The Catholic Church's Teaching on Contraception

Contraception is the deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation by various drugs, techniques, or devices – also more famously known as birth control. This research paper will examine the views of both the Catholic Church and the view that opposes the Catholic Church on this practice. Each view will be examined thoroughly with the reasoning behind each unique view.

Abortion is the process of intentionally ending a pregnancy. Abortion touches the hearts of many because its consequences result in the loss of a human life. Its controversy stems from the fact that people’s opinions on this matter are rooted in their value systems, religious beliefs, and political socialization. Its prominence in political discussions today is likely to continue given the relationship between unwanted pregnancies and overpopulation. There is often debate about the constitutionality of abortion, as it is not specifically addressed by any doctrine. As a result, there has never been an explicit national law enacted.

it is seen as a new life. Therefore, it would be true to say that

Pro-Choice” was solved with the guidance of the provisions stipulated in the Duty-based ethics or the Deontological theory. In this case, the nurses should remember and respect the autonomy of the patient in the decision- making process. In addition, nurses should encourage their patients to choose the decision that had a disadvantage over the other choices and to remember their primary motivation or goals that should be met. Furthermore, it must be kept in mind that the duties and obligations of a nurse is primarily to provide the patients with care and to prevent them to come to any harm and that to never treat human beings for the purpose of others or as a means to an end (Parker, 2007; Aroskar, 1998). With this intention, Pro-choice have an upper hand over Pro-life based on the study conducted by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. However, it must be known that not all patients would want to employ the artificial birth-control methods especially because some of these such as abortion were critically tagged as immoral by society’s norms and the Catholic Church. Consequently, the absolute choice boils down to the patients and their preferences and nurses should not impose to the former the decision that they should make. Because, after all, in view of the Deontological theory, the righteousness and morality of an action can only be determined through its primary motivation (Taft,

Natural Law, the basis for many of the teachings of the Catholic Church, is often considered a very conservative approach to sexual ethics, particularly to pre-marital sex. This allows for many interesting points for discussion in a modern society like our own. In this essay I will outline the Natural Law approach to pre-marital sex and evaluate its reliability. I will also outline and evaluate other ethical approaches to the topic in an attempt to determine if a more reliable approach is available.

Access to emergency contraception has been heavily debated issue, because there has to be a balance between protecting healthcare providers’ religious and moral beliefs on one hand, and providing a uniform standard of care and maintaining patients’ rights on the other. This principle gives a significant approach to the analysis of ethical questions arising from the general obligation to preserve human life, and the limits of that obligation.

As of recently, the approval of the emergency contraceptive Plan B, for the use of girls as young as fifteen years old has stirred up quite some controversy (Belluck, 2013). Those who oppose it cite the diminishing moral values that this would impose on an already increasingly secular society. These individuals believe that having access to such a powerful substance would encourage young girls to engage in sexual promiscuity without any fear of repercussion (Belluck, 2013). However, proponents of this new law argue that giving full access to fifteen year old girls would discourage them from becoming pregnant at such an early age and gives them the opportunity to make wise decisions about their bodies. Aside from the two strongly opposing sides to this dilemma, the actual nature of the dilemma stems from the ease with which these young girls would be able to access the emergency contraceptive drug. Before the new law came into place, the emergency contraceptive was only available through the prescription of a doctor and could only be accessed through a pharmacist (Aleccia, 2013). With the new law, anyone fifteen or older would be able to access and purchase the drug over-the-counter. Granting such access to girls who may at times not be fully aware of the consequences of their actions is the nature of the dilemma.

