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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
When is birth control not a sin?	Karen	Sunday, March 18, 2007
Question: I had no problems conceiving children, but could not seem to carry them to term. In a 7 year period a gave birth to 5 children all premature of which two died at birth. I would hemmorrhage and loose large amounts of blood. I under went several test to find the cause, but they had no answers. After the fifth child my Catholic doctor came to me and said that I was indangering my life and I should not have any more children. He told me I needed to be a mother to the children I had. I spoke with my Preist and he agreed. Did I commit a sin by having the tubal ligation?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Karen: Artificial birth control is always a sin. There is never any excuse for it no matter what the circumstance. In cases like yours where there are medical dangers in having children, the use of Natural Family Planning is in order. NFP, if practiced properly, is I believe about 99% effective. Thus, for those with medical dangers this Church-approved method is as effective as any immoral form of birth control. For those interested the place to get all the information about NFP and assistance with using NFP is the Couple to Couple League. Another option is abstinence. I know that such an idea between a husband and wife is considered blasphemy in this evil and sexually perverted world, but this is an option and a workable one for any couple who loves God and His Truth and considers their relationship with each other to be more than mere gonads. The Church clearly teaches that "...every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil" (Catechism 2370). The Catechism concludes this topic by reminding us that "Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception)." If you made a choice to elect to have a Tubal ligation (sterilization), then I would advise that you seek the Sacrament of Confession. To purposely sterilize yourself, even for what may seem like good intentions is "morally unacceptable" and grave matter. What is done is done, but you need to reconcile with God concerning what you have done and return to His friendship. God loves you and waits for your return to His arms. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

When is birth control not a sin?

Karen

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Question:

I had no problems conceiving children, but could not seem to carry them to term. In a 7 year period a gave birth to 5 children all premature of which two died at birth. I would hemmorrhage and loose large amounts of blood. I under went several test to find the cause, but they had no answers. After the fifth child my Catholic doctor came to me and said that I was indangering my life and I should not have any more children. He told me I needed to be a mother to the children I had. I spoke with my Preist and he agreed. Did I commit a sin by having the tubal ligation?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Karen:

Artificial birth control is always a sin. There is never any excuse for it no matter what the circumstance.

In cases like yours where there are medical dangers in having children, the use of Natural Family Planning is in order. NFP, if practiced properly, is I believe about 99% effective. Thus, for those with medical dangers this Church-approved method is as effective as any immoral form of birth control.

For those interested the place to get all the information about NFP and assistance with using NFP is the Couple to Couple League.

Another option is abstinence. I know that such an idea between a husband and wife is considered blasphemy in this evil and sexually perverted world, but this is an option and a workable one for any couple who loves God and His Truth and considers their relationship with each other to be more than mere gonads.

The Church clearly teaches that "...every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil" (Catechism 2370).

The Catechism concludes this topic by reminding us that "Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception)."

If you made a choice to elect to have a Tubal ligation (sterilization), then I would advise that you seek the Sacrament of Confession. To purposely sterilize yourself, even for what may seem like good intentions is "morally unacceptable" and grave matter.

What is done is done, but you need to reconcile with God concerning what you have done and return to His friendship. God loves you and waits for your return to His arms.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum