheclergy.TheseteachingsexpressGod’struthandloveforus.
WerecommendthatallCatholicsprayerfullyreadHumanaeVitaeandbecome
familiarwiththemanybenefitsofNFP.Ifquestionsarise,itmaybehelpfultocontacta
CatholicpriestoranNFPteacherforcounsel,andtovisitthewebsitesandreadthe
booksandarticleslistedintheresourcesectiononthiswebsite.
9.2Tohealthcareprofessionals
Weaskhealthcareprofessionalstoconsiderwhatknowledgeofthemethodsof
NaturalFamilyPlanningandNaProtechnologycouldcontributetoyourserviceofyour
patients.Weurgeyoufamiliarizeyourselfwiththevariousmethodsandthescience
behindthemsothatyoumighthelpyourcolleaguesandpatientsappreciatethebeauty
ofGod’sgiftoffertility.31
9.3ToInstitutionsofHigherLearning:
WeaskleadersandfacultyinCatholicCollegesandUniversitiestohirefacultywho
supportChurchteachingonCatholicmorality.Weaskthemtoprovideprogramsthat
willeducateyoungpeopleonhowtoremainchasteintheircollegeyearsandbeyond;
thateducateyoungpeopleonhowbesttofindasuitablespouseandhowtobuilda
relationshipbasedontheloveofJesusandrespectforhisChurch.
9.4ToCatholiclayecclesialleaders,consecratedreligious,andordainedclergy,
especiallybishops
ThosewholeadintheCatholicChurchhaveaspecialresponsibilityto
authenticallyrepresentChurchteachingtothefaithful.Therefore,weurgeyouto:
9.4.1Undertakeastrengtheningandevenreformofallcatecheticalprograms
underyoursupervision.
Ensurethatcatecheticalprogramsandcurriculaprovidesubstantive
educationonChurchteachingsthattreatChristiananthropology(howGodmade
menandwomeninHisimage);thenatureofhumansexuality(including
dispellingthemythsofgenderideology);thenatureofmarriage(naturaland
sacramental);thevirtueofchastity;themoralprohibitionofcontraception;the
moralityofnaturalmethodsoffamilyplanning(includingitsbasicscienceand
methodology);thevalueofwaitinguntilmarriagetohavesex,thevalueof
marryingintheChurch;andthevalueofhavingchildreninmarriageand
providingthemwithastrongandlovingfamilylife.
NB:Areviewofcatecheticalprogramsoughttobeundertakenwiththe
goalofsurfacingweakness,correctingproblems,andstrengthening
content.Today,therearemanyresourcesthatcanfacilitatethisprocess
(seeResources).
22
9.4.2Providetheabovecatecheticaleducationtoallthefaithful.
Sinceloveandsexualityaffectallpeople,pastoraleducationoughttobe
providedforallagegroups,includingage-appropriatecurriculaforchildrenand
adolescents.Fromveryearlyon,youngpeopleshouldbepreparingfor
marriage,preparingtohavethevirtuesneededtobeagoodspouseandtoknow
howtolookforagoodspouse.Parentsandeducatorsshouldbeintentionalin
helpingyoungpeoplebeconsciousofhowbesttoprepareformarriedlifeand
parenthood.
NB:Specialmentionshouldbemadeaboutyoungadults,whooftenfall
awayfromtheChurchatthistimeintheirlives.Asmentioned,education
intheCatholicfaithshouldbeofferedinuniversitysettings.Butsince
some70%ofyoungadultsdonotattendcollege,itisalsocriticaltoreach
outtoyoungadultsthroughcreativevenues(suchas“TheologyonTap”
programs)andsocialmedia(Facebook,websites,Twitter,pilgrimages
etc.).
9.4.3EnsurethatChurchteachingisprovidedbywell-formedandbelieving
clergy,religious,andlaity.
Itbearsmentioningthatnooneshouldteachthefaithfulwhodoesnot
believeandstrivetoliveCatholicteachingintheirlives.Everyeffortoughttobe
madetoensurethatChurchleaderswhoteach–fromtheparishreligious
educationvolunteer,tothefacultyinaCatholicuniversity’sdepartmentof
theology–shouldhavethe“mindoftheChurch.”
Weespeciallyrecommendthatcontinuingeducationandformation
programsberequiredofallChurchleadersonthesubjectsofChristian
anthropology,humansexuality,chastity,marriage,andplanningone’sfamily
size.
