Ethan Walker
Despite the Catholic Church's ban on artificial contraception, large numbers of Catholics use birth control. The Church has taught that all forms of artificial birth control are illicit and forbidden to married couples, and that sex should always be open to procreation. However, recent data shows that majorities of Catholics report using at least one form of artificial contraception, with over 90% having used condoms and more than 60% having used the pill. This has been referred to as a crisis of catechesis within the Church. While the Church's teachings on birth control seem to be driving people from the pews, many Catholics continue to practice birth control, indicating a divide between official doctrine and day-to-day behaviours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics who say birth control is morally acceptable | 82% |
| Percentage of Catholics who have used some form of birth control in their lives | 98% |
| Percentage of Catholics who have used condoms | 90%+ |
| Percentage of Catholics who have used the hormonal birth control pill | 60%+ |
| Percentage of Catholics who have used emergency contraception | 23% |
| Percentage of Catholics who have used the rhythm method | 20% |
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What You'll Learn
Condom usage rates among Catholics
While the Catholic Church hierarchy forbids the use of condoms as a form of birth control, surveys have shown that a large majority of Catholics use at least one form of artificial contraception, with over 90% having used condoms at some point in their lives. This rate of condom usage among Catholics is only slightly lower than the rate among all Christian denominations and those with no religious affiliation.
The Catholic Church's stance on birth control was formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI, who 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 this unambiguous teaching, high rates of artificial contraception usage have been reported among Catholics over the years.
One survey found that 92% of Catholics have used or continue to use condoms as a contraceptive, with a similar percentage (95%) of all survey respondents, including those of other Christian denominations and those with no religious affiliation, reporting condom usage. This indicates that condom usage among Catholics is prevalent and comparable to rates in the general population.
In addition to condoms, other forms of contraception, such as the birth control pill, have also been used by Catholics. More than half (60%-63%) of Catholics surveyed reported having used or currently using the pill for contraception. However, natural family planning methods, such as fertility awareness methods (FAMs), have lower usage rates among Catholics, with only about 20% ever attempting these approaches.
The high rates of condom usage among Catholics highlight a divergence between the teachings of the Catholic Church and the practices of its followers. Experts have described this as "a crisis of catechesis within the Church," indicating a need for both a compassionate response and a firm application of Catholic sexual ethics.
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Catholics' usage of birth control pills
The Catholic Church has long opposed the use of artificial contraception, including birth control pills. The Church's teaching on this matter was formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI, who 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 Church hierarchy continues to forbid birth control methods such as condoms and the pill, as they are seen to separate sexual intercourse from its intended consequence of reproduction.
Despite the Church's stance, many Catholics use birth control. Data from the National Survey of Family Growth shows that over 90% of Catholics have used condoms, and more than 60% have used hormonal birth control pills. Additionally, 98% of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lives, according to the Guttmacher Institute and Catholics for Choice. This high usage of artificial contraception among Catholics has been described as "a crisis of catechesis within the Church."
The reasons for Catholics' use of birth control pills are varied. Some Catholic couples may struggle with natural family planning methods and feel they are not adequately supported by their spiritual leaders, leading them to turn to other forms of contraception. The arrival of the birth control pill in 1960 and its quick rise in popularity among American women, regardless of religion, may have also influenced its use by Catholics.
Furthermore, some Catholics may agree with the idea that contraception taps into what people think is good for themselves and their children. Contraception allows people to plan their families and ensure they can adequately care for their children. It also enables women to avoid closely spaced pregnancies, which can negatively affect a child's development and lead to adverse outcomes such as low birth weight or preterm delivery.
While the Catholic Church maintains its opposition to artificial contraception, the modernizing climate of the Church in the 1950s and 1960s led some to believe that the Vatican might change its position on the birth control pill. John Rock, a Catholic physician who conducted Pill trials, argued that the Pill was a "natural" form of contraception as it used the same hormones present in the female reproductive system and did not tamper with sperm. However, it took the Church eight years to determine its policy, and ultimately, they did not approve of the Pill as a form of contraception.
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Catholics' views on birth control morality
The Catholic Church's official stance on birth control is that it is immoral. The Church hierarchy opposes all forms of artificial contraception and believes that sex should only take place within marriage and should always be open to procreation. This teaching was formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI, who 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 Church only endorses "natural family planning" methods, such as the rhythm method, to avoid pregnancy, as all other methods are believed to present a physical barrier to the natural reproductive process.
