Ok, I know about the objection the Catholic church has against birth control. However, my wife has MD, and her body is so week, I’m afraid if she did get pregnant, it would do physical harm. I was told that there is an exception or two to the no birth control rule and I’m sure that this would be one of them. I’ve been wanting to talk to a priest to get permission, for the sake of my conscience, but I’ve been nervous and don’t quiet know how to bring up the subject. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Also, I know that the objection to things like the pill, or other chemical methods, is that they just don’t prevent births, they sometimes abort the pregnancy(Yes, this probably debatable, but since this isn’t the Great Debates forum, please don’t debate about it here.) but I don’t understand why other methods, such as condoms and sterilization are considered bad, but Natural Family Planning which has the same concept, sex without pregnancy, is good. I mean, if they both achieve the same thing, why is one good and the other bad?
To answer the second question first: the RCC’s position is that the couple should be open to the possibility of conception any time one engages in sexual intercourse. This means that Family Planning, (using or combining rhythm, basal temparature, and other methods) prevents you from engaging in intercourse at fertile times. In this way, you are “open” to conception whenever you have sex–you just don’t have sex when you’re open to conception.
(I didn’t make the rules, I am just laying them out.)
As for your first question: If you read through Humanae Vitae (which no one ever does) you will find that it does, indeed, address the issues of health and even poverty as valid reasons to consider contraception.
My best guess would be that if you are uncomfortable choosing an active method of contraceptive, yourself, a discussion with your local priest should help resolve the issue. (If he is still muttering about the heresies introduced by Vatican II, you might want to check out a different priest.)
I’d either read/skim Humanae Vitae, talk to your priest, or do both. (I know starting to talk to a priest (especially about sex!)* can be difficult, but it’s kind of like confession – you’ll feel better once you do it. :))
As I understand it, only “barrier methods” of birth control are proscribed. That is, anything which blocks the sperm from reaching the egg is not allowed, but anything which prevents an egg from being present is allowed.
[sub]*Why priests aren’t allowed to marry, but are still expected to be knowledgeable abd able to give advice on marriage and family issues is another topic…[/sub]
My family is Catholic and my mother always told us the Pope was a man. Your priest will understand that your wife needs your physical comfort and needs not to be pregnant. It is not wrong to protect her.