Marriage- The Beauty of God’s Plan: Part IV
The fourth and final part of this blog series has arrived. Enjoy the finale!
The Church’s Wisdom Regarding Contraception and Marriage (cont.)
The wealth of John Paul II’s wisdom is indeed vast, springing from his intimate relationship with God and his experience in life, especially as a confessor. He points out for us some of the problems that face a woman who faces the potential conception of children with fear, saying “Fear then is a powerful negative stimulus that can destroy the natural regularity of the female sexual cycle. Clinical experience also confirms the thesis that fear of pregnancy also deprives a woman of that ‘joy in the spontaneous experience of love’ which acting in accordance with nature brings.”[18] In order to alleviate this fear of conception, then, women may decide to insist on using contraceptives, either with or without the initial support of the male. On the other hand, the male may also be the instigator of this idea, placing the burden of fear on the woman in order to manipulate her into using contraception. Within the bonds of Holy Matrimony, these actions can be seen as little less than abominable.
Aside from the psychological damage of fear, which is the chief cause of biological irregularities[19], are the physically unhealthy aspects of contraceptives.
“Contraceptives are of their very nature harmful to health. Biological methods besides causing temporary barrenness, may bring about serious and irreversible changes in the organism. Chemical means are in their very nature cellular poisons, otherwise they would not have the power to kill genital cells, and so they must be physically harmful.”[20]
“Anyone who is prescribing oral contraceptives has a duty to tell women that 21 of 23 studies showed an increased risk [of developing breast cancer].”
Who can deny the assertion that contraceptives of certain types are physically damaging? In 2006, a journal called Mayo Clinic Proceedings published an article that stated “Anyone who is prescribing oral contraceptives has a duty to tell women that 21 of 23 studies showed an increased risk [of developing breast cancer].”[21] The list of negative side-effects can go on and on, but for now we will continue in our examinations.
Perhaps the greatest threat, above both physical and emotional/psychological aspects, is the destructive attitudes that can be instilled in one or both spouses by the use of contraceptives. Pope Paul VI saw the many potential dangers that could arise from the use of such items. In Humanae Vitae he explained how, imploring his flock to think about “how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards.”[22] Not only can the use of such items cause marital infidelity in an obvious sense, but also in a less direct but no less harmful way.
“Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.”[23]
‘…a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and… reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires…”
What a travesty this situation presents us with! The selfless gift of a man to a woman and her reciprocal gift, all within the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, is tarnished and distorted by the objectification and utilization of the other spouse for pleasure. Rather than imitate Christ’s selfless gift of himself to Church as his bride, the husband would seek to use his wife as a means, or the wife would use the husband in the opposite and equally horrible situation, and one or both would then fail to see the other as an end unto themselves. To see the beauty of a holy marriage that we have become so familiar with through the first two sections of this document degraded, albeit in a theoretical way, is no less saddening because of our knowledge that this happens in reality as well.
It seems appropriate that, after having examined documents spanning almost a century, we may return to the earliest writings used here. Looking back to the 1930s, we can revisit Pius XI’s encyclical Casti Connubii and see that, even eight decades ago, Holy Mother Church was able to foresee the problematic situation in which we currently find ourselves as an entire people. When one sees this statement, made so long ago, it may give one a sense of awe and a desire to praise God for his gracious blessings. Almost 80 years ago, Pius XI stated,
“…no reason, however grave, may be put forward by which anything intrinsically against nature may become conformable to nature and morally good. Since, therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by nature for the begetting of children, those who in exercising it deliberately frustrate its natural power and purpose sin against nature and commit a deed which is shameful and intrinsically vicious.”[24]
Multiple popes have continued in this vein, each further developing and enriching the content of the Catholic Church’s infallible plethora of teachings. The faithfulness and cohesion with which these documents come together tend to compel one to thank Jesus Christ for his promise to Simon when he said, “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18).
Conclusion
Our journey through the resplendent teachings of the Catholic Church has led us to a deeper and more complete understanding of marriage and family. We have seen the completeness and solidity of these precepts, along with the reasoning behind them. The Church has been kind enough not only to guide us into all truth, but to explain why she maintains these truths. The popes and teachers who authored the documents we referenced revealed the splendor of marriage and family as it should be and showed us the consequences of violating these institutions. Who would not want to experience John Paul II’s vision of marriage? Who would prefer slavery to one’s passions over the continence and selfless love? Surely, only those who do not know or understand the excellence of the Church’s teachings can reject such beauty. Together, let us pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world may come to see God’s plan for their lives, especially those who are called to live the married life. We ask this and all things through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[18] Karol Wojtyla, Love and Responsibility (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993), p.281
[19] Karol Wojtyla, Love and Responsibility (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993), p.281
[20] Karol Wojtyla, Love and Responsibility (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993), p.282
[21] Chris Kahlenborn, M.D. et al., “Oral Contraceptive Use as a Risk Factor for Pre-menopausal Breast Cancer: A Meta-analysis,” Mayo Clinic Proceedings (October 2006)
[22] Paul VI, Humanae Vitae, 17
[23] Paul VI, Humanae Vitae, 17
[24] Pius XI, Casti Connubii, 54
