www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Birth Control et. al.

Greetings all!

i am usually a silent observer on this wonderful forum, but i have reached a point of conviction in my own life that i need help with.

Regarding my background, i was a former Calvinist Presbyterian who has converted to orthodox Anglicanism over the past year. As a Protestant, i had no regard for considering birth control or any sexual activity within the confines of marriage. To me (back then), it was all a matter of personal preference - as long as it was with a married partner.

After my conversion, i have come to try and discern and accept the teachings of the Church. i do know what the RCC teaches regarding birth control and sexual activities within the confines of marriage, but i am not sure what the Orthodox Church teaches in these regards. i assume that it prohibits birth control, but i am unsure about sexual activities that are outside the potential conception of children (i hope i don't have to go into detail here as to the specifics of what i am referring to).

As with many things, i am wrestling with this, and i would appreciate the insight of others.

Struggling to perceive and live in accordance with the Truth,
the_grip

You'll find a range of belief in Orthodox circles. For a traditional perspective, see:

http://www.paratheke.net/stephanos/

(particularly the article: "Is there a traditional view of contraception?")

There are some Orthodox in this country who hold to similar positions as the above websiet but my experience is that most Orthodox in this country have adopted a more permissive view.

DTBrown,

This is one of the main reasons why I am a Catholic. The Catholic Church is able to give me in one voice what is a sin and what is not a sin.

I'm coming out of the theological 'closet,' so to speak, by admitting that I really struggle with this issue. (Although I fully expect to be shouted down and told I'm a heretic, modernist, liberal, whatever.)

I'm familiar with the RC position and have discussed contraception with several Orthodox priests. Most that I spoke with adhere to the RC position but not all.

I guess that I don't see the absolute evilness of ABC. To clarify I don't use ABC. If a couple is open to having children and wants to use ABC merely to space children, I won't condemn them. For example, my parents used ABC throughout their marriage and had 4 children. They weren't 'closed' to children. They spaced their children for economic reasons.

Some of the Orthodox priests (they're not liberals, btw) who I've spoken with have the right approach. That ABC can be used with direction by a confessor if the intent is space children for economic or health reasons.

In the RC world, we glorify big families but I don't think every couple is called to have a big family.

I understand how ABC led to abortion and secularism. However, I know couples (like my parents) who are good Christians and still used ABC. I think it depends on why the couple uses ABC.

Thank you all for the responses.

What about the second part of my question (the part that actually is the focus for me right now)?

Yours,
the_grip

The issue is whether birth control is wrong because it prevents children, or whether it is wrong because it is an intrinsic deformation of the sexual act.

If it were wrong for the first reason, it would be wrong for married couples to abstain from sex. The great married saints of the past who often both went into monastic life would then have to be condemned.

If it is wrong because it deforms the sexual act, then it doesn't matter whether the couple is open to children or not--it is still wrong.

Plus, if ABC (as Jennifer calls it) is wrong because of the sort of act it is, then it is never right to do, since one may not do evil so that good may come.

The positive grounds for the Church's teaching on birth control have been a very fruitful ground for my own reflection on the worth and nature of the human person. If anyone is interested, he or she should look at JP II's work on the theology of the body.

One should also remember that all of Christianity condemned birth control until 1933 or so. The traditional position forbids it. The Catholics are the only ones who stick with the traditional position.

Jennifer,

When you refer to the "RC position," you are actually referring to position the entire Christian world held until the twentieth century. When some Orthodox accepted the modern view on artificial birth control (mainly in reaction against _Humanae Vitae_)they did not discriminate against usage of the Pill. (Most Orthodox now are against the Pill because of the possibility it may destroy a conceived human life but that opposition only dates from the 80's and 90's.)

