THE EMERGENCE OF CONTRACEPTION (The Hydra-headed problem) AND THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH –cont’d (Sr. Kelechi)
Observing today how rampart and easily accessible contraceptives are, one might be tempted to think that there has been a continuing dispute or disagreement about it since the 1930s, but there has not been. Surveys of this period indicate that as many as 65% of Catholics in the US (and it is safe to estimate 99.9% of Nigerian Catholics) were living in accord with the Church’s teaching, as late as the early sixties and seventies (Nigeria). A book entitled Contraception, written by John Noonan, provides a comprehensive history of the Church’s teaching against contraception. It clearly documents that the Church has been “clear and constant” in its position on contraception, throughout the whole history of the Church.
Agitations for the Church to change its stand on contraception began to rumble in late 1950s to the early 1960s. Among the agitators were some Catholic moral Theologians, medical Doctors and Scientists. The hydra has begun to grow at this stage. Many saw the historical Vatican Council II as the decisive moment for change and indeed the society was saturated with literatures extolling reasons why the Church must change. These write-ups mostly centred on the perceived value of liberal marital sexual union (unhindered by fear of pregnancy) on marriage versus the principle of totality in generation of children in marriage. The argument was for the pill (hormonal contraceptive tablets) as it was believed then not to interfere with the woman’s body and was thought not to affect the marital value of the conjugal intercourse.
Pope John XXIII and at his demise Pope Paul VI wisely decided it was an issue that needed more careful consideration than the Council could handle. So, while endorsing what the Church always taught especially the Castii Connubii and other papal documents, Paul VI set up a special Commission in 1964 whose role was to advise the Pope on this issue of the pill. This led to the publication of Humanae Vitae (On Human Life), the encyclical by Pope Paul VI issued at the height of the agitations and confusion in 1968 to Christians and ‘all Men of good will’ On Human Life – Marriage and procreation. The much-expected “change” did not happen. The hydra has matured! The Pope in this document wisely explained why contraceptive mentality and liberal use of contraception will spell doom for humanity. He also made several declarations that turned out to be quite prophetic! I encourage every responsible adult Catholic to read this document. It is small in volume and costs N500.00 only!
This document, which became a sign of contradiction, caused a major rift in the Church which has not completely healed more than 50 years later. Worse still, many of the predictions made in it about the consequences of liberalised use of contraception have come true and our world is in a terrible mess for it, yet like the Egyptians of old, Man’s heart is still hardened. The fire of arguments generated by this document is still raging in homes and hearts of millions of married people even among our parishioners! Thank God for many of the Church’s loyal sons and daughters who assiduously, continuously defend her stand.
Dear Reader, consider seriously:
What is your stand on contraception? – are you a User, Promoter, Silent Observer while “my people perish in IGNORANCE” (Hosea 4:6)! Yet you can do better -You can stop contracepting, enlighten/educate indeed evangelize your friends and colleagues – Others around you! Wishing you a spirit-filled and peaceful week!