Christian views on contraception

Prior to the 20th century, contraception was generally condemned by all the major branches of Christianity (the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism)^[1] including the major reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin.^[2] However, among Christian denominations today there is a large variety of positions towards contraception.

Roman Catholicism

See also: Theology of the Body and Catholic teachings on sexual morality

Background

The Catholic Church has been opposed to contraception for as far back as one can historically trace.^[3][4] Many early Catholic Church Fathers made statements condemning the use of contraception including John Chrysostom, Jerome, Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus of Rome, Augustine of Hippo and various others.^[5][6][7] Among the condemnations is one by Jerome which refers to an apparent oral form of contraception: "Some go so far as to take potions, that they may insure barrenness, and thus murder human beings almost before their conception."^[8] The Catechism of the Catholic Church specifies that all sex acts must be both unitive and procreative.^[9] In addition to condemning use of artificial birth control as intrinsically evil,^[10] non-procreative sex acts such as mutual masturbation and anal sex are ruled out as ways to avoid pregnancy.^[11]

Natural Family Planning

For much of its existence, the Church heavily emphasized procreation as the primary purpose of sex— some Catholics even believed that intercourse at times where pregnancy was not a possible result (such as current pregnancy and menopause) was sinful,^[12] although this was never official Catholic doctrine. Pope Pius XI's 1930 encyclical entitled Casti Connubii was written in response to the Anglican Communion's Seventh Lambeth Conference, which approved contraceptive use in limited circumstances. Casti Connubii confirmed the Church's position opposing birth control:

Since, therefore, openly departing from the uninterrupted Christian tradition some recently have judged it possible solemnly to declare another doctrine regarding this question, the Catholic Church, ... in order that she may preserve the chastity of the nuptial union from being defiled by this foul stain, ... proclaims anew: any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin.^[13]

However, this encyclical acknowledged for the first time a secondary, unitive, purpose of intercourse.^[14] Because of this secondary purpose, married couples have a right to engage in intercourse even when pregnancy is not a possible result:

Nor are those considered as acting against nature who in the married state use their right in the proper manner although on account of natural reasons either of time or of certain defects, new life cannot be brought forth. For in matrimony as well as in the use of the matrimonial rights there are also secondary ends, such as mutual aid, the cultivating of mutual love, and the quieting of concupiscence which husband and wife are not forbidden to consider so long as they are subordinated to the primary end and so long as the intrinsic nature of the act is preserved.^[13]

Some interpreted this statement as not only permitting sex between married couples during pregnancy and menopause, but also during the infertile times of the menstrual cycle.^[15] The mathematical formula for the rhythm method had been formalized in 1930,^[16] and in 1932 a Catholic physician published a book titled The Rhythm of Sterility and Fertility in Women promoting the method to Catholics.^[14] The 1930s also saw the first U.S. Rhythm Clinic (founded by John Rock) to teach the method to Catholic couples.^[17] However, use of the Rhythm Method in certain circumstances was not formally accepted until 1951, in two speeches by Pope Pius XII.^[14][18]

Current view

The Catholic Church's position on contraception was formally explained and expressed by Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae in 1968. Artificial contraception is considered intrinsically evil,^[10] but methods of natural family planning are morally permissible in some circumstances, as they do not usurp the natural way of conception.^[19]

In justification of this position, Pope Paul VI claimed

"Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection."^[19]

Pope John Paul II clarified Catholic teachings on contraception.

In issuing Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI relied on the Minority Papal Commission Report of the Pontifical Commission on Birth Control. The Minority report argued that:

"One can find no period of history, no document of the church, no theological school, scarcely one Catholic theologian, who ever denied that contraception was always seriously evil. The teaching of the Church in this matter is absolutely constant. Until the present century this teaching was peacefully possessed by all other Christians, whether Orthodox or Anglican or Protestant. The Orthodox retain this as common teaching today."

On July 17, 1994, John Paul II clarified the Church's position during a meditation said prior to an angelus recitation.

