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No it does not.

Humanae Vitae is from the working of the ordinary magisterium. It is an interpretation of tradition put out by a church with a highly centralized form of governance. How the discipline behind this teaching is actually put in to practice and observed by the hierarchy is a different story. Liberals and conservatives alike in your communion can and do continue to hope that it is overturned for the very reason that it is not a dogmatic statement. Those are incredibly rare.

I'm glad you found a spiritual home, but to say nothing can be said because there is no Magisterium is as much a fallacy as saying NFP is the patristic tradition. The core of our faith is found in the councils, scripture and the creed and that a lot else is opinion on non dogmatic matters. One can speak with authority on any number of issues.

This an issue where I think the Magisterium is actually inconsistent with majority of patristic thought, though there are certainly other examples. It also seems to me that the Magisterium instead of being force to carry on tradition, has ironically due to the vast centralization of power in the Papacy and Curia, been a force for some of the most radical change in the history of the church including some serious departures from tradition.

PrJ,

I agree that there is not a consensus in the Orthodox world on Contraception. I think this is a major issue for reunification.

I see the use of contraception as a 'concession' in the Orthodox world, and a rather recent one. Why, for oikonomia? Because it is idealistic to assume that the faithful can actually abstain from the marital embrace?

What if a Priest and his wife wanted to use artificial contraception? What if he lived in a poor parish and could not afford to have ANY children? "Don't worry Father, it's okay to not have any children."

Seriously, would a Bishop ACTUALLY ever say that?

I would suggest reading from the first page.

I guess a missed any discussion about priests. Where was it?

No, for the whole thing.

The modern practice of NFP is an innovation made possible by 20th century medical knowledge, is a practice to prevent conception, is not abstention, and is certainly at odds with what many church fathers. We're also not talking about dogma.


Given what studies have shown in terms of people who actually use NFP, I guess I would have to turn that around on you and ask how the Catholic hierarchy handles having parishes full of people who have most likely no more than 2 to 3 children. Are they idealistic and unaware of what people do? Do they look they other way? Do they have the discretion to exercise their own form of ekonomia? Because it all doesn't add up.

They assume that everybody is practicing NFP. That's what I hear when I ask the priests. Because I know that 99.44% of all the women who have come to my office either practice some sort of contraception or have had tubal ligations (this doesn't count the post menopausal or those who have had a hysterectomy.)

Addendum: Since most Catholics are not even aware of or don't care what the Church teaches. When and if these people go to confession it isn't even brought up.

AMM:
I think you raise some very fair questions. I would simply wish to add that there are varieties of reasons why some people stop after 2 or 3 children. Some of those reasons are legitimate, others perhaps not. Here is where I think Alice has been helpful in raising the issue of pastoral economy. For example, my sister is in her mid 30's and has three children. I think in some ways she would like to have more children, but has no intention of doing so. Each of her pregnancies have been difficult, and have become progressively more dangerous-her blood pressure gets dangerously high, among other things. Also, a few years ago, she was in a car crash and suffered a terrible neck injury and lives in almost constant, severe pain, even with the use of powerful narcotics. Then, there is the issue of a very irresponsible and abusive husband. While my sister certainly would not consider an abortion in the event of an unplanned pregnancy (only one of her 3 pregnancies was planned), I personally believe that the totality of the circumstances in which she lives create a legitimate reason to avoid pregnancy. Just my thoughts.
Ryan

I really hope you're not serious.


I call that looking the other way.

Athanasisu the L, to me there are many legitimate reasons for people to space or limit the number of children they have. I am no way questioning people's motives or intentions.

Dr. Eric, you know how much I love you but this is probably a little unfair. Try going to Mexico and asking whether people care what the Church teaches -- or go to the Phillippines, etc. Sometimes we are so American-centric in our thinking that we forget not every Catholic is an American (thankfully).

Ryan, I absolutely agree. My wife and I are in our mid to late 30s. We have two children. Both pregnancies involved a serious danger to my wife's health. We are not absolutely saying that we are not going to have another child, but we have grave reason to avoid having another child should we deem it necessary. And I think that this speaks to something important.

We should not judge a couple by their family size. I've never seen anyone do that here, but I've seen it on blogs and other forums and in actually comments I've heard from people at parishes I've attended. Given the large number of differing serious reasons for avoiding pregnancy, it shouldn't be surprising that most families are small. In modern, industrialized society, a large family does have to undergo a number of burdens that wouldn't usually be present in pre-industrial agrarian society.

Joe

Father Bless!

I'm sorry, I should have clarified and spoken of my own experiences in the Mississippi valley area in Illinois and Missouri. I would estimate that the Poles and Filipinos are more devout than many American Catholics, so I agree with you. I have to watch my generalizations.

http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator_detail.cfm?IndicatorID=138&Country=MX

The fertility rate in Mexio is projected to be 2.16 in 2015 and 1.85 in 2050. It was estimated in 2005 to be at 2.50. The chart in the link shows a steady decline since the 1950's. It is really not that much different than the United States. The Phillipines are just about the same. http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator_detail.cfm?country=PH&indicatorid=138

If you're generalization is that people in Mexico and the Philippines have the same fertility rates as the U.S., that would be basically accurate. It's even lower in Poland.

I need to clarify further, I don't think that many in the Church know what the Church teaches on contraception, don't understand why, and/or don't care what the teaching is.

Many of my mom's friends either quit going to confession or quit going to the Catholic Church over the contraception issue, that one alone. When I was having my metanoia we talked about all kinds of these things.

BTW, some not all (from what the ROCOR priest wrote) of the Fathers went further than just contraception. They were writing about what you could and couldn't do in the bedroom. (I don't think I should elaborate.)