Is contraception permitted?

[She]

I wonder whether anyone can let me know what the official line is in the EO Church regarding contraception. Are middle-aged women expected to put themselves at risk from pregnancy, when doctors tell them to stop having children, for medical reasons?

Are there any special circumstances where women are permitted to use certain, ethical forms of artificial contraception? If so, which methods are allowed?

[Grigorii]

There is no the official Orthodox view on this. There are Orthodox Christians with opinions on the matter. Fr. William Basil Zion (OCA) has written a very, very good book and treats this subject (I can't remember the title,.. I'll look). Fr. Zion advocates that it is permissable, as does Fr. John Breck (I think), and Abuna Matthew the Poor (Coptic).

Many priests, theologians, and lay-people would not agree with them however. Personally, my wife and I have no problem with contraception, given it is not a form of 'abortion'. The tradition of the Church forbids that kind of contraception, and continues to do so today.

Grigorii

[NHB_MMA]

The OC condemns contraception, from everything I have read, and this is one of the areas I disagree with the OC on and I don't think my mind will be swayed. However, I believe from what I read on the theological questions portion of the OCA web site, a couple is not automatically excluded from receiving the Eucharist and Church activities if they have discussed the matter with their priest. The RCC has a much more hardline position and one has to fully accept the RCC positions on marriage and family to join the RCC. That is one of several reasons why I'm pretty sure I've written-off the RCC for myself. Of course I could just join and do whatever I please in my private life with a matter like birth control, like undoubtedly millions upon millions of Catholics do, but I am seeking a church I can embrace the teachings of more fully.

[Philip]

It is a matter between a married couple, their priest, and God.

[NHB_MMA]

Personally, my wife and I have no problem with contraception, given it is not a form of 'abortion'.

It wasn't until I read up on the matter that I learned many forms of birth control discharge a fertilized egg, so I'm glad to have at least learned more about the matter than my Nazarene upbringing which never spoke anything on the matter.

[She]

There is no the official Orthodox view on this. There are Orthodox Christians with opinions on the matter. Fr. William Basil Zion (OCA) has written a very, very good book and treats this subject (I can't remember the title,.. I'll look). Fr. Zion advocates that it is permissable, as does Fr. John Breck (I think), and Abuna Matthew the Poor (Coptic).

Many priests, theologians, and lay-people would not agree with them however. Personally, my wife and I have no problem with contraception, given it is not a form of 'abortion'. The tradition of the Church forbids that kind of contraception, and continues to do so today.

Grigorii

Your Church's attitude towards contraception seems very similar to the Anglican Church. They, also, object to abortificient methods of birth control.

Thank you for your honest reply. :)

[She]

The OC condemns contraception, from everything I have read, and this is one of the areas I disagree with the OC on and I don't think my mind will be swayed. However, I believe from what I read on the theological questions portion of the OCA web site, a couple is not automatically excluded from receiving the Eucharist and Church activities if they have discussed the matter with their priest. The RCC has a much more hardline position and one has to fully accept the RCC positions on marriage and family to join the RCC. That is one of several reasons why I'm pretty sure I've written-off the RCC for myself. Of course I could just join and do whatever I please in my private life with a matter like birth control, like undoubtedly millions upon millions of Catholics do, but I am seeking a church I can embrace the teachings of more fully.

The Roman Catholic Church certainly does take a very hard line on this subject. The Pope wrote an infallible encyclical in 1968 on the subject of contraception (Humanae Vitae) in which he referred to any artificial contraception or sterilization as "intrinsically evil". This has led many devout Catholics to believe that artificial contraception is a mortal sin. Therefore, some Catholics have been unable to receive Holy Communion as it is considered to be a sacrilege if the person is in a state of mortal sin. This has caused many Catholics to become lapsed or to leave the Roman Catholic Church.

I wanted some idea of how things are in our sister church. Your church is as old as the Roman Church but does not seem to be as unreasonable and unyielding as the Roman Catholic Church.

Thanks for your reply. :)

[She]

It is a matter between a married couple, their priest, and God.

If only the Roman Catholic Church was this simple! :sigh:

[kamikat]

I wonder whether anyone can let me know what the official line is in the EO Church regarding contraception. Are middle-aged women expected to put themselves at risk from pregnancy, when doctors tell them to stop having children, for medical reasons?

Are there any special circumstances where women are permitted to use certain, ethical forms of artificial contraception? If so, which methods are allowed?

you've already been given good answers here. I just wanted to say thank you for coming to TAW and asking this instead continuing about it on GT.

kamikat

[Filia Mariae]

The Roman Catholic Church certainly does take a very hard line on this subject. The Pope wrote an infallible encyclical in 1968 on the subject of contraception (Humanae Vitae) in which he referred to any artificial contraception or sterilization as "intrinsically evil". This has led many devout Catholics to believe that artificial contraception is a mortal sin. Therefore, some Catholics have been unable to receive Holy Communion as it is considered to be a sacrilege if the person is in a state of mortal sin. This has caused many Catholics to become lapsed or to leave the Roman Catholic Church.

I wanted some idea of how things are in our sister church. Your church is as old as the Roman Church but does not seem to be as unreasonable and unyielding as the Roman Catholic Church.

Thanks for your reply. :)

Well, you seem to have changed your tune. Not long ago, you were asserting that Humane Vitae was not infallible. :scratch: And BTW, I don't think anything you've written above is a newsflash to anyone.