Unfortunately, Catholic thought is often misunderstood ... as if the Church supported an ideology of fertility at all costs, urging married couples to procreate indiscriminately and without thought for the future. But one need only study the pronouncements of the Magisterium to know that this is not so. Truly, in begetting life the spouses fulfill one of the highest dimensions of their calling: they are God's co-workers. Precisely for this reason they must have an extremely responsible attitude. In deciding whether or not to have a child, they must not be motivated by selfishness or carelessness, but by a prudent, conscious generosity that weighs the possibilities and circumstances, and especially gives priority to the welfare of the unborn child. Therefore, when there is a reason not to procreate, this choice is permissible and may even be necessary. However, there remains the duty of carrying it out with criteria and methods that respect the total truth of the marital act in its unitive and procreative dimension, as wisely regulated by nature itself in its biological rhythms. One can comply with them and use them to advantage, but they cannot be "violated" by artificial interference.^[20]

In 1997, the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family stated:

"The Church has always taught the intrinsic evil of contraception, that is, of every marital act intentionally rendered unfruitful. This teaching is to be held as definitive and irreformable. Contraception is gravely opposed to marital chastity; it is contrary to the good of the transmission of life (the procreative aspect of matrimony), and to the reciprocal self-giving of the spouses (the unitive aspect of matrimony); it harms true love and denies the sovereign role of God in the transmission of human life."^[21]

A summary of the Scriptural support used by Catholics against contraception can be found in Rome Sweet Home, an autobiography by the Catholic apologetics Scott and Kimberly Hahn, both of whom are converts to the Catholic Church from Protestantism.^[22] They illustrate the results of the research on contraception conducted by Kimberly Hahn as having a pivotal effect on their lives, notably the fact that the Catholic Church is one of the last few Christian groups to take a clear stance on the issue. Among the Scripture included in the book are the following lines from Psalm 127:

"Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies at the gate."

The Catholic scholar Cormac Burke has written an anthropological (non-religious) evaluation of the effect of contraception on marital love: "Married Love and Contraception."^[23]

The 2008 instruction Dignitas Personae reiterates Church opposition to contraception, mentioning new methods of interception and contragestion, notably female condoms and morning-after pills.

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI asserted that handing out condoms is not the solution to combating AIDS and might make the problem worse.^[24] Some senior Catholic authorities, such as Belgian Cardinal Emeritus Godfried Danneels, believe the Catholic Church should support condoms used to prevent serious diseases such as AIDS, because non-use is tantamount to murder.^[25]

In 2003 the BBC's Panorama claimed that Vatican is intentionally spreading lies that HIV virus can pass through the membrane of the condom.^[26]

Dissent

Many Western Catholics have voiced significant disagreement with the Church's stance on contraception.^[27] The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued what many interpreted as a dissenting document, the Winnipeg Statement. In it, the bishops recognized that many Catholics found it "either extremely difficult or even impossible to make their own all elements of this doctrine" (that of Humanae Vitae).^[28] Additionally, they reasserted the Catholic principle of primacy of conscience,^[28] a principle that they said should be properly interpreted, since they insisted that "a Catholic Christian is not free to form his conscience without consideration of the teaching of the magisterium, in the particular instance exercised by the Holy Father in an encyclical letter".^[29] Theologians such as Charles Curran also criticized the stance of Humanae Vitae on artificial birth control.^[30]

Catholics for a Free Choice claimed in 1998 that 96% of U.S. Catholic women had used contraceptives at some point in their lives and that 72% of Catholics believed that one could be a good Catholic without obeying the Church's teaching on birth control.^[31] According to a nationwide poll of 2,242 U.S. adults surveyed online in September 2005 by Harris Interactive, 90% of Catholics supported the use of birth control/contraceptives.^[32]

Use of natural family planning methods among United States Catholics purportedly is low, although the number cannot be known with certainty. In 2002, 24% of the U.S. population identified as Catholic.^[33] But of sexually active Americans avoiding pregnancy, only 1.5% were using NFP.^[34]

Family planning proponent Stephen D. Mumford has argued that the primary motivation behind the Church's continued opposition to contraceptive use is the Church's fear of losing papal authority if the pope were to contradict the dogma of papal infallibility.^[35] Mumford gives as an example the citation made by August Bernhard Hasler of a comment by Pope John Paul II prior to his papacy:

