Unlawful, Artificial Birth Control

A claim made by Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae that seemed to be of particular importance is the unlawfulness of artificial birth control. As he outlines and explains in the text, the use of artificial forms of birth control can drive a marriage into the ground, lead young people down a morally destructive path, and cause men to forget the respect that women deserve, among other things. As Pope Paul VI states, “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…need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law” (Paragraph 17). By claiming that artificial birth control is unlawful and immoral in the eyes of God, the Pope hopes followers will be deterred from exploring methods of contraception. Later in the paragraph, Pope Paul VI goes on to express his worry of contraceptives becoming legal and readily available by actions of the government. “It could well happen, therefore, that when people…experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife” (Paragraph 17). This quote shows that the Pope believes the divine law should translate directly to the laws put in place by the government. Also, the fact that though something or some action may be deemed legal by the government may not be “legal” or moral in regards to the divine law.

This claim made by Pope Paul VI closely relates to the issue of gay marriage in the United States. In terms of divine law, matrimony is defined as the union of one man and one woman. Just as the divine law does not support same sex marriage, it does not support the use of artificial methods of birth control. However, in today’s world, states are beginning to pass marriage amendments, which allow people of the same sex to marry and be recognized by the state as legally married couples, just as contraceptives are legal and readily available to people of all ages. Both contraceptives and gay marriage are viewed as taboo by the church. Gay marriage in recent years has become more recognized, respected and supported, similar to contraceptives in the sense that pregnancy and STD prevention groups are pushing the use of contraceptives for everyone who has chosen to be sexually active.

For several reasons, the issue of contraceptives is highly controversial. In the eyes of the Pope and people who identify with him, the idea of artificial methods of birth control has a negative connotation because of the affects it has on relationships, including, but not limited to, marriage of a man to a woman, a young person to his or her morals, etc. The Pope and his supporters hope that by eliminating sex without the sole purpose of procreation, it would in turn eliminate jealously, disrespect, or any ill feelings in a relationship. People who support the availability and use of contraceptives value personal choice and the ability to protect oneself from pregnancy and disease if the decision to be sexually active is made.

After reading about the Pope’s strong views against artificial methods of birth control, I have started to wonder what his views on artificial insemination would be. Having children is important to many people and has even become a body practice among women who feel that’s its necessary to have children in order to please themselves, their spouse, their own parents, their friends who have children of their own, etc. If the Pope does not support artificial birth control, would he support artificial procreation?