So, why should the traditional view on contraception be revised?

grip- As for the second part of your question:
as I understand it, all sexual activity must be open to the transmission of life to be true to the Will of God. Of course, if you can justify artificial contraception, that is, if sex is only about expressing love, and pleasure, then such things would be permissible. But then, logically, so would homosexual activity, assuming love and committment.
Some of us would hold that the current push to accept such unions among the various Christian bodies has its roots precisely in the acceptance of artificial contraception.
-Daniel, for whom Paul VI's courage is a witness for the truth of Catholicism

Yes, I am aware that it was the Chrisitan position until the 1930's or so.

And no, I never advocated changing the traditional teaching on contraception.

However, I know some very strong Christian couples who use contraception to space their children. I also know some Catholic couples that have had a very hard time with NFP. We don't hear their story. We only hear about how wonderful NFP is but never how it affects couples who it doesn't work for.

I also think it is entirely too simplistic to assign blame for every modern ill to contraception. If it was true that the use of ABC was inherently evil then it could bring no good into the world and the couples that use it responsibly could not be faithful Christians (and even faithful Catholics).

Let's not forget that NPF doesn't work for every couple and every couple cannot have a large family. I'm glad that some Orthodox priests understand that.

Jennifer- I agree that NFP is not what it is cracked up to be; I think it has been unrealistically promoted by well-meaning ideologues. After all, the time of the month that the woman is most naturally amorous is when she is ovulating. To abstain at such times is more a penance than some beautiful moment of marital grace, as the apostles of NFP present it.
Not that it has ever been an option for my bride and me: we are sort of tempermentally out of the NFP loop. I mean, we are by nature unorganized, intuitive types. NFP demands that you approach the marital bed with what? a slide rule and a periscope? I'm afraid that is out of our reach...
While there are certainly serious reasons for us to consider NFP -health matters, economic issues, etc.- there is much to be said for simple trust in God, which seems all we can reach for, given the limits of our temperments [affectionate, disorganized, and child-loving].
Is this a problem for any kind of Christian, to trust God?
-Daniel

So, do you think the traditional teaching held by all of Christendom was mistaken?

I don't.

The issue of artificial birth control was brought to the forefront with the advent of the Pill in the early 1960's. The simplicity and effectiveness of the Pill is primarily what changed most people's (and most Churches--including much of Orthodoxy) views on artificial birth control.

The Catholic Church was castigated from without and within because "the Pope isn't with it" when he issued _Humanae Vitae_. Modern science had supposedly made the traditional view on artificial contraception obsolete. Now a simple pill had changed everything.

That simple Pill did much more as we now know the Pill can prevent implantation of a newly conceived human life. Did this "bring good" into the world--even if it was used (sadly) by millions of "faithful Christians"? Lest I be accused of casting a stone where I shouldn't...Early in our married life we relied on the Pill to prevent pregnancy. It's a decision we regret to this day.

The Pope was right after all.

Sorry for not being certain enough for everyone but I just don't know. I freely admit my lack of certainty about this issue.

And I guess I just really resent the "what do you believe" inquisitional attitude. I don't think you mean to be 'inquisitional' but I'm just tired of constantly being asked if I'm 'orthodox' enough on internet discussion boards.

If I've caused offense, I apologize.

Perhaps it's the way I write. Perhaps it's a mistaken view of what I'm trying to say. I mean no offense.

I do believe in what I'm writing about and I do get passionate about it.

I know that you didn't mean to be offensive and I applaud your 'passion' for this issue. To clarify, you didn't offend me.

It's just that I would rather it if we didn't ask each other point blank questions about what we believe. I don't think it's my place to be asking you what you believe. I'm not your confessor. Plus on discussion boards it's often a trap. You're asked what you believe so the jihad can jump down your throat if your opinion isn't 'orthodox' enough.

I guess I'm just so tired of the whole on-line apologetics thing. Everyone with access to the internet and the on-line catechism thinks they're an apologetist out to save everyone else's soul.

Asking someone what they believe on a discussion board does not equate to thinking one is their confessor.

Other than to offer an apology I do not wish to discuss any motives (mine or anyone else's).