Catholics to Pope: Lift the Birth Control Ban

townhall.com ^ | July 25, 2008 | staff

[kellynla]

More than 50 dissident Catholic groups from around the world have written an open letter asking Pope Benedict XVI to lift the church's ban on birth control.

Taking a half-page ad in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, the groups said Friday that the Church's ban on artificial birth control has had "catastrophic effects," particularly in the fight against AIDS.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the accusation was "clearly unfounded" and insisted the Church is active in combating AIDS.

The groups published their appeal on the 40th anniversary of the 1968 encyclical "Humanae Vitae" ("On Human Life") _ the document issued by Pope Paul VI that prohibits Catholics from using artificial contraception.

The initiative was spearheaded by Catholics for Choice, a Washington based pro-choice advocacy group, but the letter was signed by organizations from countries across the Americas and Europe.

The ban on contraception "has had catastrophic effects on the poor and weak of the whole world, putting in danger the lives of women and exposing millions of people to the risk of contracting HIV," the letter published in Corriere said.

It urged Benedict to begin a "reform process," saying that, especially in poor countries, the Church was using its influence to block family planning programs and condom distributions.

Lombardi denounced the ad "as paid propaganda for the use of contraceptives."

"Policies against AIDS based mainly on the distribution of condoms have largely failed," Lombardi said in a statement. "The answer to AIDS requires deeper and more complex interventions, in which the Church is active on many fronts."

[kellynla]

ping

[Mr. Lucky]

By the same logis that entitles these people to be called Catholic, I can claim to be the long lost grandson of Peter the Great.

[Tax-chick]

“Non-Catholics to Pope ...”

What idiocy.

[scory]

Here is a very interesting essay about Humanae Vitae published for the 40th anniversary.

http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=6262

[MIchaelTArchangel]

The title is incorrect. It should read, “Alleged Catholics...”

[markomalley]

Please see the following press release: [Cath Caucus] Catholics Asked to Tell Their Bishops to End Ban on Contraception (barf alert).

[Caramelgal]

Sounds to me like these “dissident Catholic groups” are advocating the use of birth control that is contrary to the Church’s teaching and position mostly about sex outside of marriage. In a monogamous marriage, the risk of HIV is pretty negligible. If a Catholic is having sex with multiple partners, heterosexual or homosexual, protected or unprotected sex, then they are already in violation of their faith. So to me this is a bit of a non sequitur.

On the other hand, I think there are legitimate reasons for some married, monogamous and faithful Catholic couples to use some methods of birth control under some circumstances and as I understand, the Church does make some allowances for it.

For instance, after my sister in law gave birth to her third child after her third emergency c-section and several late term miscarriages in between and her last pregnancy being particularly difficult and fraught with dangerous complications, her doctors told her that another pregnancy would be very dangerous and probably life threatening. After my brother and sister in law consulted with their priest, and with a letter from her doctors stating the dangers of another pregnancy she was given a “dispensation” to have a tubaligation.

As I understand, the Church’s position in this case supported the surgery because of her medical condition and the fact that she was a young mother of three young children and she and her husband were in good stead in the sacraments and not seeking to have the surgery for selfish or unreasonable reasons.

[kellynla]

“Sounds to me like...” CINO’s

[Caramelgal]

I don’t know what CINO’s means. Would you care to explain?

[AnAmericanMother]

That is correct and my understanding as well.

The way my rector explained it to me is that medical reasons that require a tubal ligation, hysterectomy, or hormone treatment (endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, etc.) are o.k., so long as the couple doesn't *intend* to avoid conception. In other words, the infertility is a 'secondary effect'.

[lastchance]

Catholics For Choice are not Catholic.

And 50 well what else can the Pope do but change the teaching. Heck why not conduct all Church teaching by poll? I bet the ban on adultry would be out the door. And those priests who violated church teaching by sexually abusing children and adolescents probably would appreciate a few adjustments to teachings on sexual morality.
No doubt you could get five Dignity members to send letters advocating homosexual relationships between adult males and teen boys provided it was consensual.

[maryz]

I don’t know what CINO’s means.

Catholic in Name Only . . . formed on the model of RINO --Republican in Name Only.

[Caramelgal]

So you are implying that my very devout and very traditional Catholic sister in law and my brother are CINO’s?

[Alex Murphy]

So you are implying that my very devout and very traditional Catholic sister in law and my brother are CINO’s?

I don't think they're implying that at all.

[maryz]

Me? I was just telling you what CINO meant. I never connected it with the earlier post that used it — which wasn’t by me!

[Salvation]

God may love the dissidents and keep inviting them back into the fold, but I doubt that Pope Benedict will listen to them.

**Catholics to Pope: Lift the Birth Control Ban **

My answer: NO! Contraception was the beginning of the abortion we see now.

[tiki]

Ah, religion by petition.

I’ve got a tip for them, there are many thousands of denominations who believe in contraception, join them.

[Campion]

The way my rector explained it to me is that medical reasons that require a tubal ligation

There's no medical indication for a tubal ligation except to prevent pregnancy. It's never permitted.

[Campion]

her doctors told her that another pregnancy would be very dangerous and probably life threatening. After my brother and sister in law consulted with their priest, and with a letter from her doctors stating the dangers of another pregnancy she was given a "dispensation" to have a tubaligation.

That priest needs to go back to seminary and get a refresher course in moral theology, because I don't think it "took" the first time.

Unfortunately, there's plenty like him.