THE CHURCH'S CRIMINAL STANCE
AGAINST CONTRACEPTION

While many branches of Christianity have abandoned outdated opinions and teachings about contraceptives, there are a select few groups that still cling onto a warped mentality. Catholicism strictly prohibits the use of condoms not just because they may prevent a "holy" conception from coming into fruition, but they also like to pretend that teaching people - especially youths - about condoms and other forms of birth control will ultimately fuel people to go run amok and have copious amounts of mindless sex. In the early 1900s, contraceptives were associated with promiscuous behavior and therefore grew to build a poor reputation with the seemingly conservative public. However, in the 1930s, the Anglican Church had passed a resolution in support of birth control, citing that the use of contraceptives is acceptable only "when there is a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence." Most Protestant branches of the Church eased up on their once strict oversight of the issue (The Catholic Church and Birth Control), though Catholics and Evangelicals held onto their abrasive arguments. The resistance of the Catholic Church to embrace the health issues surrounding contraceptive use are unnatural and are continuing a wave of death and disaster.

The Catholic Church defines contraception as "'any action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act [sexual intercourse], or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible' (Humanae Vitae 14). This includes sterilization, condoms and other barrier methods, spermicides, coitus interruptus (withdrawal method), the Pill, and all other such methods." (Catholic Answers) This view makes it clear that sex without intent to make a child is plain wrong, a view that could not be further from the natural truth.

According to the Roman Catholic Church, the only acceptable form of contraception is abstinence (Religious Views on Birth Control). The Church also states that "Contraception is wrong because it’s a deliberate violation of the design God built into the human race, often referred to as "natural law." The natural law purpose of sex is procreation. The pleasure that sexual intercourse provides is an additional blessing from God, intended to offer the possibility of new life while strengthening the bond of intimacy, respect, and love between husband and wife" (Catholic Answers). For man to step in between natural occurrences and attempt to dictate what should happen between two people, that is unnatural.

The almost inseparable union of church and state has only amplified the dangers of anti-contraceptive standpoints. Catholic hospitals, bishops and politicians have been proven to go to any length necessary to defend their opinions, even going so far as to obstruct women from obtaining prescriptions or any access to contraceptives. Last year, in 2012, The Catholic Health Association rejected a proposal from the President that would have provided birth control coverage for their female employees (CBS News). While this is clearly an attack on female freedom, the Church argued at the time that the introduction of such legislature would be an attack on "religious freedom."

Notable Catholic politicians have been publicly opposed to birth control, yet ignore various other teachings of the Church. Rick Santorum, for example, a Catholic Republican, harshly argues against contraceptive use. He is quoted as saying, “One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country.” And also, “Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that’s okay, contraception is okay. It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be” (Salon). These are very strong oppositions to something as human as women's rights, especially coming from somebody who went against the US Conference of Bishops' statement that minimum wage should be increased. Santorum has voted against increasing the minimum wage time and time again.