Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church has long held that artificial contraception is intrinsically evil and forbidden, with this teaching being formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI. However, data suggests that a large majority of Catholics use some form of birth control, with numbers ranging from 68% to 99% depending on the study and the specific contraceptive method in question. This has led to a disconnect between the Vatican's teachings and the behavior of its adherents, with some experts calling it a crisis of catechesis within the Church. While the Church has acknowledged the potential necessity of family planning, there is a growing desire for the Church to be more inclusive and permit the use of contraception, especially among less frequent Mass attendees and Catholic Democrats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholic women who have used birth control | 90-99% |
| Percentage of Catholic women who have used a method of contraception other than natural family planning | 98% |
| Percentage of Catholic women who have used condoms | 90% |
| Percentage of Catholic women who have used the hormonal birth control pill | 60% |
| Percentage of Catholic women who have used emergency contraception | 23% |
| Percentage of Catholic women who have used the rhythm method | 15% |
| Percentage of U.S. Catholics who say the church should allow birth control | 84% |
| Percentage of Catholics at risk of unintended pregnancy using a highly effective contraceptive method | 68% |
| Percentage of Catholics at risk of unintended pregnancy using condoms | 15% |
| Percentage of Catholics at risk of unintended pregnancy using other methods | 4% |
| Percentage of Catholics at risk of unintended pregnancy using natural family planning | 2% |
| Percentage of Catholics at risk of unintended pregnancy not using contraception | 11% |
| Percentage of Catholic women who have had sex by their early 20s | 89% |
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What You'll Learn
98% of sexually experienced Catholic women have used contraception
The Guttmacher Institute published analysis findings in April 2011, revealing that 98% of sexually experienced Catholic women have used contraception methods other than natural family planning. This statistic has been significant in the debate over insurance plans covering contraceptive services and supplies. The analysis is based on data from the National Survey of Family Growth, which found that 99% of sexually experienced American women aged 15-44 have used contraception.
While the Catholic Church has taught that artificial birth control is illicit and forbidden for married couples, with St. Paul VI's encyclical Humanae Vitae declaring any action to prevent procreation as "absolutely excluded", the large majority of Catholics continue to use contraception. This includes 68-69% using highly effective methods like sterilization, IUDs, or hormonal methods, and 14-15% using condoms. Only 1-2% of Catholics use natural family planning, the only Church-sanctioned method.
The high rate of Catholic women using contraception may be influenced by the belief that parents should be able to provide for their children and not overburden scarce family resources. Additionally, planned pregnancies are associated with healthier behaviors and outcomes, as mothers are more likely to seek prenatal care, breastfeed, and avoid smoking or drinking during pregnancy.
Despite the Church's teachings, the majority of U.S. Catholics (84%) believe the Church should allow the use of birth control. This support is lower among frequent Mass attendees and Catholic Republicans. The discrepancy between Catholic doctrine and the behavior of American Catholics has been noted, with some suggesting it may be driving attendance decline.
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68% of Catholics use highly effective contraceptive methods
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, a significant number of Catholics use birth control. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 98% of sexually experienced Catholic women have used a method of contraception other than natural family planning at some point. Furthermore, 68% of Catholic women who are at risk of unintended pregnancy are currently using a highly effective contraceptive method, such as sterilization, the IUD, the pill, or another hormonal method.
The high rate of contraceptive use among Catholics has been referred to as "a crisis of catechesis within the Church." Church leaders and lay advocates have worked to counteract this trend by promoting natural family planning and Catholic sexual ethics. However, the tension between the Vatican's teachings and the behavior of American Catholics has been blamed for a decline in church attendance.
It is worth noting that Catholics' adherence to the Church's teachings on birth control seems to depend in part on their Mass attendance. Overall, 84% of U.S. Catholics say the Church should allow Catholics to use birth control, with support being lower among those who attend Mass weekly and among Catholic Republicans.
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90%+ of Catholics have used condoms
The Catholic Church has long taught 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.
