The birth control pill turned 50 this year. Time magazine celebrated the anniversary with a 5,000-word look at the sociological history of its development and use. And I have to say that while the piece reads a bit like a love letter to 1960s feminism, author Nancy Gibbs discussed religion and values throughout the piece. This seems like the obvious thing to do when talking about something related to sex and procreation — but we all know how many reporters would avoid including religion in the discussion.
The arguments about the birth control pill have also been going on for 50 years now. Among Roman Catholics, the birth control pill has clearly been forbidden since Humanae Vitae although in practice it was forbidden before that. But, Humanae Vitae made it quite official. Among Protestants, it by and large is approved. But, regardless of the Christian grouping, what is true across all groupings in the USA is that the vast majority of people in the USA are not against the birth control pill, as shown in poll after poll.
Having lived in South America, I can tell you that the use of either the pill or some other type of birth control device (condom, etc.) is also quite high despite the fact that the majority of South Americans are Roman Catholics. The worldwide reality is that birth control has been accepted in practice among Christian couples regardless of what the grouping to which they belong says.
Of the Orthodox, Metropolitan Kallistos makes the following comment in his book The Orthodox Church:
The use of contraceptives and other devices for birth control is on the whole strongly discouraged in the Orthodox Church. Some bishops and theologians altogether condemn the employment of such methods. Others, however, have recently begun to adopt a less strict position, and urge that the question is best left to the discretion of each individual couple, in consultation with the spiritual father.
Some Orthodox articles try to make the claim that it is only those debased Western middle-class Orthodox that are pro-contraception. But, again, the reality even in many Eastern European countries, Russia, Greece, etc., is that there, just like in South America, whatever the local Orthodox Church might say, in practice contraception is widely used.
And, so, we have a situation in the world in which the vast majority of Christians are supposed to shun birth control, according to the official policies of their Christian grouping. But, poll after poll shows that the majority of Christians worldwide do not shun birth control (if they can afford it) despite its being classified as a grave sin by the Roman Catholics in Humanae Vitae and its being discouraged by the Orthodox. This creates a grave problem for Christianity. For, this type of gap between what may be officially classified as a grave sin for Roman Catholics, and the willingness of people to commit this grave sin or to use contraception without at least thinking about it (among the Orthodox), creates a tension that damages and diminishes the trust that ought to be present between a people and their spiritual leaders.
Do I have a good solution to this problem? No, I do not. I wish I had some words of wisdom to offer on this subject. I know that we need to support both marriage and procreation. I know that indiscriminate use of birth control can and has led to a willingness to loosen moral standards. Yet, I also know that both Metropolitan Kallistos and the Patriarch of Moscow in 2000, have made statements that birth control (provided it is non-abortifacient) is not automatically wrong, but that nevertheless Christian couples need to thoughtfully think through the issues and consult with their spiritual father as necessary.
But this I know for sure. I cannot cheerfully and unabashedly celebrate the 50th birthday of the birth control pill.
I have mixed feelings on the issue as do many, I am sure. One one hand as a mental health professional, I remember a woman who would be sent to our mental health center on a fairly regular basis usually for attempting to burn down the local Catholic Church. This woman’s story: brought up Catholic-married young to a man who turned out to be a raging, violent alcoholic who disappeared and reappeared almost yearly just long enough to beat the stuffing out of her, impregnate her and was gone again. When I knew her, she had been diagnosed schizophrenic, had 17 living children-none of whom she could take care of-had almost died of the last two miscarried pregnancies and would not divorce him because divorce was forbidden, would not use birth control though her life was at risk with each new pregnancy, would not deny him intimacy because she was terrified of him and the state supported and cared for her children. Now I will admit that this is an extreme case, but I watched the suffering. Sometimes birth control would be best for all concerned.
On the other hand, I was raised in a family of six children who were wanted, loved, supported and cared for and who have all done well in their lives and endeavors.
A question for better minds than mine, I fear.
Alix
As a protestant, I don’t really understand the greater church’s opinion on contraception for married couples. I always thought of it as basic responsibility, once you have as many kids as you can feed and house. I am infertile, so I don’t have a horse in that race, but I am curious. Is it a “be fruitful and multiply” thing? Because it seems we have done that pretty well. Is it trying to steal control from God’s sovereignty?
Hmm, the answer would take a little long, but there are many factors involved. I might need to do post on it soon from the Orthodox point of view.
It’s not easy to give an opinion about this subject. I just can give my opinion as a woman. I’m against abortion but i don’t know if i should consider the pill as abortifacient. So, what should i do? I already have a son , i don’t have the economic posibilities to have another baby (even if wanted) and the pill is considered like a “responsible decision”.
It’s the first time i read your blog Ernesto, and i loved it 🙂
I also read that Time article with a growing sense of discomfort. The pill brought more “choices” to women, but also created many unforseen ramifications on the social, familial & economic scene. I was disturbed that Time celebrated the pill with such one-sided praise rather than exploring both the pros & cons.
The Protestant church doesn’t give specific guidance on use of the pill. Although it’s not something I am comfortable with myself, I don’t feel my friends are necessarily wrong for using it. The question of family planning is a complicated one. I am interested to read more about what the Orthodox church believes on the issue.