Catholic Church and Artificial Birth Control Methods Research Paper

Catholic Church and Artificial Birth Control Methods - Research Paper Example The Catholic Church is emphatic on the notion that birth control is not only wrong but also a grave sin. This paper will discuss the Catholic Church or doctrine and its emphasis on the ban of artificial birth control methods. From the date of its inception, the Catholic Church has insisted that birth control is a sin. Birth control and its methods have been understood from the times of ancient Roman and Greek empires. During this period, birth control was undertaken using condoms made from animal skin and other poisons that were used as spermicidal. The Catholic Church has followed the first mention of birth control issues recorded in genesis 38:8-10. According to the catholic doctrine, this is where birth control methods have been banned in the bible. Here Onan was instructed to engage in sexual intercourse with the widow of his brother. However, in that activity, Onan withdrew his penis so that he could not impregnate her. This resulted to the slain of Onan (Jutte 142). The Catholi c Church also cites Deuteronomy 23:1 that says that a person who crushes his testicles or cuts off his member will not be allowed in the Assembly of God. Crushing testicles and cutting off the member were considered as effective ways of sterilization at that time. Therefore, the Catholic Church states that this verse is clear on the Bible’s stand on birth control issues. The ban on birth control methods were also reiterated by the Catholic Church leaders in their time. For instance, the Clement of Alexandria in 195 AD said that the seed has a divine institution towards the propagation of human species. Therefore, the seed should not be ejaculated vainly, damaged or be wasted. This assertion agrees with the song of Monty Python called Every Sperm is Sacred. During the industrial revolution in 1930, Pope Pius XI was angered by the acceptance of birth control by other churches of the Christian doctrine (Tentler 7). This made him put a casti connubii in December 1930 that read, à ¢â‚¬Å"†¦ 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 that 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.† (Genovesi 174) The Catholic Church has hold on to the ban even in modern times. The catholic doctrine states that God created sex for the procreation of children and maintain the chastity of marriage. It is in this sense that the Catholic Church forbids sex outside marriage. This is because the church emphasizes that the teachings of birth control methods should be taught and understood in t he context of marriage specifically for the husband and his wife. However, the modern day Catholic Church has slightly changed on its emphasis on birth control methods. The traditional Catholic Church did not allow for any birth control method. On the other hand, the modern Catholic Church allows married couples to use natural birth control methods (Rengel 198). The modern day Catholic Church states clearly that it does not condemn the use of pills or condoms. This