Pope Paul VI and The Prophetic Witness of Humanae Vitae
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Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae, promulgated three years after the close of the Second Vatican Council, rapidly became at the time of its release the most intensely mocked and reviled Church document in centuries, perhaps amassing more derision than any other solemn teaching of the Church in the entire history of Christendom. To this day, many Catholic proponents of Pope Paul’s teaching hesitate to mention Humanae Vitae to those who grew up in the 60s and 70s for fear of the averse reactions which not infrequently follow.
On the other hand, Catholics who broach the subject of Humanae Vitae with those whose birthdate allowed them to be spared the brunt of the 60s sexual revolution and acute-suspicion-of-authority influence, experience a different reaction: Paul VIs encyclical is often not part of their vocabulary because they have never heard of it. So the first step is to invite them to read it.
The situation with these Catholics, especially those who are approximately thirty years of age and younger, is both interesting and encouraging: once they are properly catechized on the theology of the human body and the spiritual language it speaks, along with the consequences of making a lie of one’s body during the marital act through the use of artificial birth control, treating fertility as if it is a disease, objectifying one’s spouse and refusing to be open to life, they very quickly recognize the profound worth of Pope Paul’s teaching. And not only that; as a result they often develop a deep and lasting appreciation for the Church. They begin to see that the Church is our mother who desires to take us into her womb and, by nourishing her children with the words of truth and the sacraments of life, raise us to new and eternal life in Christ.
These Catholics, then, come to recognize that the teaching of the Church is about eternal salvation; it’s about realizing the gift of unending, perfect happiness; it’s about concern for the whole and complete truth of the human person and the relationships which follow; It’s about building a better world; it’s about understanding and actualizing true human freedom — just as is Humanae Vitae.
Once the light about the Church’s true nature penetrates the soul, which is a gift of the Spirit, a refreshing vision of the Bride of Christ is unveiled before one’s eyes with astonishing clarity. No longer is the Church viewed through an hermeneutic of suspicion, but rather she becomes a “holy temple” and “dwelling place of God among men” (LG 6 § 4; Rev. 21:3), who is the “kingdom of Christ now present in mystery” (LG 3). Transformed by the Spirit, who reveals Christ and his Church in full and penetrating light, the eyes of the soul are opened to the true nature of the Church as the “spotless spouse of the spotless Lamb” (LG 6 § 5; Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17). Praise God!
But if Humanae Vitae’s release had occurred a mere fifty years earlier, when the American populace’s views on sexuality, marriage and children were net yet so tainted, things would have been different. The dissenting cry of the 60s and 70s would likely have been replaced with approbation, since both Catholics and Protestants frowned on the use of mechanical devises and dangerous chemicals before, during and after sex in an attempt to frustrate procreation. [More]
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8 Comments
The sad thing about this is that is not a “new” teaching that Pope Paul just decided on his own. No it was also spoken about 30 years before by Pope Pius XI, as a result of the Lambath Conference. It is not new.Even then clergy assumed “good faith” for married couples.
It seems to me that nothing has changed since the original document in question came onto the scene. It is still the most decisive and UN-followed document of the church. More catholics disobey this document than any other in history and still do.
Procreation is not limited to those living in an agrarian culture. It is a participation in the the supreme act of God, i.e, the creation of Human Life. The churches teaching in Humanae Vitae did not recommend that married couples have 16 children. It rather defined the concept that the sexual act was not merely for ones sexual gratification, but, to participate in God’s plan in sacramental marriage. There is Natural Family Planning that in no way uses artificial means of birth control but allows a married couples sexual activity to be used according to nature as God had planned it to be. A woman is only fertile a few days during the month. Sexual abstance during the fertile days are possible and enhances the beauty and sacramental significance of this holy act. It takes FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WILL to understand this. Otherwise sex becomes religated to ones desire for pleasure which leads to all sorts of abuses including abortion and gay sex. Humanae Vitae was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit and I give Pope Paul VI credit for having the guts to issue it despite much criticism and decent.
1. Desire for pleasure does not lead to . . . “gay sex.” Either one is gay or one isn’t. That is a ludicrous statement.
2. A woman is fertile approximately five days of the month. Several days surrounding that period of time she may still become pregnant — for a total of about 10 days that she would have to avoid sexual relations.
3. The very time that a woman MOST wants to have sex, is the very time when she is fertile.
4. While the church’s teaching in Humanae Vitae doesn’t recommend couples have 16 children, they’ll end up with more than they want, and the kids they didn’t want will feel it, know it and suffer. All kids should be “wanted.”
5. Who says the “supreme” act of God is procreation? Aren’t there other things God is teaching us during our lifetimes?
Recovering re: your first point — it is not at all true that you either are gay or straight. There are numerous cases of married men and women with children who decide they are “gay” after all those heterosexual relations. The reality is that we shape our preferences. If someone was bound and determined to make themselves enjoy gay sex, they could do it. Conversely, as Dr. Joseph Nicolosi has documented, there are many cases of gays, including those who claim to be exclusively gay, who can develop heterosexual attractions.
I can understand the church’s teaching on forbidding the use of birth control pills, as women who take birth control pills should understand that birth control pills don’t “prevent” conception; the pills only “prevent implantation” of the embryo into the lining of the uterus. Thus, women who take birth control pills are having abortions all the time. What I have difficulty with are barrior forms of birth control, which do not eject an embryo. Yes, the barrior method is used for the same purpose of frustrating procreation, but with the barrior method, an embryo is not involved. We no longer live in an agrarian culture, and most women no longer marry at age 16 and want to have 16 kids.
Well, you have that wrong. As a biologist I can state unequivically that birth control pills PREVENT OVULATION. The result is that there is no egg in the female system which can be fertilized – thus no conception.
Mary Ann — I don’t care what your credentials are — you are absolutely incorrect. Even the drug manufacturers concede in their literature that hormonal contraceptives do not always stop ovulation. Go do some research and then come back and, like a mature adult woman, acknowledge you were wrong.