[redgolum]

Augustine did have the view (or at least had the view at times) that any sex was at best a venal sin, and that sex for any reason but procreation was a mortal one. But many of those statements can be traced to his earlier stint with the Manichees.

However, he was not along in the view that the only purpose of sex was for procreation. That was actually the common view in all of Christendom until the early 20th century.

[Scotswife]

"However, he was not along in the view that the only purpose of sex was for procreation. That was actually the common view in all of Christendom until the early 20th century."

That's part of my problem.
They were wrong - at least the Church is saying in THIS century that view is wrong.

I also wonder how accurately could they have distinguished between abortion and contraception when they didn't have the scientific knowledge we do today.
In other words....the potions they speak of - were they abortive or contraceptive? who knows? How could they know?