Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 12/29/2007

Question
I am in a lay ministry group discussing the question on how the Magisterium has claimed that the tradition has been constant in upholding the moral illegitimacy of  artificial contraception. My question is what are the grounds for this argument against the moral permissibility of artificial contraception; and how would these arguments hold up with the recent writings of the recent popes; and what would be the pro and con for the use of artificial contraception? This question is over my head, my only salvation is I can use any source I want as long as I let my group know where I got my information.

Answer
Peace.

dear Rich,
  First, I thank you for your honesty, when you wrote:"This question is over my head,..", it encourages mine. I know the "arguments" pretty well, but only verbally. Yet I attempted  recently post something as requested by a friend. The following on my blog, I pray its of some use to you:

Some Morality Statements of Vatican II

Vatican II stated that there should not be any support for public or private organizations that try to control population that use means contrary to the natural/moral law. Contraception, sterilization, abortion, and euthanasia are all against natural/moral law. Planned Parenthood, Call to Action, the United Nations, and National Organization of Women are perfect examples of such organizations. The idea that the Council taught that a person could follow the subjective dictates of their conscience on moral and religious issues and still be in good standing with the Church is false. Vatican II called for a knowing and objective conscience based upon God’s law, Church teaching, not one that relies upon feelings and blind impulses.
CONTRACEPTION



"sons of the Church may not undertake methods of birth control which are found blameworthy by the teaching authority of the Church in its unfolding of the divine law." Gaudium et Spes 51


POPULATION CONTROL

"But there are many today who maintain that the increase in world population, or at least the population increase in some countries, must be radically curbed by every means possible and by any kind of intervention on the part of public authority. In view of this contention, the council urges everyone to guard against solutions, whether publicly or privately supported, or at times even imposed, which are contrary to the moral law. For in keeping with man's inalienable right to marry and generate children, a decision concerning the number of children they will have depends on the right judgment of the parents and it cannot in any way be left to the judgment of public authority." Gaudium et Spes 87
CONSCIENCE



"In the formation of their consciences, the Christian faithful ought carefully to attend to the sacred and certain doctrine of the Church. For the Church is, by the will of Christ, the teacher of the truth. It is her duty to give utterance to, and authoritatively to teach, that truth which is Christ Himself, and also to declare and confirm by her authority those principles of the moral order ..." Dignitatis Humanae 14



"For man has in his heart a law written by God; to obey it is the very dignity of man; according to it he will be judged.”. .. Hence man's dignity demands that he act according to a knowing and free choice that is personally motivated and prompted from within, not under blind internal impulse nor by mere external pressure." Gaudium et Spes17



"Hence the more right conscience holds sway, the more persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and strive to be guided by the objective norms of morality. Conscience frequently errs from invincible ignorance without losing its dignity. The same cannot be said for a man who cares but little for truth and goodness, or for a conscience which by degrees grows practically sightless as a result of habitual sin." Gaudium et Spes17



"Undeniably, those who willfully shut out God from their hearts and try to dodge religious questions are not following the dictates of their consciences, and hence are not free of blame; yet believers themselves frequently bear some responsibility for this situation." Gaudium et Spes 19


Also, I would highly recommend:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Birth_Control.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/Contraception_and_Sterilization.asp


my blog is: http://ravjerome.multiply.com/

                            your servant but His first
                                      George