Before I respond, let me throw out the opposite question, since it seems to me that the the burden of proof lies there: Since, practically speaking, all Christians were united in condemning contraception before 1930, where in the Bible does it say that one can have relations with one's husband/wife and NOT be open to offspring? Just what are the Verses ?
I don't say that to dodge the question, but would welcome your response.
Now a basic response: First, one can look at Onan (Gen 38:1-10). When his brother was killed and Tamar was left a widow, Judah told him to marry her and to produce offspring. He practiced the form of contraception which today we call "withdrawal": Onan "went in to his brother's wife, spilled his seed upon the ground, lest children should be born in his brother's name. And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable thing" (Gen 38:9-10).
For Christians the marriage covenant takes on a new depth. Perhaps the most beautiful teaching on marriage in the Scriptures, a teaching which indicates how wrong contraception is, can be found in Eph 5, especially v.21-33, where St. Paul speaks of marriage as reflecting that great mystery of the spousal love of Christ the Divine Bridegroom for His Bride the Church: "This is a great sacrament (sacramentum hoc magnum); but I speak in Christ and in the church.
St. Paul's point is that from the beginning marriage was modeled on the union of Christ with His Church: "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh" (Gen 2:24; Eph 5:31). And after Genesis announces this marriage covenant "God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it" (Gen 2:28).
Contraception goes against the very nature of marriage as willed by God, and certainly does not reflect the love between Christ and the Church. Imagine a Pastor limiting the number of Baptisms in his parish saying, 'God forbid that we have a large parish family' - just the thought of it is preposterous. Christ and the Church are fruitful!
I also think of Our Lord's very sad words as He carried the Cross towards Calvary: "But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us" (Lk 23:30).
Shalom also to you!
U-2012> Just what are the Verses ?
Now a basic response: First, one can look at Onan (Gen 38:1-10). When his brother was killed and Tamar was left a widow, Judah told him to marry her and to produce offspring. He practiced the form of contraception which today we call "withdrawal": Onan "went in to his brother's wife, spilled his seed upon the ground, lest children should be born in his brother's name. And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable thing" (Gen 38:9-10).
Clearly Scott Hahn is ignorant of the WORD of YHvH. Genesis 38 is not about Contraception, What is being discussed in all of chapter 38 ? Chapter 38 seems to be about "can the will of man Judah is the tribe of the first-born of Israel by assignment. Judah has three sons. Judah feared the third son would also be struck dead. Tamar removed her widow's garments dressed herself Have you ever read the entire chapter under
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
the illumination of the Ru'ach HaKodesh ?
but obedience to the WORD of YHvH.
interfere with the Patrilineal bloodline of Yah'shua".
The first(Er) displeases YHvH and is struck dead.
Onan(2nd) through the sin of PRIDE refuses to offer
his seed to Er for progeny for Judah
(levitical marriage)
He directly refuses to obey YHvH's Commandments ).
Judah then told Tamar to wait for Shelah grew up.
Judah failed to obey YHvH and give Shelah to Tamar for an heir.
as a harlot to obey YHvH and produce an heir for Judah.