9.5Aspecialwordtodiocesanbishops
Werecommendthatbishops,becauseoftheirsacredteachingauthority:
9.5.1Createorstrengthendiocesanmarriageandfamilylifeministry.
Diocesanmarriageministryisconcernedwithallaspectsofthepastoral
preparationofcouplesformarriageaswellassupportingmarriedcouplesand
theirfamilies.Centraltothisactivityshouldbecatecheticaleducationand
formationinGod’sdesignformarriedlove,whichshouldinclude:
1) SubstantivecontentandevenwitnesstotheChurch’steachingson
conjugalloveandresponsibleparenthood,theimmoralityof
contraception,andthemoralityofNFP.
2) Remotemarriageeducationforyouthandyoungadults,withaspecial
focusonthevirtueofchastityandanintroductiontothescienceand
methodsofNFP.
23
3) Continuingeducationofferedtodiocesanclergy,religious,andlay
ecclesialleaders.
9.5.2CreateorstrengthenordiocesanNFPministry.
PartofdiocesanNFPeducationshouldincludecreatingorstrengthening
diocesanNFPministrysincethisparticularministryiscomplexandinvolves
educationinhumanfertilityinadditiontoChurchmoralteaching.32When
developingdiocesanNFPministry,itisimportantto:
1) IncludeprogrammingforthepastoralsupportofNFPusers,especially
thosestrugglingwiththemethods.
2) Includeprogrammingforclergyeducationonthescienceand
methodsofNFP(includingwheretofindreputableresources).
NB:ItisespeciallyimportanttoencourageclergytogiveSunday
homiliesonChurchteachingregardingchastity,conjugalloveand
responsibleparenthoodandthemoralmethodsofNFP.
3) Includeavarietyofeducationalandwitnessformatssuchasuseof
thediocesanwebsite,e-learns,andsocialmedia.
4) IncludelocalNFP-onlyhealthcareprofessionals,includingCatholic
marriagecounselors(orthosewhowillsupportCatholicteaching).
9.5.3ProvidepastoralsupporttotheNFPresearch/educationalcommunity.
SincethesecularscientificcommunitydoesnotcommonlysupportNFP
research,Churchleadersoughttostepintohelp.Amongtheactivitieswe
recommendare:
1) AssistancewithidentifyingbenefactorsforthefundingofNFP
research.
2) Assistancewithfundingofdiocesanrepresentatives(e.g.,NFP
teachers,physicians,etc.)toNFPeducationalconferences.
3) PromotionofthemedicalpracticesofNFP-onlydoctorsinthe
diocese.
9.6Toallpeopleofgoodwill
Theevidencefrombothsociologicalresearchandcommonsenseseemsto
challengethepopularbeliefthataccesstocontraceptionwillprovideakindoffreedom
andhelppeopleattain,ifnotlonglastinglove,atleastsomedegreeofhappiness.
Peopleshouldaskwhethertheyarehealthierorhappierfromcontraceptiveuseandthe
sexualbehaviorwhichaccompaniesit.
Wedon’tpresumetotellpeoplewhattobelieve,butwedourgeallpeopleof
goodwilltobegintoquestionthestatusquo–especiallythehealthinessof
contraceptiveusebothwithregardtotheirpersonallivesandtosocietyingeneral.
24
WealsoinviteallpeopletoreadHumanaeVitaetotestclaimsmadeagainstit
andtoappreciateitswisdom.Finally,weinviteyoutodiscoverthemethodsofNatural
FamilyPlanning(seeFactsAboutFertility.org).
9.7TointernationalAgencies
Weurgeinternationalagenciestolistentothevoicesofwomenandmenwho
sharetheunderstandingthatcontraceptionisharmfulforwomen,relationships,
children,andsocietyandwhowouldbenefitfromknowledgeofmethodsofNatural
FamilyPlanning.Weasktheseagenciestorespectthereligiouslibertyoforganizations
andindividuals.Indeed,weaskthemtobecomefullyfamiliarwiththesciencebehind
NaturalFamilyPlanningandtotakeanhonestlookatthedamagecontraceptiveusehas
donetomanycultures.WeaskthemtopromotemethodsofNaturalFamilyPlanning
sincethemethodsaremoral,ecologicallysound,effective,inexpensive,andconducive
tostrongmarriages.TheCatholicChurchandthosewhoseetheharmsthat
contraceptionhasdonedeserveahearing.Individuals,marriages,andsocietieswill
benefitgreatlyifthetruthisrecognizedandfollowed.
