Christian views on Contraception

The Roman Catholic View:

Each and every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life. (Humanae Vitae)

It is morally unacceptable to encourage, let alone to impose, the use of methods such as contraception, sterilisation and abortion in order to regulate births. (Pope John Paul II - Evangelium Vitae)

Every action which proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil. (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

At the heart of this view is an instinctual, biological view of sexual intercourse which is inconsistent with reality. (Jack Dominion writing about Humanae Vitae)

The Methodist view:

With the use of contraception, the unitive and creative aspects of intercourse can play their full part in the healing and development of a marriage. (Methodist Statement in What the Churches Say)

Task:

Here are some reasons that Christians give to justify their views of contraception. Cut them out and stick them into your book under the headings "Reasons for the Roman Catholic view" and "Reasons for the view of other Christians".

There is nothing in the Bible that says contraception is wrong.

 

Contraception improves health and standards of living and is compatible with Christian views about love and justice.

In the Bible God said people should multiply and populate the earth.

It is unnatural to use contraceptives.

God created sex so that people could reproduce so every sex act must be open to the possibility of children being born.

God created sex for enjoyment and to strengthen the relationship between a married couple. This is best done without the threat of pregnancy.

Contraception encourages people to break God's laws and is the major cause of promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases.

When people get married they promise to have sex so that they can have children. They should not use contraceptives.