If it should be declared that contraception is not evil in itself, then we should have to concede frankly that the Holy Spirit had been on the side of the Protestant churches in 1930 (when the encyclical Casti Connubii was promulgated), in 1951 (Pius XII's address to the midwives), and in 1958 (the address delivered before the Society of Hematologists in the year the pope died). It should likewise have to be admitted that for a half century the Spirit failed to protect Pius XI, Pius XII, and a large part of the Catholic hierarchy from a very serious error. This would mean that the leaders of the Church, acting with extreme imprudence, had condemned thousands of innocent human acts, forbidding, under pain of eternal damnation, a practice which would now be sanctioned. The fact can neither be denied nor ignored that these same acts would now be declared licit on the grounds of principles cited by the Protestants, which popes and bishops have either condemned or at least not approved.^[36]

Eastern Orthodoxy

Current views

An official document of the Russian Orthodox Church states that while abortifacient methods of contraception are completely unacceptable, other methods can be used with spiritual counsel, taking into account "the concrete living conditions of the couple, their age, health, degree of spiritual maturity and many other circumstances". However, if a couple does not want to have a child (on a side note, only "non-egoistic" grounds are a valid reason for it), abstaining from sexual relation is to be preferred.^[37]

Many Orthodox, on all sides, believe that this particular perspective on contraception is not adequately examined, and that any examination has too often become tied up in identity politics, with various groups accusing the other of "Western" influence. Still, the "new consensus" has not gone unchallenged.^[38][39]

Many Orthodox hierarchs and theologians from around the world lauded Humanae Vitae when it was issued. Among these Orthodox leaders, some teach that marital intercourse should be for procreation only, while others do not go as far and hold a view similar to the Roman Catholic position, which allows Natural Family Planning on principle while at the same time opposing artificial contraception.^[38][39]

Other Orthodox leaders maintain that this interpretation is too conservative, and thus allow more—so to speak—freedom for contraceptive use.^[38][39]

Some Orthodox Christians do not just consider using contraceptives a sin, but a mortal sin^[40] in the group of "unnatural carnal sins" along with homosexuality, bestiality, masturbation, etc.^[41][42]

Alternate views

Until about 1970, the Eastern Orthodox Church generally opposed the use of contraception.^{[citation needed]} Since that time a "new consensus" was said to have emerged. This new view holds that contraception is acceptable within a Christian marriage if 1), the means of contraception is not abortifacient, 2) it is used with the blessing of one's spiritual father^[why?] and 3), children are not completely excluded from the marriage,^[43][44][45] which is found in a chapter called "The foundation of chastity", by Germogenos of Shimanovo

Protestant and Anglican churches

Main article: Protestant views on birth control

Anglicanism

The Church of England has stated it "does not regard contraception as a sin or a contravention of God's purpose".^[46]

Lutheranism

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America allows for contraception in the event the potential parents do not intend to care for a child.^[47] Other Lutheran churches or synods take other positions, or do not take any position at all. For example, in 1990 the Lutheran Churches of the Reformation passed a resolution titled "Procreation" stating that birth control, in all forms, is sin, although they "allow for exegetical differences and exceptional cases (casuistry)", for example, when the woman's life is at risk.^[48] Neither the Missouri nor Wisconsin synods have an official position on contraception.^[49] Christian News, a weekly paper edited by a pastor of a Missouri Synod congregation, opposes contraception.^[50]

Methodism

The United Methodist Church, holds that "each couple has the right and the duty prayerfully and responsibly to control conception according to their circumstances." Its Resolution on Responsible Parenthood states that in order to "support the sacred dimensions of personhood, all possible efforts should be made by parents and the community to ensure that each child enters the world with a healthy body, and is born into an environment conducive to realization of his or her potential." To this end, the United Methodist Church supports "adequate public funding and increased participation in family planning services by public and private agencies."^[51][52]

Presbyterianism

The Presbyterian Church (USA) supports “full and equal access to contraceptive methods.” In a recent resolution endorsing insurance coverage for contraceptives, the church affirmed that “contraceptive services are part of basic health care” and cautioned that “unintended pregnancies lead to higher rates of infant mortality, low birth weight, and maternal morbidity, and threaten the economic viability of families.”^[53] Other Reformed groups, however, are at odds over the issue, as can be seen in recent works arguing that the practice of birth control has no legitimate Christian support. (See for instance "The Christian Case against Contraception: Making the Case from Historical, Biblical, Systematic, and Practical Theology & Ethics" by Bryan C. Hodge.)