The restrictions and the debate that surrounds the issue of abortion has changed dramatically throughout the course of history and it continues to change until this very moment. All around the world and in every known society, women have used abortion to control their reproduction, regardless of it’s legality. Abortion used to be exercised freely in the United Sates, up Until all the states started to ban It and place a lot of restrictions on it. They stated that a woman can not abort except in extreme cases in which the mother’s life might be in danger. After the restrictions caused a lot of health issues and raised concerns on women’s health, The Government abolished all the restrictions. In this paper I will analyze and discuss three main positions on the issue of abortion. First, there are those who associate themselves with the title “pro-life”. These individuals are anti abortion, birth control, embryo research or anything that can control or cause any harm to the fetus. Second, there are those who at the other end of the spectrum who firmly believe that if a woman decides to abort, then it is her constitutional right to do so without any interference from the government. Third, are those who believe that if a woman is raped or her life is in danger, then abortion should be completely and solely up to the woman, but other than that, abortion should be illegal. This group of individuals are also for birth control and do not oppose educating

The issue of birth control remains one of the most controversial issues within the Catholic Church dividing members at all levels including the clergy. The Roman Catholic Church for the past 2000 years has been a major opponent of artificial birth control (BBC). Pope Paul VI made a clear declaration on the use of birth control when he wrote ‘the Encyclical Letter ‘Human Vitae’ on July 25, 1968 which banned Catholics from using contraceptives (Pope VI). These important declarations demonstrate the power of the Papacy to shape public policy on matters relating to human health and reproduction on a global level. The belief within the Catholic Church is that God have the sole power over the creation of life and humans have no role in this

The Church teaches that sexual intercourse has two overall meanings: The Unitive and Procreative Dimension. Unitive Dimension refers to the expression of love towards our spouse and the Procreative Dimension which is the bringing forth of life. The Church teaches that these two dimensions cannot be separated, and both must be accepted. Therefore, when we choose to abort a pregnancy, this is selfishness on our ends. Current society norms includes having intercourse because of the want and desire of it. However, the people whom participate in pregnancies do not want to accept the procreative dimension of

In Rev. Martin Rhonheimer’s article “The Contraceptive Choice, Condom Use, and Moral Arguments Based on Nature: A Reply to Christopher Oleson,” Christopher Oleson challenges on Rhonheimer’s views on contraception and the use of condoms. Oleson focuses mainly on Rhonheimer and Fr. Benedict Guevin exchange. The article’s logic which has a strong appeal of reasonableness. Unfortunately, Oleson’s critique is based on a misrepresentation of Rhonheimer’s view on contraception and the role of “nature” in moral argument. Oleson’s article also contains at least one rather baffling interpretation of Aquinas, which is both central to Oleson’s view of “nature” in moral argument, and utterly incorrect. Moreover, the article shows a surprising disregard

Abortion is a very controversial topic, but today, many statistics show that the Pro-Choice movement is gaining more and more popularity. However, Catholics can have faith that the Catholic Church’s Pro-Life stance shows God’s mercy. It proves how God is merciful to unborn humans, mothers considering abortion, and to all the people of the world. We can have more confidence in our choice for Pro-Life knowing that we are righteous because God believes in life for everyone.

The present-day discussion surrounding abortion has been framed, in most instances, as an issue of morality and the preservation of life. Opponents of abortion, often using religion to bolster their claims, assert that abortion is akin to infanticide and that it is not permissible, while those who support it argue that women should be given the autonomy to choose what should be done with their own bodies. This was not, however, always the case, and although religion undoubtedly plays a role in the shaping of the idea of abortion and contraception as a morally objectionable act, there are other less obvious factors at work; creating a role for women’s bodies and dictating the ways in which they can and cannot use them. The role of

Since their development, contraceptive techniques and their widespread use have caused some controversy between groups with different views on the issue. Contraception is defined as any method that is used to prevent pregnancy and it can come in a few different forms. Barrier methods prevent sperm cells from reaching the ovum so fertilization cannot occur. Other methods that have received more criticism are those that use hormones to prevent implantation of the already fertilized ovum. There is also a post-coital contraceptive pill, more commonly known as the morning after pill or emergency contraception, that can be taken if other methods of birth control have failed or were absent. It works by causing the lining of the uterus to shed,

"Contraception could, simultaneously, unleash female sexuality from repression, uplift sexual experience into mystical communion, and rid humanity of poverty and deformity." (Woloch 363)