Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church has long opposed the use of artificial birth control, with the Roman Catholic Church officially banning it in 1930. The Catechism of the Catholic Church specifies that all sex acts must be both unitive and procreative, and artificial contraception is considered “intrinsically evil. However, a significant number of Catholics use artificial contraception, with 98% of Catholics in the United States having used some form of birth control in their lives. This has led to experts declaring a crisis of catechesis within the Church. While the Church only endorses “natural family planning methods, such as the rhythm method, many Catholics have turned to other forms of contraception, including condoms, the pill, and IUDs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics using artificial birth control | 98% |
| Percentage of Catholics using natural family planning | 1% |
| Percentage of Catholics using highly effective contraceptive methods | 68% |
| Percentage of Catholics relying on condoms | 15% |
| Percentage of Catholics using other methods such as withdrawal | 4% |
| Percentage of Catholics not using any method of contraception | 2% |
| Catholic Church's stance on artificial birth control | Forbidden |
| Year the Catholic Church banned artificial birth control | 1930 |
| Year the Catholic Church formally expressed its position on artificial birth control | 1968 |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics and condoms
The Catholic Church has long held that all forms of artificial birth control are illicit and forbidden to married couples. This teaching was formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI, who, in his encyclical Humanae Vitae, declared that "any action ... specifically intended to prevent procreation" was "absolutely excluded" from Catholic marriage.
Despite this, large numbers of Catholics have reported high usage of artificial contraception over the years, with over 90% having used condoms and more than 60% having used the hormonal birth control pill. This has led to concerns within the Church about a "crisis of catechesis".
Some argue that the Church's teaching on contraception is not always clear-cut. For example, it does not oppose the use of contraceptives in certain medical contexts, such as treating severe menstrual bleeding or blocking ovulation in cases of rape. The Church has also affirmed the morality of "making recourse to the infertile times of a woman's menstrual cycle", a method known as Natural Family Planning (NFP). NFP methods have been shown to be highly effective in avoiding pregnancy when used correctly.
In recent years, there have been some shifts in the Church's stance on condom use, particularly in the context of HIV/AIDS prevention. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI stated that using condoms to prevent the spread of HIV could be "a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality". This statement was seen as a significant step forward, although some members of the Catholic hierarchy have resisted this interpretation.
Overall, while the Catholic Church's official position on artificial contraception remains unchanged, the reality of Catholics' contraceptive use is more complex, with many individuals and healthcare providers navigating their own interpretations of Church teachings and ethical obligations.
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The Catholic Church's stance
The Catholic Church's position on contraception was further elaborated in 1968 by Pope Paul VI in his encyclical Humanae Vitae. In it, he declared that "any action specifically intended to prevent procreation was absolutely excluded" as a lawful means of regulating the number of children in a Catholic marriage. The Pope emphasised that artificial contraception was intrinsically evil and could lead to a "general lowering of moral standards".
The Church instead endorses "natural family planning" methods, such as the rhythm method, which involves abstaining from sex during the woman's period of ovulation. However, this method has been criticised for being unreliable and placing a strain on marital relations.
Despite the Church's clear stance, there is evidence that many Catholics use artificial contraception. Recent data shows that over 90% of Catholics have used condoms, and more than 60% have used hormonal birth control pills. Overall, it is estimated that 98% of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lives.
Some Catholics have voiced disagreement with the Church's stance, arguing that it does not consider the potential benefits of family planning and the well-being of families. Additionally, the high divorce rates since the 1960s have been attributed to the delay in parenthood and the ability to have fewer children, which is made possible by artificial contraception.
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Catholics and the pill
The Catholic Church has long opposed the use of artificial birth control, including the pill, deeming it "intrinsically evil". In 1930, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Casti Connubii, which outlined the Church's stance against artificial contraception. This teaching was reaffirmed in 1968 by Pope Paul VI in his encyclical Humanae Vitae, which stated that any action intended to prevent procreation was "absolutely excluded" in Catholic marriages.
Despite the Church's clear stance, a significant number of Catholics have reported using artificial contraception, including the pill. Recent data from the National Survey of Family Growth indicates that over 90% of Catholics have used condoms, and more than 60% have used hormonal birth control pills. Additionally, some Western Catholics have expressed disagreement with the Church's position, and critics have argued that the Church's teaching is out of touch with modern realities.
The high usage of artificial contraception among Catholics has been attributed to various factors. One reason may be the perceived benefits of family planning, as individuals seek to anticipate and attain their desired number of children while managing the spacing and timing of births. The arrival of the birth control pill in 1960 also played a role, as many Catholics hoped that the Church would modernise its stance on contraception.