Mennonites

The Mennonite Church USA, the General Conference Mennonite Church, and the Conservative Mennonite Conference have adopted statements indicating approval of modern methods of contraception. For example, while also teaching and encouraging love and acceptance of children, the Conservative Mennonite Conference maintains, "The prevention of pregnancy when feasible by birth control with pre-fertilization methods is acceptable."^[54] A study published in 1975 found that only 11% of Mennonites believed use of birth control was "always wrong".^[55] Old Colony Mennonites, like the Amish, do not officially allow birth control practices.

Amish

Not only are all types of artificial birth control forbidden in Old-Order Amish communities, but any varieties of natural family planning, such as calendar-based methods, are also condemned.^{[56] [55]} However, especially in recent years, more Amish women have begun using contraception. This trend is more pronounced in communities where few of the men earn their living through farming.^[57]

Hutterites

The Hutterite Brethren use contraception only if it is recommended by a physician.^[58]

Other

Along with these general acceptances, many movements view contraception use outside of marriage as encouragement to promiscuity. For example, Focus on the Family states,

Sex is a powerful drive, and for most of human history it was firmly linked to marriage and childbearing. Only relatively recently has the act of sex commonly been divorced from marriage and procreation. Modern contraceptive inventions have given many an exaggerated sense of safety and prompted more people than ever before to move sexual expression outside the marriage boundary.^[59]

Mormonism

See also: Sexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Until recently the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) have publicly condemned artificial birth control.^[60] The only official public statement it has ever made on the subject discouraged contraception by saying, "it is contrary to the teachings of the Church artificially to curtail or prevent the birth of children. We believe that those who practice birth control will reap disappointment by and by."^[61]

However, more recent statements in the publicly available church handbook ^[62] for local LDS Church leaders have discouraged such leaders from judging other members based on their private intimate relationships:

"It is the privilege of married couples who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for the spirit children of God, whom they are then responsible to nurture and rear. The decision as to how many children to have and when to have them is extremely intimate and private and should be left between the couple and the Lord. Church members should not judge one another in this matter. Married couples should also understand that sexual relations within marriage are divinely approved not only for the purpose of procreation, but also as a way of expressing love and strengthening emotional and spiritual bonds between husband and wife."^[62]

Outside of the handbook, the most recent statement by a President of the Church on the issue of Birth Control is:

“Much has been said…about birth control. I like to think of the positive side of the equation, of the meaning and sanctity of life, of the purpose of this estate in our eternal journey, of the need for the experiences of mortal life under the great plan of God our Father, of the joy that is to be found only where there are children in the home, of the blessings that come of good posterity. When I think of these values and see them taught and observed, then I am willing to leave the question of numbers to the man and the woman and the Lord.” ^[63]

The typical LDS approach is that this statement and the current handbook statement supersedes prior statements made by previous authorities.

The LDS Church opposes elective abortion "for personal or social convenience"^[64] but does have a nuanced view of when it would find abortion an acceptable option.^[65] and "strongly discourages surgical sterilization as an elective form of birth control".^[66]

