Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church has long opposed birth control, with the Vatican's stance against contraception being centuries old. In 1930, Pope Pius XI declared that contraception was inherently evil and a violation of the law of God and nature. This was followed by Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, which banned all artificial methods of birth control. The Catholic Church's position on birth control is derived from its views on the nature of marital sexuality and responsible parenthood, with sex being seen as intimately involved in God's design for the universe. While the Church officially condemns artificial contraception as intrinsically evil, it allows Natural Family Planning, which involves only having sex during the infertile period of a woman's monthly cycle.
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's stance on birth control
The Church's position on birth control is derived from its interpretation of the nature of marital sexuality and responsible parenthood. According to the Church, the primary purpose of marriage and sex is to bring new children into the world, and that sexual intercourse is a powerful bond reserved for married couples. The Church teaches that using artificial contraception does not allow a couple to be open to God's gift of a child and that it places a barrier between the couple and God.
The only form of birth control permitted by the Catholic Church is 'natural' family planning, which involves having sex only during the infertile period of a woman's monthly cycle. This method of family planning is often portrayed as ineffective, but when done properly, it can be very effective in avoiding pregnancy.
While the Catholic Church officially forbids the use of artificial birth control, many Catholics have chosen to disobey this teaching. A 2008 study suggests that most practising Catholics are ignoring the Church's teachings on contraception and sex. Additionally, a survey of 1,500 Mass-goers in England and Wales found that 54.5% were using the contraceptive pill, and nearly 69% had used or would consider using condoms. Furthermore, 98% of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lives, according to another source.
Despite the Church's ban on artificial contraception, there are certain circumstances in which the use of birth control pills may be permitted. The Church allows the use of the pill for non-contraceptive purposes, such as treating severe acne, reducing excess body hair growth, or addressing other gynecological issues like painful periods, premenstrual syndrome, heavy bleeding, or endometriosis. This is justified under the principle of "double effect", where the good effect of treating a serious ailment outweighs the unintended evil effect of neutralizing fertility. However, the use of the pill for contraceptive purposes is considered a state of sin according to official Church teaching.
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Pope Paul VI's ban on contraception
The Catholic Church's ban on contraception is based on its interpretation of marital sexuality and responsible parenthood. The Church teaches that sexual intercourse between a husband and wife is intimately involved in God's design for the universe and that it cannot be separated from its reproductive implications.
In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued an encyclical called Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life), which formally expressed the Catholic position on birth control and banned all artificial methods of contraception. The document stated:
> "We must once again declare that the direct interruption of the generative process already begun, and, above all, directly willed and procured abortion, even if for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as licit means of regulating birth. Equally to be excluded, as the teaching authority of the Church has frequently declared, is direct sterilization, whether perpetual or temporary, whether of the man or of the woman. Similarly excluded is every action which, either 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."
The ban caused a substantial breach between the laity and the Catholic Church, with many Catholics choosing to disobey the teaching and use artificial contraception. Polls have shown that 98% of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lives, and a 2008 study found that most practising Catholics are ignoring the Church's teachings on contraception and sex. Despite this, senior leaders in Catholicism today remain committed to Humanae Vitae and are less inclined to distance themselves from the ban on birth control.
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'Artificial' methods of birth control
The Catholic Church forbids all forms of artificial contraception. This includes methods such as condoms, diaphragms, birth control sponges, intrauterine devices (IUDs), tubal ligation, vasectomies, and emergency contraception like Plan B. These methods are considered to be a violation of the "law of God and nature" and are seen as separating sexual intercourse from its intended consequence of reproduction.
Artificial contraception methods work by decreasing the likelihood that sexual intercourse will result in pregnancy. Barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragms, and sponges physically block sperm from entering the uterus and fertilizing an egg. IUDs disrupt the normal uterine environment, while hormonal contraceptives like the pill and hormone implants prevent ovulation by fooling the ovaries.
The Catholic Church only allows 'natural' birth control methods, which involve abstaining from sex during a woman's fertile period. This method, known as natural family planning, is the only way for a Catholic couple to remain faithful to the Church's teachings while avoiding pregnancy. However, many Catholics have chosen to disregard these teachings, creating a substantial breach between the laity and the Church establishment.
Despite the Church's ban on artificial contraception, the majority of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lives. In addition, some Catholic hierarchies in certain countries have openly modified the policy to allow for the use of artificial contraception within marriage for purposes such as birth spacing. Ultimately, individual Catholics must decide for themselves what methods of contraception they will use, if any.
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'Natural' methods of birth control
The Catholic Church has always maintained that it is intrinsically wrong to use contraception to prevent new human beings from coming into existence. It officially banned any "artificial" means of birth control on New Year's Eve 1930. Artificial methods of contraception are considered a violation of the "law of God and nature".
However, the Church approves the use of natural family planning (NFP) methods. NFP involves using self-control to regulate sexual activities in harmony with nature. This includes the rhythm method, which involves abstaining from sex during a woman's fertile period.
The Billings or cervical mucus method is another NFP approach that is quite reliable and effective. It involves monitoring changes in cervical mucus, which can indicate when a woman is ovulating. During ovulation, cervical mucus is relatively thin and contains glycoprotein fibrils in a micelle-like structure that aids sperm migration. Once progesterone begins to be secreted, cervical mucus becomes thick and rubbery and acts as a plug in the cervix. Other symptoms associated with ovulation include periovulatory pain and a postovulatory rise in basal body temperature.
NFP methods require communication and commitment, as couples must accurately measure and chart certain physical symptoms and interpret the charts properly, taking into account other events that may interfere with a woman's normal bodily rhythm. NFP also grants couples considerable power to control their fertility and has no side effects, making it a preferred family planning method in developing countries.
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The Catholic Church's teachings on human sexuality
The Church's position on birth control is derived from its view of the nature of marital sexuality and responsible parenthood. It teaches that sexual pleasure within marriage becomes unnatural and even harmful when it deliberately excludes the basic purpose of sex, which is procreation. The Church forbids all forms of artificial contraception, including condoms, birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), sterilization procedures, and emergency contraception. The use of these methods is considered a sin and a violation of the "law of God and nature."
The only form of birth control permitted by the Catholic Church is "natural family planning," which involves abstaining from sex during a woman's fertile period. This method, however, has been criticized as ineffective, leading to large families. While the Church officially condemns artificial contraception, many Catholics have chosen to disobey this teaching, causing a breach between the laity and the Church establishment.
The Church does allow the use of birth control pills for non-contraceptive purposes, such as treating medical conditions like acne, endometriosis, or heavy bleeding. This is justified under the principle of ""double effect," where the good effect of treating a serious ailment outweighs the unintended consequence of neutralizing fertility.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Catholic Church does not allow artificial birth control methods, such as condoms, diaphragms, and the pill.
The Catholic Church allows natural family planning methods, such as only having sex during the infertile period of a woman's monthly cycle.
The Catholic Church considers artificial birth control methods to be intrinsically evil and a violation of the "law of God and nature". The Church teaches that sex is intimately involved in God's design for the universe and that it cannot be separated from its reproductive implications.
The Catholic Church's stance on birth control has remained relatively consistent, with the Church condemning contraception as gravely sinful. However, the issue became more prominent in the 1920s and 1930s with the mass production and availability of rubber condoms and diaphragms, leading the Church to take a more public position. In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued Humanae Vitae, which formally banned all artificial methods of birth control.
