Is birth control immoral?

[phk]

I don't think birth control is immoral.

I understand the Catholic church's position on birth control, but can't really agree with it.

The Catholic church's position is well intended in its own way - that birth control leads effectively to the misuse of sex, and this has happened to a large degree due in some part to birth control.

But there are too many reasons to favor birth control.  Given the low rates of infant and child mortality today, the planet can't support the natural number of children that most people would have without birth control.

The lack of birth control would also lead people to have more children than they could effectively afford to raise, financially and emotionally.  While some big families follow the idealized version of "the Waltons," the reality for many inappropriately big families is much darker.  There is often a great deal of abuse, neglect and deprivation, both material and emotional, in families that are too large for the parents to handle.

Yes!

[dazzleman]

I don't think birth control is immoral.

I understand the Catholic church's position on birth control, but can't really agree with it.

The Catholic church's position is well intended in its own way - that birth control leads effectively to the misuse of sex, and this has happened to a large degree due in some part to birth control.

But there are too many reasons to favor birth control.  Given the low rates of infant and child mortality today, the planet can't support the natural number of children that most people would have without birth control.

The lack of birth control would also lead people to have more children than they could effectively afford to raise, financially and emotionally.  While some big families follow the idealized version of "the Waltons," the reality for many inappropriately big families is much darker.  There is often a great deal of abuse, neglect and deprivation, both material and emotional, in families that are too large for the parents to handle.

Yes!

If you're agreeing with me, maybe I better rethink my opinion.

[phk]

I don't think birth control is immoral.

I understand the Catholic church's position on birth control, but can't really agree with it.

The Catholic church's position is well intended in its own way - that birth control leads effectively to the misuse of sex, and this has happened to a large degree due in some part to birth control.

But there are too many reasons to favor birth control.  Given the low rates of infant and child mortality today, the planet can't support the natural number of children that most people would have without birth control.

The lack of birth control would also lead people to have more children than they could effectively afford to raise, financially and emotionally.  While some big families follow the idealized version of "the Waltons," the reality for many inappropriately big families is much darker.  There is often a great deal of abuse, neglect and deprivation, both material and emotional, in families that are too large for the parents to handle.

Yes!

If you're agreeing with me, maybe I better rethink my opinion.

Fine with me LOL

[ian]

No, but morning after is.

[WalterMitty]

birth control and the morning after pill are both perfectly acceptable.

[TeePee4Prez]

birth control should also be freely distributed to all citizens.

I feel the same way as well.  Planned Parenthood of SE Pennsylvania should give out literature and condoms outside some of the local Catholic high schools around me.  I swear the pregnancy rates are sickeningly high at some of these schools.  And it's not because like Phil will say "they better keep the damn legs closed", it's because of a lack of education. 

[Keystone Phil]

birth control should also be freely distributed to all citizens.

I feel the same way as well.  Planned Parenthood of SE Pennsylvania should give out literature and condoms outside some of the local Catholic high schools around me.  I swear the pregnancy rates are sickeningly high at some of these schools.  And it's not because like Phil will say "they better keep the damn legs closed", it's because of a lack of education. 

Your obsession with me has to end. Try not to mention me in every post.

You give kids condoms and they suddenly feel like parents don't care about their sexual decisions. Then, without fear of getting caught or whatever, they do it more often.

[dazzleman]

I don't believe in handing out condoms to kids, or anybody for that matter.

I think kids should learn the basics of biology, but I wouldn't want any school handing out condoms to my kids.

Parents can do it if they want, but it implies approval of teenage sexual activity.  Parents should make it as difficult as possible for high schoolers to have sex.  They are not ready emotionally, and for lots of reasons other than possible pregnancy.

[Nym90]

No.

[Brandon H]

Planned Parenthood should not be giving anything out in any schools.

So who else voted "yes"?

[Hitchabrut]

No, but the unborn death pill is.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

no way

[angus]

What do you call people who use the Rythm Method of birth control?

[dazzleman]

What do you call people who use the Rythm Method of birth control?

There were some extremists who even considered the rhythm method wrong.

I think it's more immoral to have kids that you are unable to take care of, and create an overpopulation problem.

[AkSaber]

I was wondering, how is it that birth control pills like the morning after pill or that RU-486 one work? I really don't know.