[gzt]

though one should be careful about saying that we "approve" of birth control, lest it be taken as license to refuse to ever have children or some other sort of unconditional permission. rather, here is what fr. john matusiak says about the issue: The control of the conception of a child by any means is also condemned by the Church if it means the lack of fulfillment in the family, the hatred of children, the fear of responsibility, the desire for sexual pleasure as purely fleshly, lustful satisfaction, etc.

Again, however, married people practicing birth control are not necessarily deprived of Holy Communion, if in conscience before God and with the blessing of their spiritual father, they are convinced that their motives are not entirely unworthy. Here again, however, such a couple cannot pretend to justify themselves in the light of the absolute perfection of the Kingdom of God.

http://oca.org/QA.asp?ID=147&SID=3

[She]

Well, you seem to have changed your tune. Not long ago, you were asserting that Humane Vitae was not infallible. :scratch: And BTW, I don't think anything you've written above is a newsflash to anyone.

For your information, I do not, personally, believe that the Pope is infallible. Therefore, obviously, I do not believe that Humanae Vitae is infallible. I was stating what most Roman Catholics believe.

BTW, if I want your opinion, I will post in OBOB.

Thank you.

[OrthodoxyUSA]

She,

Welcome to TAW!

I knew you would find it!

Forgive me...

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Well, you seem to have changed your tune. Not long ago, you were asserting that Humane Vitae was not infallible. :scratch: And BTW, I don't think anything you've written above is a newsflash to anyone.

And you are in TAW, chastising our guest?

Please be nice or leave.

Forgive me...

[She]

She,

Welcome to TAW!

I knew you would find it!

Forgive me...

Thank you. I'm looking for a good Church to bring my children up in. The Orthodox Church seems very good. I am a former Roman Catholic but I do not agree with all their infallible statements. (I do not think that it is right for them to be so unreasonable with regards to middle-aged women using ethical contraception.)

My only problem is that, in England, the Orthodox Church is hard to find. Also, if I cannot find one which has services in the English language then my children will not be able to understand them. But I will keep looking and hoping.

[kamikat]

Thank you. I'm looking for a good Church to bring my children up in.


When I was trying to remain Catholic, my children were one of the reasons I didn't feel comfortable staying. Did I want them to be in a church where they or I might not feel comfortable with the clergy? Would I ever feel comfortable letting them be alter boys? Was this the theology I wanted them to learn? Was this the church experience I wanted them to have. I remember hating going to mass.
So far, my experience with children at the Divine Liturgy hasbeen very positive. My little one tends to hang out at the front of the church with a bunch of other little ones and the Sunday school director. He always finds them things to do to keep them occupied, like putting out candles. My older son loves the music and the icons. He may not be getting everything from the service, but he always asks tons of questions about the icons and learns that way. It's been said here that we may have a more relaxed view on kids because our priests are married and usually have a few of their own.
kamikat

[Akathist]

Thank you. I'm looking for a good Church to bring my children up in. The Orthodox Church seems very good. I am a former Roman Catholic but I do not agree with all their infallible statements. (I do not think that it is right for them to be so unreasonable with regards to middle-aged women using ethical contraception.)

My only problem is that, in England, the Orthodox Church is hard to find. Also, if I cannot find one which has services in the English language then my children will not be able to understand them. But I will keep looking and hoping.

I sent a pm with links to English Speaking Orthodox Churches near you. Let us know what you think when you visit one or more of them.

Then I thought about it and decided we might have lurkers and others from Great Britton who would like the link too: http://www.orthodoxengland.btinternet.co.uk/direct.htm

[Grigorii]

Fr. Stanley Harakas, a well-known author on Orthodox ethics writes concerning contraception:

"Because of the lack of a full understanding of the implications of the biology of reproduction, earlier writers tended to identify abortion with contraception. However, of late a new view has taken hold among Orthodox writers and thinkers on this topic, which permits the use of certain contraceptive practices within marriage for the purpose of spacing children, enhancing the expression of marital love, and protecting health."

In his article: The Stand of the Orthodox Church on Controversial Issues on the goarch.org website.

Grigorii

[buzuxi02]

there are 2 lines of thought currently in Orthodoxy on this subject. One is a stricter approach from a monastic point of view that contraception should be forbidden. Most Orthodox churches allow for a limited use of contraception for spacing out births or if the couple has already had children. This second position is more popular and a bishop may promote any of the 2 views. This can be seen as a form of "eikonomia" depending on financial and geographical situation. A village with a decreasing population compared to a couple living in a big city, both these positions can co-exist. Of course the flushing out of a feritilized egg is prohibited. only contraceptive inteneded to prevent an egg from being fertilized is allowed not after

[Monica, child of God]

Obviously I am no one's priest but I wanted to say a couple of things.

Remember that the use of birth control, even when granted economia, is a departure from the wholeness of marital intimacy. There are times in this fallen world when pregnancy is not the best option (such as when the health of the mother or potential child is/would be at risk). But bc often cloaks a hatred for children, selfishness in the marriage and/or fear of God's providence.

Second, don't assume that economia will or should be granted just because you want it. After sharing all of your concerns with your priest you might be surprised at his advice.

M.

[Monica, child of God]

"Whoever welcomes a little child in My name, welcomes Me." (Matthew 18:5)