[ConradofMontferrat]

I was raised Catholic. I am no longer of any faith.

But I know that Catholics are extremely conflicted on the issue of “birth control” and abortion.

This to me is very easy. Abortion is murder, plain and simple, and a mortal sin that only you and God can reconcile.

Birth control on the other hand, is nothing more than a sin of self indulgent excess. Not so much a mortal sin, but that of the venial variety. IMHO.

Ok, practicing good birth control permits a person to self indulge. Not what God may have envisioned, but humans being humans will do such things. Not really a mortal sin.

Indulging in this excess and accidentally creating a life, changes the equation. Not practicing birth control leads to the creation of life. Aborting that “accident?” Now that puts you into the realm of mortal sin.

Now what are you going to do?

Just my opinion based on the observation of life.

[Tax-chick]

It’s important to remember that the activities of homosexuals never require “birth control.” It’s pre-controlled, as it were, by the circumstances.

If the activity is already non-procreative in its nature, as sodomy always is, then using a condom does not make it more sinful. It’s not contraception, because there was never any possibility of conception.

The moral problem with condoms as a “preventative” for STDs is that, first, there is still a chance of infection. It is a sin to risk exposing another person to a dangerous illness if it can be avoided by (for example) not having sex with that person. Secondly, the provision of condoms as a health measure cannot help but dilute the message that only behavioral change - not engaging in the sex acts - can really prevent the spread of disease.

Both these factors explain why countries that have emphasized stopping immoral (and dangerous) sexual behavior have seen reduced rates of HIV infection, while countries that have “respected” dangerous sexual behavior while promoting condoms have generally not seen lower rates of infection.

(And since we’re talking about Third World countries, sanitation - especially medical sanitation, like not using the same needle to vaccinate hundreds of people - is a significant issue.)

[A.A. Cunningham]

Birth control on the other hand, is nothing more than a sin of self indulgent excess. Not so much a mortal sin, but that of the venial variety.

Onan of course would say otherwise speaking from his own experience.