See also

• Christianity and abortion

References

1. ^ "Children of the Reformation". Touchstone. http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=20-04-020-f. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 
2. ^ "Onan’s Onus". Touchstone. http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=18-01-040-f. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
3. ^ "Fathers Know Best Contraception". EWTN. http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/FKBCONTR.HTM. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
4. ^ "Contraception/Birth Control". Byzantines.net. Archived from the original on 2009-11-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20080419053817/http://www.byzantines.net/misc/sex.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
5. ^ Church Fathers on Contraception
6. ^ The Catholic Tradition on the Morality of Contraception by Fr Hardon, S.J.
7. ^ Contraception: Early Church Teaching (William Klimon)
8. ^ Jerome Letters 22:3 to Eustochium
9. ^ "Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd Edition Paragraph 2366". Vatican. http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#III. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "Catechism of the Catholic Church 2nd Edition Paragraph 2370". Vatican. http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#III. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
11. ^ Christopher West (2000). Good News about Sex and Marriage: Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teaching. Servant Publications. pp. 88–91. ISBN 1569552142. 
12. ^ Marilyn Yalom (2001). A history of the wife. London: HarperCollins. pp. 297–8. ISBN 0-06-019338-7. 
13. ^ ^{a b} "Casti Connubii: Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on Christian Marriage, December 31, 1930". The Vatican. http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Library/Religion/Catholic/Pius_XI/Casti_connubii. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
14. ^ ^{a b c} Yalom, p.307
15. ^ Kippley, John; Sheila Kippley (1996). The Art of Natural Family Planning (4th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: The Couple to Couple League. p. 231. ISBN 0-926412-13-2. 
16. ^ Singer, Katie (2004). The Garden of Fertility. New York: Avery, a member of Penguin Group (USA). pp. 226–7. ISBN 1-58333-182-4. 
17. ^ Gladwell, Malcolm (2000-03-10). "John Rock's Error". The New Yorker. 
18. ^ Moral Questions Affecting Married Life: Addresses given October 29, 1951 to the Italian Catholic Union of midwives and November 26, 1951 to the National Congress of the Family Front and the Association of Large Families, National Catholic Welfare Conference, Washington, DC.
19. ^ ^{a b} "Humanae Vitae: Encyclical of Pope Paul VI on the Regulation of Birth, July 25, 1968". The Vatican. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
20. ^ John Paul II (1994). and http://ccli.org/nfp/morality/churchteaching.php "July 17, 1994, Meditation". http://www.freehomepages.com/nostradamus/conjugalove.htm and http://ccli.org/nfp/morality/churchteaching.php. Retrieved 2006-10-23. 
21. ^ Vademecum for Confessors
22. ^ Scott Hahn, Kimberly Hahn. Rome Sweet Home. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993. ISBN 0-89870-478-2.
23. ^ "Married Love and Contraception," Osservatore Romano, Oct. 10, 1988 [1]
24. ^ Condoms 'not the answer to AIDS': Pope
25. ^ Alsan, Marcella (April 2006). "The Church & AIDS in Africa: Condoms & the Culture of Life". Commonweal: a Review of Religion, Politics, and Culture 133 (8). http://www.aids.net.au/us-catholic-20060421.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-28. 
26. ^ BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/programmes/panorama/transcripts/sexandtheholycity.txt. 
27. ^ A summary and restatement of the debate is available in Roderick Hindery. "The Evolution of Freedom as Catholicity in Catholic Ethics." Anxiety, Guilt, and Freedom. Eds. Benjamin Hubbard and Brad Starr, UPA, 1990.
