official teaching on contraception?

[kamikat]

Do the Anglican or Episcopalian churches have official teachings on non-abortive birth control (ie not the pill or IUD)?
Does the Old Catholic Church have the same teachings as the RCC?
thanks!
kamikat

[Father Rick]

For the OC's... while this will vary to a degree with jurisdiction, as a rule contraception is left to the individual's conscience.

[SeenAndUnseen]

Here is something I was able to find, relating to the 1930 Lambeth Conference: Lambeth on Contraception (http://justus.anglican.org/resources/pc/gore/contra1930.html). It is a lot to read, but a good indicator of the atmosphere surrounding this newly relaxed stance on contraception (and not just of the non-abortive kind. At this time in history, merely desiring to limit the size of one's family was a major scandal and sinful.)

I can't find anything more recent, except vague references to Lambeth having opened the floodgates for the current trends in Protestant views of contraception. These "suggestions" seem to point mostly to the ECLA official statement: "When [having children] is not their intention, the responsible use of safe, effective contraceptives is expected of the male and the female. Respect and sensitivity should also be shown toward couples who do not feel called to conceive and/or rear children, or who are unable to do so." (This is of Lutheran origin, but is widely applied to the Protestant belief in quotes found on the web.)

[Wigglesworth]

In the PNCC, contraception is at the discretion of the married couple.

:crossrc:

[Fish and Bread]

ECUSA generally considers the purpose of sex within a marriage to be primarily unitative -- i.e. two fleshes becoming one -- secondly, an expression of love and joy, and thirdly, in some cases, when God wills it, procreative. This is implicit in the Book of Common Prayer, I feel, though I don't recall a page number off the top of my head to reference. In other words, we believe sex has the same three basic purposes the RCC believes it has, but in a different order of emphasis. We see that even in nature not every act of love making results in a new being. Even the term "love making" generally implies that unity and love are the primary factors in the sex act. One usually doesn't call sex "making babies" except under very specific circumstances. :) So, clearly, though procreation can be one purpose of sex, it is not *the*, or even the primary, purpose of sex, which is a very important theological point. God does not intend for all sex to result in babies.

The result of this difference in emphasis is that when for whatever reason a couple feels that having children would be an undue strain on the family as a whole, it is generally acknowledged that a) they should be able to abstain from having children they can't feed, cloth, and/or love fully at any given time and b) the married couple should still be able to grow in unity and love for each other and express that physically as well as spiritually and emotionally. No one should be forced to have children they don't want (Except where birth control fails) and no one should be forced to live like a married monk. So, the mainstream Episcopalian view is that birth control is acceptable for married couples. I personally would go beyond that and say it could even be considered a gift from God.

That said, however, we do not have an official position as such on this issue and we do welcome members who feel they are not morally able to accept artificial birth control as an acceptable practice (the Roman Catholic position), even though such members are a distinct minority. ECUSA as a whole tends to be very welcoming of many points of view on issues like this, which are generally considered non-essential to the Christian faith.

John

[Fish and Bread]

"Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirms resolution C047 from the 69th General Convention, which states:
All human life is sacred from its inception until death. The Church takes seriously its obligation to help form the consciences of its members concerning this sacredness. Human life, therefore, should be initiated only advisedly and in full accord with this understanding of the power to conceive and give birth which is bestowed by God." (Italicization done by the poster)

In other words birth control is not only acceptable, but even adviseable in some instances. However, as I said, individual Episcopalians are free in Christ to disagree with this teaching, as it is not considered binding. We are a "big tent" church that allows great latitude on non-essential teachings. :) Generally, as we believe Christ did, we take every opportunity to welcome people into the sheep fold, so long as they believe the essentials of the Christian faith as we understand them. :)

John

[Aymn27]

Do the Anglican or Episcopalian churches have official teachings on non-abortive birth control (ie not the pill or IUD)?
Does the Old Catholic Church have the same teachings as the RCC?
thanks!
kamikat
Just as a point reference..the pill does act as an abortificant - and there is no scientific study (to my knowledge) that deals with the percentage that it does abort...

Aaron

[Fish and Bread]

Just as a point reference..the pill does act as an abortificant - and there is no scientific study (to my knowledge) that deals with the percentage that it does abort...

It depends which birth control pill you're talking about. My understanding is that there are many different types of birth control pills which prevent pregnancies using many different methods. Some do prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the womb, but some do not prevent implantation. I would encourage every couple considering birth control to carefully investigate the type of birth control which they feel is right for them by reading up on how each type works. Personally, I feel strongly that birth control which prevents conception but not implantation should be preferred as I feel there is a very important moral distinction there.

John

[kamikat]

Thanks to all who responded to my question! This has given lots of food for thought.
kamikat

[AngCath]

ECUSA generally considers the purpose of sex within a marriage to be primarily unitative -- i.e. two fleshes becoming one -- secondly, an expression of love and joy, and thirdly, in some cases, when God wills it, procreative. This is implicit in the Book of Common Prayer, I feel, though I don't recall a page number off the top of my head to reference

That is in the marriage rite beginning p. 423. I'm guessing that you are refering to The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children...

[Fish and Bread]

That is in the marriage rite beginning p. 423. I'm guessing that you are refering to The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children...

Yes, that is exactly the quote I was thinking of. Thank you. :)

John

[Aymn27]

It depends which birth control pill you're talking about. My understanding is that there are many different types of birth control pills which prevent pregnancies using many different methods. Some do prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the womb, but some do not prevent implantation. I would encourage every couple considering birth control to carefully investigate the type of birth control which they feel is right for them by reading up on how each type works. Personally, I feel strongly that birth control which prevents conception but not implantation should be preferred as I feel there is a very important moral distinction there.

John
Agreed....I guess I should have clarified that there were two types..most, from my understanding, however, prevent implantation rather than prevent fertilization...which is, as you stated, very important if you are pro-life.

Aaron

[Rev. Smith]

Every Old Catholic jurisdiction I know of believes that using any reasonable means to prevent conception is proper family planning, and up to the family. My jurisdiction opposes abortion except in the case of danger to the life of the mother (we can not require the greatest act of love, to offer ones life for another).

We view sex as a blessing from God for the love, joy, bonding and happiness of His children, within marriage. Contraception preserves that blessing where having children, or more children would be ill advised.

[trooper]

I am absolutely opposed; I follow the RCC thoughts on this one. Though, I remain peacably the only one in my parish to have such thoughts. Though I am not always fond of the saying, the big tent idea works well on this one.

[PaladinValer]

I've got no problem with condoms and other similar forms personally.

If it is an abortive however, I am opposed.

[Wigglesworth]

The Mary Foundation offers a free tape, Marriage and the Eucharist (http://www.catholicity.com/maryfoundation/marriage.html), that has a good explanation of the reasons for the RC prohibition of artificial contraception. The message on the tape is based on the idea that sex is a sacrament.