Pope Paul VI Quotes
Above all, directly willed and procured abortion, even if for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as licit means of regulating birth. Equally to be excluded, as the teaching authority of the Church has frequently declared, is direct sterilization, whether perpetual or temporary, whether of the man or of the woman. Similarly excluded is every action which, either in anticipation of the conjugal act, 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
This quotation is often used by those who support the right to abortion to argue that the moral argument against abortion is exactly the same against contraception. And that if the state can interfere with the right to an abortion, then the state can equally interfere with the fight to family planning by means of contraception, and indeed such was the law until 1963. It is true that before that and since the Roman Catholic Church has argued that both abortion and contraception should be unlawful. Abortion opponents attempt to separate the two as only a small majority of Americans favor the right to an abortion while an overwhelmingly large proportion support the right to use contraception. Abortion opponents, generally avoid the contraceptive issue and try to isolate the abortion question.
Paul VI, 1897-1978, Giovanni Battista Montini, Catholic Pope, Definition of Birth Control which is viewed as sinful, Encyclical letter Humanae Vitae, 1968
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Condoms and other birth control usage had been forbidden by the Catholic Church. However, most American Catholics utilized artificial birth control devices anyway. However, the official church positions inhibited and influenced politicians throughout the nations. Even as late as 1963 selling birth control devices was illegal in parts of America. A pharmacist was sentenced to jail for filling a prescription for a condom for a couple where the woman could not bear a child safely as the result of a physical condition. The Supreme Court reversed the conviction.
This is a very important quotation because it is the official ban of the Roman Catholic Church against birth control of all forms. Prior to 1930, there was no official prohibition against birth control although individual Roman Catholics had argued that it was sinful. For example, see St. Augustine {625106}.
The power of the Catholic hierarchy on the politicians had waned and the laws against contraception and divorce were being relaxed to the chagrin of the Archbishop who described the change as a curse upon the country. However, Ireland then was the only industrial democracy in the world where contraceptives were illegal and divorce impossible. Three years later contraceptives were made legal by prescription and a train full made the journey from Belfast in more modern Northern Ireland to the South. See {639627}.
The Prime Minister’s wife, a Roman Catholic, like most Roman Catholics in Europe and America practice contraception despite the fact that the Catholic Church still maintains that artificial means of birth control is a sin. Rarely are such personal matters discussed with the media in Great Britain which respects the personal privacy of public figures more so than the United States. However, Mrs. Blair and her husband have been particularly open throughout their public career.
There were few reformers who had such a long, extensive, and activist career in both England and India. She began her career as a minister’s wife but was literally turned out of her house by her husband for whom she was not religiously orthodox enough. This started her religious activism which ended with her as an atheist. She led a match-girl’s strike, founded a Hindu college in India, and was even arrested for pornography in England when she wrote a book advocating birth control. She is on many lists of “Great Indians” along with Gandhi and Nehru. She was Jiddu Krishnamurti’s teacher.
This is one of the earliest Christian statements about the immorality of contraception. There was no official position of the Roman Catholic Church against contraception, until 1930 when Pope Pius XI issued his stricture. See {625105}. The reference to Onan is to the Old Testament. Onan however was not using contraception. He was masturbating. Augustine’s view was that everything sexual was designed by God for procreation. Therefore, any sexual function, not for the purpose of procreation, is inappropriate. Contraceptive techniques were used in Biblical times as well as later. The only difference was the technological sophistication and reliability of the different devices and methods.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio. This quotation was reprinted in religious and secular organs of almost all religions as the message was universal and could apply also to non-Roman Catholic Churches and non-Christian religions. The Pope in this statement did not change church doctrine one bit. It urged a major change in tactics, context, emphasis and style. Extreme fundamentalists within the Roman Catholic church and without, however, saw the statement as a softening of the moral position of the church regarding these controversial areas. Most however welcomed his quotation as long overdue and a stylistic throwback to a different time where people were less educated and less informed by media.
Pope Paul VI was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his death in 1978. Succeeding John XXIII, he continued the Second Vatican Council, which he closed in 1965, implementing its numerous reforms, and fostered improved ecumenical relations with Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches, which resulted in many historic meetings and agreements.