28. ^ ^{a b} "Canadian Bishops' Statement on the Encyclical "Humanae Vitae"". Archived from the original on 2006-08-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20060829044505/http://www.catholic-legate.com/articles/winnipeg.html. Retrieved 2006-10-02. 
29. ^ Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Plenary Assembly, 18 April 1969, Statement on Family Life and Related Matters
30. ^ Charles E. Curran, (2006). Loyal Dissent: Memoir of a Catholic Theologian (Moral Traditions). Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. ISBN 1-58901-087-6. 
31. ^ Catholics for a Choice (1998). "A Matter of Conscience: Catholics on Contraception" (pdf). Catholics for a Choice. http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/topics/prevention/documents/1998amatterofconsciece.pdf. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
32. ^ Harris Interactive (2005). "The Harris Poll #78". Harris Interactive. http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=608. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
33. ^ Largest Religious Groups in the USA. Accessed November 13, 2005.
34. ^ Chandra, A; Martinez GM, Mosher WD, Abma JC, Jones J. (2005). "Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S. Women: Data From the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth" (PDF). Vital Health Stat (National Center for Health Statistics) 23 (25). http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_025.pdf. Retrieved 2007-05-20.  See Table 56.
35. ^ "WHY THE POPE CAN'T CHANGE THE CHURCH'S POSITION ON BIRTH CONTROL: IMPLICATIONS FOR AMERICANS, A presentation by Stephen D. Mumford DrPH [2]
36. ^ Hasler, August Bernhard (1981). How the Pope Became Infallible: Pius IX and the Politics of Persuasion. Doubleday. ISBN 0385158513. 
37. ^ The Basis of the Social Concept. XII. Problems of bioethics
38. ^ ^{a b c} Chrysostomos Zaphiris (1974). "The Morality of Contraception: An Eastern Orthodox Opinion". The Journal of Ecumenical Studies 11 (4). 
39. ^ ^{a b c} Zion, William Basil (1992). Eros and Transformation: Sexuality and Marriage: An Eastern Orthodox Perspective. Lanham: University Press of America. p. Ch. 7. ISBN 0819186473. 
40. ^ The Orthodox Church does not distinguish between "mortal" and "venial" sins.
41. ^ A Word on Death, chapter "Mortal sin", by saint Ignatius Brianchaninov
42. ^ Ascetical Trials, chapter "The eight main vices, with their divisions and branches", by saint Ignatius Briachaninov; Sexuality and chastity
43. ^ Evdokimov, Paul (1985). The Sacrament of Love: The Nuptial Mystery in the Light of the Orthodox Tradition. Crestwood: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. pp. 174–180. ISBN 088141042X. 
44. ^ Meyendorff, John (1975). Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective. Crestwood: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. p. Ch. 13. ISBN 0913836052. 
45. ^ "On Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life". Official Documents. Orthodox Church in America. 2006. http://www.oca.org/DOCmarriage.asp?ID=19. Retrieved 2006-12-20. 
46. ^ "Statements on Science, Medicine, Technology & Environment". The Church of England. 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-08-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20060810021928/http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/socialpublic/smte.html#contraception. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
47. ^ When a woman and man join their bodies sexually, both should be prepared to provide for a child, should conception occur. When that is not their intention, the responsible use of safe, effective contraceptives is expected of the male and the female."Journey Together Faithfully: ELCA Studies on Sexuality, Part One" (PDF). Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 2002. http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/pdf/study01.pdf. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
48. ^ See http://lutheransandcontraception.blogspot.com/2006/01/gods-word-and-procreation.html . The LCR also notes,

