[Celtic Cross]

The Church needs to make sure everyone KNOWS about the ban. Most 'Catholics' have some vague idea that the Church kinda' sorta' doesn't really like people using it, but hey they can't tell me what to do...

The ban on that stuff needs to be read weekly, from every pulpit. It needs to be made clear to people that using that stuff IS a sin, and they WILL stop if they are to be good Catholics. That they need to toe the line, follow the rules, or keep the heck out of Church until they change their minds and hit the confessional.

[nina0113]

... keep the heck out of Church until they change their minds and hit the confessional.

How are they going to hear it if they keep out of church? They just have to stop receiving. When Steve & I were doing fertility treatments, I looked for a Hispanic OB/GYN, figuring she'd be Catholic and have some respect for my faith. I did find one, who wondered why I wanted Hispanic (she was actually Filipina) till I explained. She practiced in a group of doctors, some of whom prescribed contraception, but she personally did not, and told me that she knew she could not receive if she did prescribe contraception.

[Kenny Bunk]

You (and I) may lack the requisite Jesuitical and medical subtlety to properly understand this topic.

A Doctor is free to prescribe any medication for any medical reason, which in all good conscience and within his professional judgment, is appropriate to any condition.

E.G., a woman may have irregular menstrual cycles that prevent reliable use of the "Rhythm Method." The hormonal medication's primary purpose therefore is not to prevent conception, but to regularize the cycle. The prevention of pregnancy is an undesired effect.

The hormones in these medications often help skin conditions, arthritis, even diabetes. In each case, the primary purpose stated, would not be the prevention of conception, but the treatment of the condition for which these hormonal medications might be found useful.

This is generally called

"The Principle of Double Effect,"
and any Catholic theologian can adumbrate in Latin, English, Greek and probably Old Church Slavonic. This is the theological foundation for the -0 birthrate in European Catholic and Orthodox countries (except Ireland, which is slower to catch up).

The "secondary, or officially undesired effect, i.e., "Birth Control," unfortunately has a tertiary undesired effect. I.E., Western Christian Civilization will be overwhelmed by Muslims, many with 4 wives at a time and literally dozens (that's sets of 12) or more children.

Google the "Principle of Double Effect" and discuss amongst yourselves.

[lastchance]

The Church needs priests who will preach and teach the Catholic faith without apology. The rebellion by so many priests against Humanae Vitae set the stage for the crisis the Church is undergoing today. The idea that one can be Catholic and reject the teachings of the Church.