Thurible
Member
First of all, I want to thank you for being open to discuss what, given your religious views, is a rather sensitive subject.
It seems to me, if contraception is immoral, it means that sex for purely "bonding with your spouse" is also immoral.
Which, as I read your comment, it is, unless you still leave a chance of getting pregnant.
But this leads to another question, if reducing chances of pregnancy, just not down to zero, is OK, isn't contraception that isn't working 100% of the time (which, we are told, none of it is) also fine? Why does it matter how does one reduce the chances to non-zero, using calendar or using rubber?
First of all I want to thank you for addressing me civilly. Our beliefs on sex are not necessarily the most popular or well liked. As for your comment on having sex purely for bonding being immoral if contraception is wrong, that is true to some extant. One must have unity AND fruitfulness in mind during sex. However, couples who are infertile are not doing anything wrong because their is still the small chance of life giving, there is still an openess. Sex is about giving yourself completely to your spouse, and just because the man may be "shooting blanks" or the woman may be infertile does not mean it is wrong as you are still giving all of yourself that you can. This may sound a little messed up, but did you know that if you physically can't have sex you can't get married in the Church? While we believe being chaste is very important, one HAS to consummate their marriage and be their for each other both physically and spiritually. Sex is that important in marriage.
Just because contraception isn't full proof does not mean it is acceptable. The reason we believe it is immoral is because it is the act of actively trying to supress one's reproductive gifts. With natural family planning there is no barrier preventing ejaculation. We believe that by purposefully supressing one's sexual gifts, one is not giving their all in sex. One should give all of themselves to their spouse, and not be ashamed of possibly procreating and having a hand in giving life. Sex is one of the most beautiful and loving things in the world, a man literally gives a part of himself to a woman who then takes that and creates life and nutures it in her womb. Does that make any sense? I hope I have been clear in my explanation.