    Such was the united teaching of Dr. Martin Luther and the "Old Missouri" fathers (C.F.W. Walther, F. Pieper, A.L. Graebner, C.M. Zorn, W.H.T. Dau, J.T. Mueller, W. Dallman, F. Bente, E.W.A. Koehler, L. Fuerbringer, T. Engelder, Th. Laetsch, G. Luecke, W.A. Maier, M.J. Naumann, et al.) and LCR leaders such as P.E. Kretzmann and W.H. McLaughlin.

    Likewise, the Hausvater Project (not an LCR organization) states,

    We therefore find ourselves sympathetic to the long-standing consensus of Lutheran church fathers from the Reformation through the mid twentieth century that neither abortion, abortifacient birth control, nor barrier contraception should be practiced. See http://www.hausvater.org/faqs.php

49. ^ See http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2122 and https://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=27&cuItem_itemID=490. For the traditional view in both synods, see Birth Control a Curse, a Lutheran Witness (Missouri) reprint of a Northwestern Lutheran (Wisconsin) article. The Concordia Cyclopedia, a Missouri Synod reference book, condemns contraception, Fuerbringer, L., Concordia Cyclopedia Concordia Publishing House. 1927. p. 441
50. ^ "Christian News is one of the few religious publications which still defends the position most of Christendom took opposing birth control until the resolution of the Anglican’s Lambeth Conference in 1930." Otten, Herman, Larry Marquardt: Founder—Christian Life Resources. Christian News Vol. 46., No.47. p.5 (December 8, 2008)
51. ^ "Responsible Parenthood". The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=fsJNK0PKJrH&b=848309&content_id=%7BD78C069C-1151-4E3C-8840-B707FC4B96EF%7D&notoc=1. Retrieved 2007-05-20. 
52. ^ "Perspectives: Pharmacy Refusals - A New Threat to Women's Health". Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. http://www.rcrc.org/calltojustice/perspectives_pharmacy.php. Retrieved 2007-05-20. 
53. ^ Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. 2006. Religious Support For Family Planning (retrieved 16 May 2007).
54. ^ "What We Believe". Conservative Mennonite Conference. 1997. http://www.cmcrosedale.org/about/beliefs.shtml. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
55. ^ ^{a b} Hershberger, Anne K (1989). "Birth Control". Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B541ME.html. Retrieved 2006-08-17. 
56. ^ Adams C, Leverland M (1986). "The effects of religious beliefs on the health care practices of the Amish". Nurse Pract 11 (3): 58, 63, 67. doi:10.1097/00006205-198603000-00008. PMID 3446212. 
57. ^ Donnermeyer, Joseph F; and Lora Friedrich (Fall 2002). "Amish society: An overview reconsidered". Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3919/is_200210/ai_n9130436/pg_1. Retrieved 2006-08-18.  (see p.10 in online version)
58. ^ Kotva Jr., Joseph J. (2002). "The Anabatist Tradition: Religious Beliefs and Healthcare Decisions" (pdf). Religious Traditions and Healthcare Decisions. Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics. Archived from the original on 2006-07-06. http://web.archive.org/web/20060706115758/http://www.anabaptistethics.org/holding/Anabaptist+final.pdf. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
59. ^ "Abstinence Policy". Focus on the Family. 2005. http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/abstinence/. Retrieved 2006-10-01. ^{[dead link]}
60. ^ See quotes from Brigham Young (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 197), John Taylor (The Government of God, Chapter 2), Wilford Woodruff (Wilford Woodruff and Joseph F. Smith to Job Pingree, Jan. 23, 1894), Joseph F. Smith (Gospel Doctrine, p. 276), Heber J. Grant (Gospel Standards, p. 154), George Albert Smith (Relief Society Magazine, Feb. 1917, p. 72), David O. McKay (Relief Society Magazine, v. 3, no. 7, July 1916), Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. (Relief Society Magazine, v. 3, no. 7, July 1916), Harold B. Lee (Conference Report, October 1972, p. 63), Spencer W. Kimball (B.Y.U. Speeches of the Year, 1973, p. 263), Ezra Taft Benson (Conference Report, April 1969 p. 12) & Howard W. Hunter (Conference Report, Oct. 1994, p. 67)
61. ^ First Presidency statement (David O. McKay, Hugh B. Brown, N. Eldon Tanner), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Office of the First Presidency, April 15, 1969
62. ^ ^{a b} https://lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/selected-church-policies?lang=eng#21.4.4
63. ^ ”If I Were You, What Would I do? BYU 1983-84 Fireside and Devotional Speeches, September 20, 1983, p.11.
64. ^ LDS Church (2006). Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics (Salt Lake City, Utah: LDS Church) p. 185
65. ^ https://lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/selected-church-policies?lang=eng#21.4.1
66. ^ LDS Church (2006). Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics (Salt Lake City, Utah: LDS Church) p. 188.

External links

Roman Catholic

• "God, Sex, & Babies: What the Church Really Teaches about Responsible Parenthood" by Christopher West
• "Contraception: Why Not?" by Janet E. Smith
• Website for Catholics Against Contraception
• Document from the United States Catholic Council of Bishop's November 2006 on the married life and contraception.
• Church Teaching on Contraception by Fr. William Saunders
• Catholic Answers article on contraception including commentary by the Early Church Fathers

Eastern Orthodox

• The Orthodox Natural Family Planning Association

Protestant

• "The Christian Case against Contraception: Making the Case from Historical, Biblical, Systematic, and Practical Theology & Ethics" by Bryan C. Hodge
• "A Biblical Approach To Family Planning" by Dennis Rainey - 8 part series from FamilyLife Today radio broadcast. Audio and transcripts available at link.
• control methodscomment.htm "Birth Control & God's Will" by Gregory Koukl
• "Birth Control Pill" Various articles on the birth control pill including Randy Alcorn's book "Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?"
• "Christians and Contraception: Convenience or Kingdom Thinking?" by Bart Garrett
• "Contraception: the Tragic Deception" by Royce Dunn
• "Does the Bible permit birth control?" by John Piper
• "Responsible Family Planning" by Rich Vincent
• "The Bible and Family Planning" by James B. Jordan - Article begins on page 4 of source.

Critique of Christian views on contraception

• The religious agenda to BAN contraception
• Catholic Contraception