Birth Control vs. The Church
Should insurance plans at Catholic colleges be forced to cover birth control? The Obama administration thinks so, as the New York Times gleefully reports. Of course, the Times' piece is less a news story than it is an editorial against the Catholic Church, but it's an illuminating read as a case-in-point of this new morality of entitlement that has stitched into today's culture, especially youth culture. Young people think they have the right to have premarital sex, and they think they are entitled to full protection against its consequences, i.e., having a child or contracting STDs.
Here's the Times:
Bridgette Dunlap, a Fordham University law student, knew that the school’s health plan had to pay for birth control pills, in keeping with New York state law. What she did not find out until she was in an examining room, “in the paper dress,” was that the student health service — in keeping with Roman Catholic tenets — would simply refuse to prescribe them.
As a result, students have had to go to Planned Parenthood or private doctors to get prescriptions. Some, unable to afford the doctor visits, gave up birth control pills entirely. In November, Ms. Dunlap, 31, who was raised a Catholic and was educated at parochial schools, organized a one-day, off-campus clinic staffed by volunteer doctors who wrote prescriptions for dozens of women.
Many Catholic colleges decline to prescribe or cover birth control, citing religious reasons. Now they are under pressure to change. This month the Obama administration, citing the medical case for birth control, made a politically charged decision that the new health care law requires insurance plans at Catholic institutions to cover birth control without co-payments for employees, and that may be extended to students. But Catholic organizations are resisting the rule, saying it would force them to violate their beliefs and finance behavior that betrays Catholic teachings.
...
Despite Catholic teachings, surveys have found that 98 percent of sexually active Catholic women, as in the general population, have used contraceptives.
At Catholic universities, some students support the right of the schools to uphold religious doctrine. But others, particularly professional and graduate students, have found the restrictions on birth control coverage onerous. Undergraduates are often covered by their parents’ insurance, but graduate students are usually on their own and are more likely to be married or in relationships and in regular need of birth control.
...
A 23-year-old who asked that her name not be used said she became pregnant while studying at Fordham. In high school, she said, she had taken birth control pills, but she gave them up at Fordham because she could not afford the doctor visit needed for a prescription. She and her boyfriend were using condoms when she became pregnant. Though Catholic, she considered abortion, but chose to have the baby. She said she knew six other Fordham students who had become pregnant and had abortions.
This is crazy. These young women, as the Times is reporting it, are acting like their Catholic colleges are putting them in an impossible position, where they—the women—are left without a choice. "Now I'm going to have to have sex without protection!" you can hear them crying. "What about my reproductive rights!" But the beauty of being a young woman today is that there are plenty of choices to make—thank you, feminism—in a situation like this: You can drop out of your Catholic school and go somewhere that better matches your lifestyle; you can pay for your own birth control (what a thought!); you can decide not to have protected sex; or you can have unprotected sex.
These are real choices—real alternatives—so why doesn't the Times mention them as serious alternatives? Because they are hard choices that no one wants to face up to; because they are choices that have consequences, as most important decisions do. To the Times and to the young women in the story, sex shouldn't have consequences. That it would is an outrage.
Against this fantasy, the Catholic colleges remind us that we may be entitled to making our own decisions, but we won't be coddled and protected from the fall out of those choices. This is a lesson that young women everywhere—especially those who choose to go to Catholic colleges--should learn.
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Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Tommy De Seno: I know the Church forbids birth control, but they encourage at pre-cana class the use of the rhythm method, itself a form of birth control.
I know it's in Humanae Vitae, and the Catechism. I'm interested in the "why" of it.
...
At pre-cana we are told martital sex is good and to enjoy it, but Humanae Vitae reads like that isn't the case, giving reasons like a man's loss of respect for his wife if they engage in sex outside of procreation. Yet at some points Humanae Vitae reads like it isn't saying that, by its very acceptance of the rythem method.
I know I'm bound to accept the Church's positon. But I also have an obligation to understand it.
Is the Church's position on birth control strong? Based on Scripture? Is there a Rocochet priest on staff?
Mama Toad and katievs in 3...2...1...
Tommy, a little light reading. (Gay marriage isn't the only topic that attracts the comments!)
Apr '11
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Katie O
Hi Tommy,
I think this thread from katievs would help you. · 2 minutes ago
Whoops, Katie O, you just beat me! :-)
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
etoiledunord
Tommy De Seno: Help me fellow Catholics (and others if you have an understanding to clear up my lack of it).
I know it's in Humanae Vitae, and the Catechism. I'm interested in the "why" of it.
Natural family planning (quite effective if done correctly and scientifically) is based on having a period of abstinence during the month.
I know HOW it works etoiledunord I'm a big boy now!
I'm wondering about an inconsistency in the Church's doctrine. Some of the statements made in HV seem incongruous, and the conclusions are without connection.
Sex using the rhythm method seems no less divorced from procreation than sex using any other method. Its basis is still release of the urge with an intentional avoidance of procreation.
May '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Aaron Miller
.................
If Obama is reelected, we might yet see a day when our government tries to remove the tax exemption status of churches or seize control of Christian hospitals for refusing such terms. · 1 hour ago
What do you mean "may yet"? They've already floated that in almost every budget idea and several court cases. They started with the attempt to narrow the definition of "church".
