Nurse Jill Stanek writes on contraception.
I am a Protestant who opposes contraception, not only because some of its forms may cause abortions, but also – moreso – because the thinking behind contraception makes it the forerunner to abortion.
I base my thinking on several Biblical concepts. The foremost concept is that God is always described in Scripture as the sole procreative decision-maker. To my knowledge, every incident in Scripture describing pregnancy or barrenness gives God complete credit.
If that premise is true, who has the right to say no to God? Who can say they have a better grip on timing than God?
Pro-aborts are right. Contraception is next issue after abortion. And pro-lifers must work it through.
It seems to me there is a growing awareness among Protestants on this issue. The issue of abortafacients has been largely ignored among people who were otherwise pro-life and MAP is somewhat bringing it up to the foreground. Maybe next we will see a growing acknowledgement about the consequence of the contraceptive mentality in the first place.
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There’s also a book by a Protestant couple called “The Open Embrace,” in which they tell about their experiences and their decision to forgo contraceptive use. I believe that they have since converted to Catholicism, but I’m not sure.
News from the Couple to Couple League…
Over the last few years, many of us have been excited about Sam and Bethany Torode, authors of Open Embrace and a few other books on theology. Open Embrace was an excellent resource and provided a good perspective for Protestants regarding traditional Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality. The Torodes also spoke at CCL’s 2004 Convention in Romeoville Illinois. However, recently the Torodes recanted their own book.
They also endorse books like Toni Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility, where barrier methods, masturbation, and other similar acts are condoned.
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This is indeed sad. Reading Bethany’s update, leads me to believe she has an inadequate understanding of NFP. In short, the effects of breastfeeding can delay the return to fertility, and also lengthens the cycle once fertility returns. However, she displays a lack of knowledge with regard to this special situation.
CCL classes deal with return of fertility after childbirth.
A side note, Bethany Torode also sees abstinence during the woman’s fertile time as an attack on women. Indeed, sad.
We must continue to pray for a greater acceptance of the Church’s teachings on sexual morality.
The Torodes are now Greek Orthodox.
Sandy,
Actually that couple has become Orthodox and have back tracked about NFP.
Thank you, I had not heard that.
I actually heard about the book through Fr. Bryce Sibley at a talk he gave at my school. I don’t think he knows about this, otherwise I know he wouldn’t have endorsed their book!
I remember hearing evangelical friends talk about the abortifacient effects of the Pill back in 1988. So the awareness isn’t new, although it may be growing. (For the record, I’m Protestant, although my theological outlook is a whole lot more catholic now than it was back then.)
I think some of the increasing evangelical interest in the link between abortion and contraception may be due to the increasing obviousness of the fact that the folks who are pushing secular sexual morality aren’t willing to let Christians alone to practice traditional sexual morality. As a result, evangelicals are increasingly realizing that Christians need a coherent understanding of how sex relates to the rest of who God made us to be as people, just to counter this increasingly aggressive secular vision of sex. And who, in the Christian world, has done the best job of articulating a clear and clearly Christian vision for sex? That would be the Catholics—who have, as part of that Christian vision, argued that sex is essentially both unitive and procreative. So contraception comes up for debate in evangelical circles, in a way that it didn’t twenty years ago.
Peace,
–Peter
Peter,
Get yourself in a good RCIA program this year!
Even if you don’t think you’re ready and just want to inquire and learn more.
Unless the catechist isn’t using the catechism of the catholic church or something, you will not regret it.
I’m a friend of Jill’s. She’s great. She really has fought hard studying and praying to arrive at this point. She has a statue of St. Lucy in her house, so I keep praying that Lucy will help her see the fullness of what she’s saying and what this really implies for her own relationship with the Church.
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