Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church's stance on the pull-out method is a contentious issue. While some interpret Catholic doctrine as forbidding contraception and the withdrawal method, others argue that natural family planning (NFP) is permissible. The Bible passage about Onan, who used the pull-out method and angered God, is often cited as evidence against the method. However, some argue that Onan's sin was denying Tamar children, not the act of pulling out itself. The Church teaches that sexual intercourse must always be open to the possibility of procreation, and any deliberate frustration of this procreative function is considered a grave sin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's view on the pull-out method | The Catholic Church does not allow the pull-out method as a form of contraception |
| Biblical reference | The Bible story of Onan who used the pull-out method and angered God |
| Catholic Church's view on contraception | Contraception is considered a grave sin |
| Catholic Church's view on sexual intercourse outside marriage | Sexual intercourse outside marriage is considered a grave sin |
| Catholic Church's view on non-procreative sex acts | Non-procreative sex acts such as mutual masturbation and anal sex are ruled out |
| Catholic Church's view on natural family planning | Natural family planning is not considered a sin |
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What You'll Learn
The pull-out method is considered a sin
The Catholic Church considers the pull-out method, or coitus interruptus, a sin. This is because the Church believes that sexual intercourse should always be open to the possibility of procreation.
The Bible mentions at least one form of contraception and condemns it. In Genesis Ch.38, Onan used the pull-out method and angered God so much that He slew him. John Calvin, a French theologian and reformer, also condemned the act of "voluntary spilling of semen outside of intercourse between man and woman", deeming it "monstrous".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "legitimate intentions...do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means". It defines contraception as "any action which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation". The Church includes the withdrawal method, or pull-out method, in its list of unacceptable means of contraception.
However, some argue that the act of pulling out is not sinful in itself. Rather, it is the intention behind it that matters. In the case of Onan, he was doing evil because he agreed to have sex with Tamar but purposefully denied her a child. Thus, the sin was in the intention to prevent procreation, not in the act of pulling out.
Despite these differing interpretations, the Catholic Church maintains its position that the pull-out method is a sin, emphasizing the importance of unitive and procreative sexual expression within marriage.
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Catholic Church's stance on contraception
The Catholic Church's stance on contraception is that it is “intrinsically wrong” to use contraception to prevent new human beings from coming into existence. This is based on the belief that contraception is a deliberate violation of the design that God built into the human race, often referred to as "natural law". The natural-law purpose of sex is procreation, and the pleasure that sexual intercourse provides is seen as an additional blessing from God, intended to offer the possibility of new life while strengthening the bond of intimacy, respect, and love between husband and wife.
The Church's teachings on contraception are derived from Scripture, Natural Law, Apostolic Tradition, the Magisterium, and human experience. Marriage is a sacrament with both unitive and procreative ends, and so the fecundity of marriage is vital in the Church's teaching about contraception. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2366) teaches that "Fecundity is a gift; an end of marriage, for conjugal love naturally tends to be fruitful".
Contraception is defined by the Church as "any action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act [sexual intercourse], 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" (Humanae Vitae 14). This includes sterilization, condoms and other barrier methods, spermicides, coitus interruptus (withdrawal method), the Pill, and all other such methods.
The Church's stance on contraception has been a source of controversy, with many people outside the Church viewing it as outdated and oppressive, particularly towards women. However, it is important to note that the Church's teachings on contraception are not new, and Christian leaders were unanimous in speaking out against artificial birth control for almost 2,000 years. It was only in the 20th century that other Christian denominations began to allow the use of contraception, with the Catholic Church remaining the only denomination to uphold the historic Christian position on contraception.
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Catholic teachings on sexual conduct in marriage
The Catholic Church has strict teachings on sexual conduct in marriage, which are outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. According to the Catechism, any action that prevents procreation during sexual intercourse is considered morally unacceptable and is, therefore, a sin. This includes the use of contraception and the withdrawal method or 'pulling out'.
The Bible and early Church Fathers also condemn contraception, with specific reference to the story of Onan in the Bible, who used the withdrawal method and was killed by God. The Church Fathers, including Clement of Alexandria, John Chrysostom, Jerome, Hippolytus of Rome, and Augustine of Hippo, all made statements against the use of contraception.
The Catholic Church teaches that the primary purpose of sexual relations is procreation, and therefore, any deliberate frustration of the procreative function within marriage is considered a grave sin. This includes the use of artificial contraception and non-procreative sex acts such as mutual masturbation and anal sex. The Church also forbids sexual intercourse outside of marriage, or fornication, as a grave matter or mortal sin, as it is contrary to the dignity of persons and human sexuality. Homosexual acts are also considered sinful and are distinguished from homosexual attractions, which are not considered sinful.