Furthermore, some Catholics may not fully understand or agree with the Church's teaching on the matter. The Church's position on contraception is based on the belief that sex acts must be both unitive and procreative, and that artificial contraception interferes with the natural way of conception. However, critics argue that this stance fails to consider the potential benefits of contraception, such as improving women's lives and empowering them to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
While the Catholic Church remains steadfast in its opposition to artificial birth control, the majority of Catholics appear to have embraced modern methods of contraception, including the pill, as a practical means of family planning and a way to take control of their reproductive health.
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Catholics and IUDs
The intrauterine device (IUD) is a foreign body made of a relatively non-reactive plastic material (polyethylene) inserted into the uterus of a woman for birth control purposes. Some of the more recent devices have incorporated active chemicals such as progesterone or copper, which slowly release and react locally to contribute to birth control efficiency. The IUD does little or nothing to interfere with sperm migration or fertilization (conception). However, some IUDs release a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, called progestin, which thickens cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus.
The Catholic Church has taught for centuries that all forms of artificial birth control are illicit and forbidden to married couples. This teaching was formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI, who, in his encyclical Humanae Vitae, declared that "any action ... specifically intended to prevent procreation" was "absolutely excluded" as a lawful means of regulating the number of children in a Catholic marriage.
Despite the Church's unambiguous teaching on the matter, large numbers of Catholics have reported high usage of artificial contraception over the years, including IUDs. Some Catholics who use IUDs may not be fully informed about the consequences and effects of their decision, while others may be using them for valid medical reasons unrelated to birth control, such as managing endometriosis or PCOS. In addition, some Catholics may disagree with the Church's teaching on contraception and choose to use IUDs or other forms of artificial contraception despite their religious beliefs.
There is some debate within the Catholic community about whether or not the use of IUDs is considered a sin. Some Catholics argue that using an IUD is not inherently a sin if the user is not having sex, while others maintain that any form of artificial contraception is contrary to Catholic sexual ethics and, therefore, sinful. Still, others point out that the IUD's primary mechanism of action is to prevent fertilization, so it is unlikely to cause an abortion, which is the primary concern from a Catholic moral perspective.
Overall, the use of IUDs among Catholics is complex and multifaceted. While some Catholics may use IUDs as a form of artificial contraception, others may have valid medical reasons for their use or disagree with the Church's teaching on contraception. Additionally, the question of whether or not IUD use is considered a sin is a matter of ongoing discussion and interpretation within the Catholic community.
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Catholics and sterilization
The Catholic Church has consistently condemned direct sterilization, whether temporary or permanent, for both men and women. The Church considers sterilization a form of mutilation and thus, illicit. Sterilization is condemned on the same grounds as other methods of contraception, as it separates the marital act from the transmission of human life.
The Church has judged sterilization to be a serious sin since it became popular nearly a century ago. In 1930, Pope Pius XI recognized the danger of sterilization for eugenics purposes in his encyclical Casti Connubii. The Catholic Church does not permit abortion for any reason, including to save the life of the mother. However, if an operation other than abortion is performed to save the mother's life and the unborn baby dies as a result, the procedure is considered licit as the intention was to save the mother and not to harm the child.
Indirect sterilization, resulting from the cure of a pathological condition, has always been allowed by the Church. Procedures that induce sterility are permitted when their direct effect is to cure or alleviate a serious pathology, and a simpler treatment is unavailable. Catholic hospitals may allow sterilization procedures under the principle of material cooperation, where the operation is performed by those who do not consider it illicit, and the hospital provides the facilities.
Despite the Church's teachings, surveys show that large majorities of Catholics use artificial contraception, with over 90% having used condoms and more than 60% having used hormonal birth control pills.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church hierarchy opposes all forms of artificial contraception, including condoms, birth control pills, IUDs, sterilization procedures, and emergency contraception. The Catechism of the Catholic Church specifies that all sex acts must be both unitive and procreative, and artificial birth control is considered “intrinsically evil”.
Yes, despite the Catholic Church's stance, large majorities of Catholics use artificial birth control. According to various sources, 98% of Catholics in the United States have used some form of birth control at some point in their lives, with over 90% having used condoms and more than 60% having used the hormonal birth control pill.
There are various reasons why Catholics might choose to use artificial birth control despite the Church's teachings. One reason could be the belief that contraception is a "lifesaving, poverty-ending, women-empowering innovation". Another reason could be the unreliability and strain on marital relations associated with the church-approved rhythm method of natural family planning.
The use of artificial birth control by Catholics has been described as "a crisis of catechesis within the Church". Some experts argue that it brings something toxic into marriages and goes against Catholic sexual ethics. The Church teaches that fertility is a gift and that artificial birth control can lead to a “general lowering of moral standards”.
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