catholic church and contraception

Should catholics be allowed to use contraception? Some in the catholic church say no, but I believe that they should. I am a catholic and I just can not see having so many kids just because you do not want to use protection.

 

It's a stupid ruling in my opinion

 

That is pretty much my opinion as well. I feel that if you are using a protection then you are just taking care of yourself and know how many you can afford.

 

Way to buy into the stereotype. Actually, most Roman Catholics are using contraception. Their birthrate shows it. The Roman Catholic birthrate isn't anywhere near what it used to be. Mormons and Evangelical Protestants now have a higher birth rate than Catholics (at least in the United States).

And as for being able to "afford" a certain number of kids, I don't recall anything in the Old or New Testaments about means-testing on parenthood. Some would even consider children a blessing, rather than a debt to be worked on.

 

First off I consider children a blessing but I can not afford to have them and do not want others to be paying on them so that is why I use contraception. And I am a catholic, so I can say this. And futhermore, I am not stereotyping. I know a few catholic families that have tons of kids because they do not believe in using contraception!

 

The Vatican has always been opposed to birth control of all kinds. Pope Ratzinger has even gone so far as to claim that prophylactics can not hinder the spread of AIDS in Africa, but in fact make it worse! Personally I don't care about prophylactic use among Catholics in developed countries, or whether or not it is used as a form of birth control, but when the Pope makes claims like this regarding the efficacy of prophylactics in preventing the spread of deadly diseases, I take issue.

 

No, you are not. Simply saying it doesn't make it so. You don't believe what Catholics believe. You don't practice what they preach. Without that, what could possibly make you think you're Roman Catholic? And I'm not saying I agree with the Roman Catholic belief system. I don't. I'm ordained in a tradition that doesn't always have the best relationship with Roman Catholics. But let's be intellectually honest here. The Roman Catholic Church is an institution to which one voluntarily submits at joining. Give up that submission (which you have by your beliefs), and you've left them. At best, you're a lapsed Catholic.

 

How do you know that, am I missing something?

 

Do not tell me that I am not a catholic. I am fully one. I do not have to believe in all that they say. I am highly offended. You have no idea. Do not make judegements like that and tell me what I am or am not.

 

KLJ,

I guess you are going to need to tell some of the newer members your background!

 

Yes I would love to know KLJs background very much. Then we can all say what KLJ is and is not, just like was done to me!

 

Don't let it eat at you Angie. If you say you're a Catholic and proud of it good for you. This coming from a guy that doesn't claim any religion.
I look at you as a Catholic that thinks way outside the Catholic box. Good for you. Maybe Catholasism needs that.

 

If you believe that you are a Catholic then that is what you are, now I know what KLJ's background is but that certainly gives him no right to tell a person that they are not of a given religion. I was baptised twice to keep my family's happy once Church of England and once Catholic but I reject both yet according to a Catholic priest of my aquaintence I am still a Catholic in the eye's of the church LOL I wonder just how many people of any given religion follow all the tennets of that religion to the letter The only way to stop been a Catholic is to be excomunicated by the Pope LOL (it's worse than the Mafia)

Quick ps even the Pontifs do not allways agree with the way thing are run and change things to suit the circimstances of the day, it might be slow to adapt but over time it happens.

 

On the other hand (not to be argumentative, just playing "devil's advocate" here), what does it mean to be a catholic? Just because you call yourself something doesn't make it true. I mean, you can self-identify as a catholic, but I could call myself a genius too if I wanted. Doesn't make it true.

I guess what I'm asking is, what defines a Catholic? Do you have to attend a Catholic church regularly? Angie could say that she agrees with a lot of what the Catholic church preaches, but not all - but technically, so could a protestant. (They are both christians after all.)

 

As I dont count myself as one I cant answer that LOL but I do believe there is a bit of a difference between having a belief system that you adhere to in some fashion and calling yourself a genius

 

Poor example I know, just trying to illustrate a point. I guess I should have said, I could say that I am a Catholic, but that wouldn't have much truth to it.

 

Then you would in only be lying to yourself and I dont see the point in that LOL

 

What if I don't believe that I'm lying to myself?

 

If you dont believe you are lying to yourself then you must believe it to be true you are either schitzoid or actualy are catholic LOL

 

So how do you tell the difference?