Leadauthor:
JanetE.Smith,Ph.D.
FatherMichaelJ.McGivneyChairofLifeIssues
SacredHeartSeminary
Co-authors:
JohnS.Grabowski,Ph.D.
AssociateProfessorandDirectorofMoralTheology/Ethics
SchoolofTheologyandReligiousStudies,TheCatholicUniversityofAmerica
J.Budziszewski,Ph.D.
ProfessorofGovernmentandPhilosophy
UniversityofTexasatAustin
MariaFedoryka,Ph.D.
AssociateProfessorofPhilosophy
AveMariaUniversity
Contributors:
RichardJ.Fehring,Ph.D.,RN,FAAN
ProfessorEmeritusandDirector
InstituteforNaturalFamilyPlanning,MarquetteUniversity
GerardM.Nadal,Ph.D.
President,CoalitiononAbortion/BreastCancer
25
Dr.GregoryK.Popcak
ExecutiveDirector:PastoralSolutionsInstitute
1
Thereareseveraltranslationsavailable.Wehavelinkedtotheonepostedonthe
Vaticanwebsite.TheoneusedinthisdocumentisthatdonebyJanetE.Smith:
https://marriageresourcecentre.org/2012/10/31/a-rich-new-translation-of-humanaevitae/(accessed9/20/2016).
2
ConsiderforinstancethatfacttheJPIIInstitutesforMarriageandtheFamilyexiston
allsevenofcontinents;thattherearemanylayrunapostolatespromotingchastitythat
arebasedontheTheologyoftheBodyandthatmostseminariesandmanyuniversities
nowteachtheTheologyoftheBodyasthepreferredexplanationoftheChurch’s
teachingonsexuality.
3
HumanaeVitae14.
4
Foradetailedtreatment,seeGermainGrisez,TheWayoftheLordJesus,Vol.2,Living
aChristianLife(Quincy,Ill.:FranciscanPress,1993),506-519.
5
See,VandeVusseL.,HansonL.,FehringR.J.,NewmanA.,andFoxJ.“Couples’viewsof
theeffectsofnaturalfamilyplanningonmaritaldynamics,”JournalofNursing
Scholarship35,no.2(2003):171-176.
6
ToreadmoreaboutNFPmethods,see“NFP,MythandReality”at,
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-familyplanning/what-is-nfp/frequently-asked-questions.cfm.
7
See,VandeVusseL.,HansonL.,FehringR.J.,NewmanA.,andFoxJ.“Couples’viewsof
theeffectsofnaturalfamilyplanningonmaritaldynamics.”JournalofNursing
Scholarship35,no.2(2003):171-176.
8
SeePopeJohnPaulII,ManandWomanHeCreatedThem:ATheologyoftheBody,
trans.MichaelWaldstein(Boston:PaulineBooksandMedia,2006).
9
PopeJohnPaulII,GeneralAudience(18July1984),InsegnamentidiGiovanniPaoloII,
vol.7.2(VaticanCity:LibreriaEditriceVaticana,1985)103.
10
Foradefenseofthisclaim,seeJohnC.Ford,S.J.andGermainGrisez,“Contraception
andtheInfallibilityoftheOrdinaryMagisterium,”TheologicalStudies39(1978)258–
312.
11
Lumengentium(November21,1964)no.25,trans.PeterRyan,S.J.,andGermain
Grisez,“IndissolubleMarriage:AReplytoKennethHimesandJamesCoriden,”
TheologicalStudies72(2011)369–415,at410.Foraconsiderationofthemeaningof
theseconditions,see410-11.
12
SeeRyanandGrisez,411–12.
13
SeeFordandGrisez,277-86.
14
MatthewHanleyandJokindeIlara,AffirmingLove,AvoidingAIDS:WhatAfricaCan
TeachtheWest(NationalCatholicBioethicsCenter,2009).
26
15
NationalCenterforHIV/AIDS,ViralHepatitis,STD,andTBPrevention,Centersfor
DiseaseControlandPrevention,August12,2016,
https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/docs/condoms_and_stds.pdf.
16
ThebookContraceptiveTechnology(R.A.Hatcher,J.Trussell,A.L.Nelson,W.Cates,D.