Despite the Church's teachings, there are differing opinions among theologians and the laity on the official teachings of sexuality. Some Catholics may struggle with these teachings and may not agree with or follow them. The Church's position on contraception also does not mean that individuals are obliged to impose Catholic rules on non-Catholics, and individuals are responsible for their own actions.
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Catholic views on homosexuality
The Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality is complex and often contentious, with varying degrees of acceptance and rejection within the Church and among its members. While the Church has traditionally considered homosexual acts as "intrinsically immoral and contrary to natural law", it does not view homosexual orientation as sinful in itself. This distinction sets Catholicism apart from more fundamentalist Christian denominations.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which outlines the Church's dogmas and teachings, names "homosexual acts" as "intrinsically disordered" and contrary to the natural law, as they close the sexual act to the gift of life and do not proceed from a "genuine affective and sexual complementarity". It describes homosexual tendencies as "objectively disordered". The Church points to several passages in the Bible to support its teachings, including Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Romans 1, and I Corinthians 6:9.
Despite this official stance, the Catholic Church calls for homosexual persons to be treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity, and for all forms of unjust discrimination against them to be avoided. This includes a rejection of conversion therapy, which has been made illegal in some Catholic countries due to the psychological harm it can cause. Pope Francis, notably, has taken a more progressive approach than his predecessors, becoming the first pope to support civil union status for same-sex individuals and publicly denouncing sodomy laws.
The experience of LGBTQ+ individuals within the Catholic Church can vary widely across dioceses and parishes. While some Catholic communities actively welcome LGBTQ+ members, others have denied membership to these individuals and their families. There have also been instances of LGBTQ+ employees being dismissed from Catholic schools and parishes in the United States following the celebration of same-sex marriages.
Attitudes towards homosexuality among Catholic populations around the world are mixed. In Western Europe, large majorities of Catholics express support for legal same-sex marriage, with high percentages in the Netherlands (92%), the United Kingdom (78%), France (74%), and Germany (70%). In the Americas, majorities of Catholics in several countries, including Canada (87%) and Argentina (80%), believe society should be accepting of homosexuality. However, in almost all Central and Eastern European countries surveyed, most Catholics oppose same-sex marriage, with nine-in-ten Catholics in Ukraine and 66% in Hungary and Poland holding this view.
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Catholic views on birth control methods
The Catholic Church has long opposed contraception, with the Catechism specifying that all marriage acts must be both unitive and procreative. The Church teaches that the only acceptable sexual conduct is reserved for sex between married persons ending in ejaculation inside the woman.
The Bible mentions at least one form of contraception, coitus interruptus (withdrawal method), and condemns it. In Genesis Ch.38, Onan used the withdrawal method and angered God so much that He slew him. John Calvin similarly condemned the withdrawal method, stating that "the voluntary spilling of semen outside of intercourse between man and woman is a monstrous thing".
The Catholic Church considers sexual intercourse outside of marriage, or the use of artificial contraception within marriage, to be a grave sin. This includes the use of condoms, other barrier methods, spermicides, birth control pills, intrauterine devices, sterilization, and the withdrawal method.
Natural family planning (NFP) is a method of fertility charting that can be used to prevent pregnancy, but it is not considered a form of contraception by the Catholic Church. NFP involves abstaining from sex during a woman's fertile time, and the Church teaches that if a couple chooses to refrain from sex during this time, they are not doing anything sinful.
While the Catholic Church forbids certain birth control methods, it is important to note that individuals are not obliged to impose Catholic rules on someone else when they themselves are not Catholic.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Catholic Church considers the use of the withdrawal method, or any other form of contraception, a grave sin.
The Bible mentions the withdrawal method specifically and condemns it. In Genesis Ch.38, the story of Onan describes how he used the withdrawal method and angered God, who slew him.
The Catholic Church teaches that the primary purpose of sexual relations is procreation. The withdrawal method is considered sinful because it deliberately frustrates the procreative function of sexual expression within marriage.
Any action that proposes to render procreation impossible, either before, during, or after sexual intercourse, is considered contraception and is sinful. This includes sterilization, condoms, birth control pills, intrauterine devices, and more.
Natural family planning, or fertility charting, is considered a moral way to prevent pregnancy by the Catholic Church. This method involves abstaining from sex during fertile periods by using information about a woman's menstrual cycle.