However, in recent years, large majorities of Catholics have reported using at least one form of artificial contraception, with over 90% having used condoms and more than 60% having used the hormonal birth control pill. These figures represent the fraction of the Catholic population who have ever used contraception, not those who are actively using it. Among all women who are at risk of unintended pregnancy, 69% overall and 68% of Catholics are currently using a highly effective contraceptive method such as sterilization, the IUD, the pill, or another hormonal method. Another 14% of at-risk women overall, and 15% of Catholics, are relying on condoms as their primary method of contraception.
The high usage of artificial contraception among Catholics has been characterized by some as "a crisis of catechesis within the Church," indicating a disconnect between the Church's teachings and the practices of its adherents. This disconnect has been attributed to various factors, such as the belief that parents should be able to provide adequately for the children they have and not overtax scarce family resources. Additionally, some have argued that the Church's teachings on birth control have become less prominent under Pope Francis, leading to a decline in awareness and adherence to these teachings among Catholics.
While the Church continues to promote natural family planning (NFP) as the only morally acceptable method of contraception, the usage rate of NFP among Catholics is estimated to be fairly consistently around 2-3%. This suggests that despite the Church's efforts to encourage NFP, the majority of Catholics choose to use other forms of contraception, including condoms.
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60%+ of Catholics have used the pill
The Catholic Church has long held that all forms of artificial birth control are illicit and forbidden to married couples. This stance 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 marriages.
Despite this, a significant number of Catholics have reported using artificial contraception over the years. Recent data from the federally administered National Survey of Family Growth shows that more than 60% of Catholics have used the hormonal birth control pill, with over 90% having used condoms. These numbers are reflected in another study, which found that 68% of Catholics had used the pill, compared to 74% of evangelicals and 81% of mainline Protestants.
The high rate of contraceptive use among Catholics has been described as "a crisis of catechesis within the Church," and experts have called for a compassionate response grounded in Catholic sexual ethics. The Church has not been idle on this issue, with groups like the Couple to Couple League offering classes and resources for engaged and married couples on natural family planning. Additionally, the U.S. bishops promote natural family planning through various means, including a directory of NFP instructors.
The discrepancy between Church teaching and the behavior of its adherents has led some to question whether this tension is driving Catholics away from the Church. However, it is worth noting that Catholics' adherence to the Church's teachings on birth control seems to depend on factors such as Mass attendance, with Catholics who attend Mass less frequently being more likely to support the use of contraception.
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84% of US Catholics say the church should allow birth control
The Catholic Church has long held that all forms of artificial birth control are illicit and forbidden to married couples. This stance 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.
However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement within the Catholic Church, particularly in the United States, calling for the Church to adopt a more inclusive stance on certain issues, including birth control. A 2024 Pew Research Center poll found that 84% of US Catholics believe the Church should allow Catholics to use birth control. This view is more prevalent among Catholics who attend Mass less frequently and among Catholic Democrats, although majorities in all Catholic subgroups analyzed expressed support for this idea.
The high level of support for birth control among US Catholics may be due in part to the widespread use of contraceptives within the community. According to a 2011 analysis by the Guttmacher Institute, 98% of Catholic women of reproductive age who have had sexual intercourse have used some form of artificial contraception. Other sources place this figure at 90-99%. Additionally, 68% of Catholic women at risk of unintended pregnancy are currently using a highly effective contraceptive method, while 15% are relying on condoms.
The Church's teaching on birth control has not changed under Pope Francis, and there has been some criticism that the issue has been largely silent during his papacy. Church leaders and lay advocates have been working to counteract the high uptake of contraception among Catholics, promoting natural family planning methods instead. However, many US Catholics feel that the Church should be more inclusive and change some of its traditional teachings to better reflect the modern world.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the National Survey of Family Growth, 90% of Catholics have used condoms and more than 60% have used the hormonal birth control pill. Another source states that 98% of Catholic women have used a method of contraception other than natural family planning.
Catholics use birth control for a variety of reasons. Some believe that parents "should be able to take care of the children they have" and not overtax potentially scarce family resources.
Catholics use a variety of birth control methods, including condoms, the pill, and emergency contraception.
Yes, the Catholic Church has taught 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 declared that “any action … specifically intended to prevent procreation” was “absolutely excluded”.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 84% of US Catholics say the church should allow Catholics to use birth control.
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