Catholics and Non-Catholics...maybe you can help me out on this one?

Question

I am very religious, but I am not Catholic. I have a question about Catholics though. Why do they abstain from using birth control, but then have sex outside of marriage. It seems so contradictory to me to claim to not use birth-control due to religious reasons, but then have sex and make babies out of wedlock, and not have any problem with that.

Answer 1

I've often wondered that myself. If one believes that (a) birth control is forbidden and (b) abortion is a mortal sin, but ignores that (c) pre-marital sex is sinful, well the consequences are obvious and predictable. Consistency is necessary.

I think it's selectivity. As with my stepmom who used to wake me up early for Easter Mass but would sleep in the other 51 Sundays. As with the reverend minister who preaches simplicity but drives an SUV. As with millions spent to build a church in an impoverished area that could deal with a smaller church and a little help with heating bills.

People like this don't witness well for their faiths, so don't let them form your opinion of their more observent brethren and sestren.

The church's line (and probably one many Christians would support, even if they don't find birth control to be against Scripture) is called 'Theology of the Body' and holds that sex is intended for married couples to 1) procreate and 2) complete marital union. Therefore, sex is only to be in marriage, and only Natural Family Planning (not the rhythm method - it's a biofeedback and charting system, and has performed well in tests) is allowed except in circumstances where a pregnancy would endanger the woman's health (ie she has a heart condition). I've heard some say it's also allowed if there is a high probability of congenital birth defects, but these arguments always draw a sharp rebuke because all human life, no matter the condition, is a sacred gift.

You may have heard that the Church wants people to have lots of kids - that's an old stereotype and reflected a society when that was possible and desired. No, the Church wants strong marriages where the union is enjoyed and edified, which is a balance between an excessively stressful family and an unhealthy preponderence on sex, which artifical 'failsafe' birth control is proposed to bring.

Food for thought.

Answer 2

Not all Catholics engage in premarital sex just as not all Baptists or any other faith do. It is Church teaching that sex is only for marriage. You will find that people everywhere pick and choose. By the same context not all Catholics abstain from birth control. There is even Natural Family Planning which many use with Church consent. It is all natural, causes no abortions/miscarriages, and is 99% effective if done correctly. Give us the benefit of a doubt. No one should generalize any religion. That's like asking if all Protestant ministers are like the Televangelists one sees on TV.

Answer 3

Not only Catholics believe in not using birth controll. Biblically, sex is for procreation not recreation and using birth controll says you are only interested in the recreational part of it.

As far as people who have sex out of wedlock, it is a sin it is not part of Catholic or Christian-noncatholic doctrine that this is ok. But like everyone, we pick and choose which sins we enjoy and which we dont.

I have always had a similar question, why will Catholics commit any other sin anyone else does and yet, try and give them a cheeseburger on Friday during lent and they freak!? THAT'S not even a Biblical teaching, but they sooner obey that then other rules.

Answer 4

Just because Catholics are not supposed to use birth control doesn't mean that they don't. And there are as many non- Catholics having babies out of wedlock as Catholics. i mean think about what you asked.. If they didn't practice birth control then would have 14-or more children, like the Christian family of 18 now, who said that they, will have as many as God will give us.

Answer 5

I don't know exactly the reason for no birth control at all, but I do know that Catholic teachings include not having sex outside of marriage. What you're talking about is the result of people following one teaching and not the other.

Answer 6

Many Catholics don't follow what the Catholic Church teaches because their are a lot more sinners than saints in the Church. This is no different than in the time of Jesus where many didn't except His teachings and many left Him because they didn't want to accept the teachings. But the teachings are still true.

No Christian Church ever accepted contraception as morally permissible before 1930.

The Catholic Church is the rock like Jesus who founded the Church, that's why the Church is counter-cultural and resistant to changing just because of trends in society.

Just because there are Catholics who don't follow the teachings of the Church doesn't mean that those teachings are not the truth.

But the Catholic Church is not unreasonable, we have Natural Family Planning which is about 99% effective. Don't confuse it with the "rhythm method".

The Couple to Couple League website tells all about NFP:
http://ccli.org/

Also, try reading "Theology of the Body" by John Paul II

or "Theology of the Body for Beginners" by Christopher West

Answer 7

Not all Catholics act in the manner you've suggested. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that most of them who are having premarital sex are using birthcontrol.

I do agree with you, however, that that behavior seems contradictory, especially since the core belief that forms these two religious rules is the same. The Catholic Church believes that the primary purpose of sex is procreation within marriage. Therefore, the church teaches against any sexual act that is not open to procreation and takes place within marriage.

Answer 8

That is simply the "human nature" and has nothing to do with any religion or religiousness. Most people are liars or they talk the talk but don't walk the walk.

By the way (I'm not pointing the catholics themselves) but know that rome is no longer a church of GOd so there is no wonder there is so much sin. Our priests rape boys, here and all over the world. WHy??? Cause they are not in the Lord, but in a lying church that don't live by faith, truth and Jesus, but by controling, lying, and keeping people ignorant from the truth.

Answer 9

I don't think that you're talking about the same people. I'm not Catholic, but I think those that obey the doctrine of not using birth control also abstain from pre-marital sex. The ones that do have pre-marital sex probably don't care about using birth control. Every religion has people that do and do not live their beliefs

Answer 10

Not all people that claim to be Catholics adhere to the tenants of the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church. [If you meant one of the fifty or so other groups whose abridged name is "Catholic Church", specify which one.]

The people who have sex out of wedlock are committing a sin, in the eyes of the Catholic Church. A child born out of wedlock is in for major problems with the Catholic Church. They can be neither confirmed, nor baptized.

The abstention from Birth Control is a little more complicated.
The theology looks at two statements:
i) "Thy shalt not kill."
ii) "Put all of your faith in God".

* Abortion is seen as killing the unborn fetus.
* Using birth control is seen as both killing the unborn fetus, and not puting your faith in God. If one had faith in God, one would not have a baby, unless it was God's will for you to have one.

Before anybody says "but birth control prevents babies", every known contraceptive method has a known failure rate. The Catholic position is that the failure rate is because God did intend for that woman to have that child --- even if the child is a result of sin.