Kowal,M.Policar,etal.,NewYork:ArdentMedia,2011)isconsideredthemost
authoritativetextinthefieldofcontraceptivetechnologiesandlistscontraceptive
efficaciesinatablelinkedhere:http://www.contraceptivetechnology.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/09/CTFailureTable.pdf.
17
JessicaDolleetal.,attherenownedFredHutchinsonCancerCenterinWashington
(CancerEpidemiolBiomarkersPrev2009;18(4).)
18
WorldHealthOrganization,InternationalAgencyforResearchonCancer
(http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php).ThelistofGroup1Agents
includestheknowncarcinogens,andincludesTobacco,Radium,Plutonium,andall
typesofIonizingRadiation.Theactuallistmaybefoundhere:
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/ClassificationsGroupOrder.pdf.
19
LarrimoreandStanford(BMJ2000,August12;321(7258):450.
20
http://www.contraceptivetechnology.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/09/CTFailureTable.pdf.
21
Welling,L.(2013).Psychobehavioraleffectsofhormonalcontraceptiveuse.
EvolutionaryPsychology,11(3):718-742
22
Welling,L.(2013).Psychobehavioraleffectsofhormonalcontraceptiveuse.
EvolutionaryPsychology,11(3):718-742,p.718)
23
Russel,V.M.,McNulty,J.,Baker,L.etal.(2014).Theassociationbetween
discontinuinghormonalcontraceptivesandwives’maritalsatisfactiondependson
husbands’facialattractiveness.ProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciencesofthe
UnitedStatesofAmerica.vol.111no.48.17081–17086RetrievedSeptember11,2016
athttp://www.pnas.org/content/111/48/17081.full.
24
Ibid.
25
Parry,W.(2012).Waterpollutioncausedbybirthcontrolposesdilemma.LiveScience.
RetrievedSeptember11,2016fromhttp://www.livescience.com/20532-birth-controlwater-pollution.html.
26
LundUniversity.(2016,March4).Estrogeninbirthcontrolpillshasanegativeimpact
onfish.ScienceDaily.RetrievedSeptember11,2016from
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160304092230.htm;Schwindt,A.,
Winkelman,D.Keteles,K.etal.(2014).Anenvironmentaloestrogrendisruptsfish
populationdynamicsthroughdirectandtransgenerationaleffectsonsurvivaland
fecundity.J.ofAppliedEcology,51pp.582-591.
27
Mills,M.,Arias-Salazar,K.,Baynes,A.,etal.(2015).Removalofecotoxicityof17α-
ethinylestradiolusingTAML/peroxidewatertreatment.ScientificReports5,10511.
doi:10.1038/srep10511
28
Tamschick,S.,Rozenblut-Koscisty,B.,Ogielska,M.(2015).Sexreversalassessments
revealdifferentvulnerabilitytoendocrinedisruptionbetweendeeplydivergedanuran
27
lineages.
ScientificReports6,Articlenumber:23825.doi:10.1038/srep23825;Vrooman,L.,
Oatley,J.,Griswold,J.etal.(2015).Estrogenicexposurealtersthespermatogonialstem
cellsinthedevelopingtestis,permanentlyreducingcrossoverlevelsintheadult.PLOS
Genet.Jan;11(1).
29
EPA(2010),Theeffectsofethinylestradiolonspermatogenesisintheadultmalerat.
EPAScienceInventory.RetrievedSeptember11,2016at
https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?dirEntryId=218968;Vrooman,
op.cit.
30
SeeLionelTiger,TheDeclineofMales(St.Martin’sPress:2000);FrancisFukyama,The
GreatDisruption,HumanNatureandtheReconstitutionofSocialOrder(FreePress,
2000);MaryEberstadt,AdamandEveAfterthePill:ParadoxesoftheSexualRevolution
(IgnatiusPress,2013).
31
ForalistingofNFPprovidersthatofferon-lineandon-siteeducation,see
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-familyplanning/what-is-nfp/science/nfp-education-for-healthcare-professionals.cfm.
32
AusefulinstrumenttoaccomplishthiscanbefoundintheU.S.bishops’Standardsfor
DiocesanNFPMinistry(seehttp://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-andfamily/natural-family-planning/diocesan-ministry/standards.cfm).
(9/23/2016version:Therewillbeupdates)
28