Jun '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Tommy De Seno:
The only close scripture is the story of Onan, but his sin was not spilling his seed, rather failure to impregnate his brother's widow, back then an obligation he owed to his brother.
There are some who argue that New Testament condemnations of "pharmakeia" include birth control.
Jul '11
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
I love my vasectomy. There is a vas deferens between us other Christians and Catholics. To each their own here and no forcing of anyone is allowed in my world regarding this issue. I am on the side of the Catholics to do as they see fit here even though it is not my personal choice.
Jun '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Tommy De Seno
etoiledunord
Tommy De Seno:
Natural family planning (quite effective if done correctly and scientifically) is based on having a period of abstinence during the month.
I know HOW it works etoiledunord I'm a big boy now!
I'm wondering about an inconsistency in the Church's doctrine. Some of the statements made in HV seem incongruous, and the conclusions are without connection.
Sex using the rhythm method seems no less divorced from procreation than sex using any other method. Its basis is still release of the urge with an intentional avoidance of procreation. · 23 minutes ago
It's maybe not explicit in the Bible, but some of the early Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church, like St. Augustine of Hippo, explicitly forbid contraception as profane, in light of God's design of marriage. On a smaller scale, there's a difference between drinking some wine as part of a meal, or intentionally getting drunk. Intent changes the act. And, in biblical times, having too many children was like having too much gold. There's no downside. So, if you were trying to prevent children, it was probably because you were doing something else sinful.
Jun '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
As the article I cited above points out Luther and Calvin both condemned contraception, and no Christian denomination approved of it before 1930. So one might, without meaning to cause offense, also say there is a vas deferens between many modern Christians (many Catholics included) and the historic Christian consensus on sexual ethics spanning 19 centuries.
Aug '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Emily, Like to know your take on the longterm impact of the letter. And if someone knows the history of pulpit politics of American Catholics (North Americans,that is) , this presbyterian welcomes a primer. Guruforhire, curious as to who you feel extends the rights you speak of. Is it that killer whale guy ?
Jul '11
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Joseph Stanko
As the article I cited above points out Luther and Calvin both condemned contraception, and no Christian denomination approved of it before 1930. So one might, without meaning to cause offense, also say there is a vas deferens between many modern Christians (many Catholics included) and the historic Christian consensus on sexual ethics spanning 19 centuries. · 9 minutes ago
No offense taken. I'm happy with four biological kids. I suppose I am a modern Christian man then and very happy with it. Thanks for the historical information, very interesting.
I forgot my kids names. Washout, Blowout, and the rhythm twins.
Edited on January 31, 2012 at 1:58amApr '11
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Really the question here is not whether Catholic institutions are in line with the Churches teachings and preferences. They can choose to be or not to be and the Church can then choose how to deal with their waywardness. The idea though that a Catholic institution by mandate of the State should perform actions that put it at odds with the Churches teachings is what is outrageous. If the Catholic teaching on contraception is misguided and inconsistent and as a consequence not followed by the laity that is for the Church to deal with and iron out. The State has no competence or right to rule on the validity of that doctrine.
Dec '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Study Theology of the Body. I have JPII's book, but haven't had time to study it. My friends who teach TOB to youth recommend getting the TOB workbook for teens. My superficial understanding is the Church's teaching is about the nature of authentic love and, of course, cooperating with God's will in your marriage. I've known Catholics who use Natural Family Planning (NFP) to monitor their fertility in order to try to get pregnant, not to avoid pregnancy.
Jan '11
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Will any of the legal geniuses on this venue please tell me why "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..." actually permits congress to make antithetical laws, or the judiciary to interpret otherwise?
Why is it even necessary to pose the question?
Dec '11
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
I dont know who the killer whale guy is.
As to the right to have sex with a willing partner, and to purchase a product which does no harm in fact to another person, its definitional. In the case of sex, the right is extended by the partner, and in the case of birth control the right is extended by the merchant of that product.
The right to perform an act, does not speak to the appropriateness or wisdom of that act.
Edited on January 31, 2012 at 2:28amNov '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Here's the answer. Be like Hillsdale or Grove City -- don't take government money and they can't tell you what to do. He who pays the piper calls the tunes.
Sep '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Sex using the rhythm method
Google Sympto-Thermal and The Billings Method. Also check out NaPro technology.
Jul '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Hey kids, news flash: there's a word for people like you who find Catholic strictures "onerous". We're called Protestants.
Either live as your church clearly instructs you to do or get out, but for heaven's sake stop acting as though it's the Church that's being unreasonable here.
Aug '10
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Guru free will y rest of your argument is better told by charlie rich " Behind Closed Doors "
Dec '11
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Ahhh.
Re: Birth Control vs. The Church
Western Chauvinist
Study Theology of the Body. I have JPII's book, but haven't had time to study it. My friends who teach TOB to youth recommend getting the TOB workbook for teens. My superficial understanding is the Church's teaching is about the nature of authentic love and, of course, cooperating with God's will in your marriage. I've known Catholics who use Natural Family Planning (NFP) to monitor their fertility in order to try to get pregnant, not to avoid pregnancy. · 2 hours ago
When I asked my Lutheran pastor for something to read on this he actually gave me John Paul II's Humanae Vitae.
UPDATE: Errr, all popes look alike to me but I meant to say Paul VI!
Edited on January 31, 2012 at 6:32am