Contraception and Christianity

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical, entitled "Humanae Vitae," (or "On Human Life), which condemned the use of all artificial means of contraception as a sin and called on all Roman Catholics to reject the contraceptive mentality. It discusses the controversy surrounding his ruling and the practical implications of it for Christians.

From the Paper:

" AIDS campaigners put the blame on the condoms ban as contributing to the spread of the disease (Bruce 2006). Reports said that the majority of the 40 million infected people came from developing countries in Africa and urged the Church to take appropriate action. The Catholic Church has dogmatically taught that each sexual act within marriage must always be open to procreation. The Vatican, however, stands pat on its teaching on condoms. It continues to teach that the only way to avoid AIDS is through fidelity and chastity. It neither confirmed nor denied the report on the evaluation of a possible relaxation of the condoms ban. Some predicted a change in the Church's teaching while others felt it would be a disastrous gamble to make over the one of the Vatican's major doctrines. It could compound controversies among Catholics and an erosion of faith even among the clergy in the highest levels in the Vatican (Bruce)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bruce, Iaian S. AIDS and Condoms: the Issue Splitting the Roman Catholic Church. The Sunday Herald: Newsquest Media Group, May 7, 2006
• Feuerherd, Joe. Roman Catholic Church's Position on Contraception. National Catholic Reporter, November 21, 2003
• Mueller, Steven P., ed. Called to Believe, Teach and Confess. English Standard Version. Crossway Bible, 2001
• Reference and Education. Bishops Move to Tighten Adherence to Church Teaching Against Contraception and Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Unions. Christian Century: The Christian Century Foundation, November 23, 2003
• The Vatican. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part Three: Life in Christ. The Vatican Library: the Holy See, 2007. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc.css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm

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