However, despite the Church's unambiguous stance, large majorities of Catholics use birth control. Data from the National Survey of Family Growth shows that over 90% of Catholics have used condoms, and more than 60% have used the hormonal birth control pill. Additionally, 87% of Catholics who are at risk of unintended pregnancy use a method other than natural family planning. Overall, 98% of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lifetime, a rate similar to that of non-Catholics.
The discrepancy between the Church's teachings and the behaviour of its followers has been described as "a crisis of catechesis within the Church". It has also been blamed for the decline in church attendance among American Catholics, with some questioning how closely they adhere to this particular doctrine. Catholics' adherence to the Church's teaching seems to depend in part on how often they attend Mass. For example, 88% of Catholics who never attend Mass have used condoms, compared to 55% of those who attend Mass weekly.
While the Church's official position is that birth control is immoral, many Catholics do not agree. A Gallup survey found that 82% of U.S. Catholics believe birth control is morally acceptable, a view shared by 89% of all Americans and 90% of non-Catholics. This indicates a divide between official Church teachings and the beliefs of many of its followers.
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Catholics' use of emergency contraception
The Catholic Church's stance on birth control is well-known. The Church hierarchy opposes all forms of artificial contraception, including condoms, birth control pills, IUDs, tubal ligation, vasectomies, and emergency contraception like Plan B. The Church's teaching on this matter was formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI, who 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 stance, large numbers of Catholics have reported high usage of artificial contraception over the years. According to recent data, over 90% of Catholics have used condoms, and more than 60% have used the hormonal birth control pill. Overall, 98% of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lives.
The use of emergency contraception in Catholic hospitals is a contentious issue. The "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care," which outline policies for Catholic hospitals in the US, are ambiguous on the topic. However, recent evidence suggests that Catholic hospitals often refuse to provide emergency contraception, even to rape victims. This refusal may be based on the belief that certain forms of emergency contraception are abortifacients, inducing abortions rather than simply preventing conception.
Some Catholic ethicists argue that the use of emergency contraception is compatible with Catholic teaching in cases of rape. They suggest that if a rape victim is about to ovulate, and the pill prevents ovulation, it would be legitimate for her to take it. However, if the victim has already ovulated, the pill may prevent implantation, which could be considered an abortion. The exact time of ovulation can be difficult to establish, making this a complex and impractical issue for hospitals to navigate.
The debate around Catholics' use of emergency contraception highlights the tension between religious teachings and individual choices. While the Catholic Church maintains its opposition to artificial contraception, many Catholics make their own decisions about family planning, leading to a high usage of contraceptive methods within the community.
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Catholic Church's stance on birth control
The Catholic Church's stance on birth control is that artificial contraception is intrinsically evil and forbidden to married couples. This teaching was formalized in 1968 by Pope Paul VI in his encyclical Humanae Vitae, which 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 Church teaches that sex should only take place within marriage and should always be open to procreation.
Despite the Church's clear stance, a large majority of Catholics use birth control. According to recent data, over 90% of Catholics have used condoms, and more than 60% have used the hormonal birth control pill. Overall, 98% of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lives, with only 1% of Americans using natural family planning.
The Church's position on contraception has been criticized by some Catholics, who argue that it is a crisis of catechesis within the Church and that the ban on birth control causes suffering for many people. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a dissenting document in 1968, the Winnipeg Statement, recognizing that some Canadian Catholics found it challenging to accept all elements of the doctrine.
The Church's stance on birth control is based on the belief that contraception is a violation of God's design for human sexuality, often referred to as "natural law." The natural-law purpose of sex is procreation, and the pleasure that comes with it is an additional blessing from God, intended to strengthen the bond between husband and wife and create a loving environment for nurturing children.
While the Church officially opposes all forms of artificial contraception, it does allow for natural family planning methods to avoid pregnancy, as these methods do not present a physical barrier to the natural reproductive process.
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Frequently asked questions
98% of Catholics have used some form of birth control in their lives.
90% of Catholics have used condoms, and 60% have used the hormonal birth control pill.
The Catholic Church forbids birth control as it views it as separating sexual intercourse from reproduction. They only endorse natural family planning methods to avoid pregnancy.
Birth control usage among Catholics seems to depend on how often they attend Mass. For instance, 88% of Catholics who never attend Mass have used condoms, while 89% of Catholic condom users attend Mass at least once per week.
82% of U.S. Catholics say that birth control is morally acceptable.
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