Printable version

Thus the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. . . . The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle . . . involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.  CCC 2370.

“[D]espite their differences of nature and moral gravity, contraception and abortion are often closely connected, as fruits of the same tree.”  Evangelium Vitae n. 13.

Important Church Documents:

Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI (1968).  Available at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html.

Catholic Websites:

• http://catholicinsight.com/online/bioethics/article_908.shtml

• http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/132975.php

• http://www.illinoisrighttolife.org/Issues.htm#contra

Ecclesial Documents (Bishop/ Vatican):

• http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/contraception/morningafterpill.shtml

• http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/ivf/index.shtml

Articles:

Helen Alvare, “Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the Family.”  Available at http://www.catholicbishops.org/prolife/programs/rlp/Alvare.pdf.

Janet Smith, “Contraception: Why Not?”  Available at http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0002.html.

Archbishop O’Brien, “Humanae Vitae Part I,” published in the Catholic Review August 21, 2008.  Available at http://www.archbalt.org/archbishop/article-item.cfm?customel_datapageid_1265=40337.

Archbishop O’Brien, “Humanae Vitae Part II,” published in the Catholic Review August 28, 2008.  Available at http://www.archbalt.org/archbishop/article-item.cfm?customel_datapageid_1265=40339.

Archbishop O’Brien, “Humanae Vitae Part III,” published in the Catholic Review September 4, 2008.  Available at http://www.archbalt.org/archbishop/article-item.cfm?customel_datapageid_1265=40521.

Dates to Note:

Natural Family Planning Awareness Week Falls in July each year.

This document contains some hyperlinks to web sites operated by parties other than the Archdiocese of Baltimore. These hyperlinks are provided for your reference only. The Archdiocese of Baltimore does not control such web sites and is not responsible for their contents. The inclusion of hyperlinks to other web sites does not imply any endorsement of the material on these web sites or any association with their operators.