[angus]

normal birth control works by elevating the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone, so that ovulation is not triggered.  In effect, it tricks the body into thinking it's pregnant so ovulation doesn't occur.  Thus the "milder" periods.  Of course, birth control goes way back.  In the early part of the 20th century birth control devices were simple barriers, preventing sperm deposited in the vagina during sexual intercourse from fertilizing the ovum.  But birth control goes even further back.  Recent archaeological evidence suggests that women may have been using chemical birth control, in the form of herbs known to induce spontaneous abortion, as far back as about 30,000 BC.  These conclusions are highly speculative, of course, but the evidence is compelling.  If you're interested, see Science magazine, sometime around June or July 2004.  I have no idea what RU486 is or does.  It came out long after I graduated college so I never studied it.  Some of these younger science majors may be able to tell you that. 

I have no idea whether any of this is moral, immoral, or amoral.  And don't really consider a relevant question.  But it's interesting to see the poll results anyway.

Oh, and the answer to my earlier riddle is:  Parents.  It's an old Catholic joke.  I'm sure some of you have heard it before.

[dazzleman]

Oh, and the answer to my earlier riddle is:  Parents.  It's an old Catholic joke.  I'm sure some of you have heard it before.

Hah.  I've definitely heard that before.  I should have seen that one coming [smacks self in head]

[opebo]

I have no idea whether any of this is moral, immoral, or amoral.

Of course you do, since obviously objective morality doesn't exist.  And by the way the relevance of the question is these theocrats would make it illegal, just like abortion.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I've used the rythm and withdrawal methods for years with various girlfriends - you know, withdraw when she's fertile, come inside when she's not.  Worked flawlessly.

[PADem]

His stance on this is largely responsible for the AIDS problem in Africa and poverty there and South America.

The only people responsible for the spread of AIDS and poverty in Africa/South America are those that refuse to listen to either side (those that advocate abstinence or birth control).

Phil... just a quick question. Do you think the Catholic Church needs to change it's position on condoms/birth control? I mean both of those have got to be better than abortion right?

[angus]

I have no idea whether any of this is moral, immoral, or amoral.

Of course you do, since obviously objective morality doesn't exist.  And by the way the relevance of the question is these theocrats would make it illegal, just like abortion.

well, you're just a regular goddamned Socrates today, aren't you?  Okay, fine, it's amoral.  Neither moral nor immoral im my book, and apparently in yours as well, thus the irrelevance of the question.  Be careful, Socrates ended up coming across so abrasive that he was ordered to choose between exile or hemlock-induced suicide.  And you're at least as abrasive as he was.

PADem, in fact there's at least one well-documented case of the Church supplying birth control pills, at its expense, to nuns in Africa in the mid-20th Century and requesting that they be used regularly.   This was done to prevent the possibility of unwanted pregnancy among the sisterhood, since the rape rate in the area in question was so high at the time.  So it seems that you have it correct that the Church considers the pill a lesser evil than unwanted pregnancy.

[MissCatholic]

I have never used any form of contraception nor as any person that i have been with.

It's one thing that i don't believe you should use. However, if people want to use it then so be it. it is immoral in my opinion as you are restrciting life. if i get pregnant then so be it.

[Joe Kakistocracy]

Contraception itself is fine, but can lead to immoral behavior in certain people.

[Keystone Phil]

His stance on this is largely responsible for the AIDS problem in Africa and poverty there and South America.

The only people responsible for the spread of AIDS and poverty in Africa/South America are those that refuse to listen to either side (those that a

dvocate abstinence or birth control).

Phil... just a quick question. Do you think the Catholic Church needs to change it's position on condoms/birth control? I mean both of those have got to be better than abortion right?

It might be better but I still don't find it acceptable.

[angus]

I have never used any form of contraception nor as any person that i have been with.

For the sake of our species, please reconsider this decision.

[Brandon H]

His stance on this is largely responsible for the AIDS problem in Africa and poverty there and South America.

The only people responsible for the spread of AIDS and poverty in Africa/South America are those that refuse to listen to either side (those that advocate abstinence or birth control).

Phil... just a quick question. Do you think the Catholic Church needs to change it's position on condoms/birth control? I mean both of those have got to be better than abortion right?

Well I'm not Phil, but I'm a Catholic.

No, the Catholic Church should not change it's position. It's the people that need to change, especially those that say they are Catholic. Some people tried to blame the Church for the spread of AIDS because the Church opposed the use of condoms. The Church also opposed sex outside of marriage. So blame them not the Church.

And as far as Natural Family Planning goes, my girlfriend and I need to take a course on it before we get married. We were told by someone else it was very boring.