Artificial Birth Control

Here is a link to the Couple to Couple League. An organization that promotes Natural Family Planning:
http://www.ccli.org/

Billings Natural Family Planning
http://www.billings-centre.ab.ca/bc_home.htm

One of the most controversial and misunderstood positions of the Catholic Church deals with its teachings on the regulation of birth. Even people who identify themselves as practicing Catholics often don't adhere to the Church's teaching in this matter. Many Catholics either struggle with the teaching or reject it outright.

Part of the confusion lies in the fact the most people totally misunderstand the Church's alternative, Natural Family Planning. Most people confuse Nature Family Planning with the old "rhythm method." "Rhythm" basically involved guessing at fertile times and planning intercourse on either side of them. Natural Family Planning, instead, is scientific, well researched, and systematically taught. It is not a method of hit and miss. Natural Family Planning is 97-99% effective.

The other primary reason for so much controversy has to do with the fact that many people who criticize this teaching have never read what the Church officially teaches.

On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI released an Encyclical called Humanae Vitae which is a complete analysis, evaluation, and statement on the Church's position. Here are just a few of the issues he addresses:

-He had a primary concern for women. His fear was that if sex were disconnected from reproduction that men would tend to see women more as sexual objects rather than wives and mothers. This would lead to a degradation of women.

-He had a primary concern for children and family. He was concerned that if sex were disconnected from reproduction that men would tend to wander in relationships. He feared this would lead to increased infidelity and a breakdown of marriage and family. When marriages breakdown women and children suffer most, especially economically.

-Planning for children in a marriage without artificial birth control requires a completely different level of communication in the marriage. He feared for a gap in communication between men and women that would destroy the fabric of marriage in society.

-Human Dignity Issues! For both men and women he saw important human dignity issues. In a marriage each sexual encounter should be blessed by God. It is an important part of God's design for our happiness. If the man and woman see themselves or the other person as just a sexual object, they are probably going to be negatively affected in ways they may not be aware of.

There is a lot more, but I would encourage everyone to read the whole document for yourself and make your own judgment. I think you'll find this document very intellectual, very well thought out, and very academic.

The full text is available at the following link:
HUMANAE VITAE
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PAUL VI
ON THE REGULATION OF BIRTH