The Ethical Problem (Part 1)

Hello! Welcome to Season 7 of the Be Filled Podcast! This season we are entering into the final chapter of the text of St. Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body. JPII brings everything together to help us see why the Church teaches what she does regarding sexual ethics.  In particular, the Church's teaching regarding contraception. This episode we will be discussing Audiences 118-123.8. Watch the video here. 

Quotes: 

“The Church….teaches that each and every marriage act must remain through itself open to the transmission of life. That teaching, often set forth by the magisterium, is founded upon the inseparable connection, willed by God and unable to be broken by man on his own initiative, between the two meanings of the conjugal act: the unitive meaning and the procreative meaning.” (HV 11-12) 

“It seems to be entirely reasonable to look in the theology of the body for the foundation of the truth of the norms concerning such a fundamental issue of man as “body”: “the two will be one flesh”. (TOB 119:4) 

“The teaching of the Church on the regulation of birth, which promulgates the divine law, will easily appear to many to be difficult or even impossible to observe. And indeed, like all great beneficent realities, it demands serious engagement and much effort-individual, family, and social effort. More than that, it would be impossible to observe without the help of God, who upholds and strengthens the good will of men. Yet, to anyone who reflects well, it cannot but be clear that such efforts ennoble man and are beneficial to the human community.” (HV 20) 

The goal is to “discover God’s plan for human love, in the certainty that the one and only true good of the human person consists in putting this divine plan into practice.” (TOB 120:6) 

"...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own. For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body."  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it…” (Genesis 1:27-28) 

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2) 

“The couple must conform their activity to the creative intention of God…The relevant principle of conjugal morality is faithfulness to the divine plan.” (TOB 121:6) 

“Humanae Vitae answers the question about man’s true good as a person, inasmuch as he is male and female, about what corresponds to the dignity of man and woman when one is dealing with the important problem of the transmission of life in conjugal life.” (TOB 122:5) 

“Man is person precisely because he possesses himself and has dominion over himself. Indeed, inasmuch as he is master over himself he can “give himself” to another.” (TOB 123:5) 

“..the conjugal act “means” not only love, but also potential fruitfulness, and thus it cannot be deprived of its full and adequate meaning by means of artificial interventions…When the conjugal act is deprived of its inner truth because it is deprived artificially of its procreative capacity, it also ceases to be an act of love.” (TOB 123:6) 

Reflection Questions: 

1. What spoke to your heart most from this episode? 
2. What is your initial reaction to the teaching of the Church regarding contraception? 
3. What questions do you have? Are you willing to pray about this and learn more? 
4. What do you know about nature that leaves you in awe? Are you in awe of your own body? In particular your reproductive system? 
5. Have you seen your reproductive system as a burden? 
6. How can you love your spouse through the different phases of your cycle? What virtues might God be growing in you? 
7. Pray with these questions: Is my fertility me or separate from me? Does the gift of fertility belong solely to me or is it under the dominion of my Creator? Is my body mine to do with as I will? Does God care about my fertility? Am I asking Him about His will? 
8. Pray with the Scriptures above. Is there anything that keeps you from trusting your whole self (body and soul) to God? Can you trust God’s plan for your fertility? 
9. Check out the study Patty mentioned. What are your thoughts on this? 
10. Were you aware of Margaret Sanger’s views? What are your thoughts on this? What does it mean to you to be a “responsible parent”? 
11. “Our fertility is not something that we turn off and on. That’s just not how it works.” Have you ever considered that contraception is an illusion of control? Pray with your spouse about this and, together, ask the Lord what His will is for your fertility. 
12. What are your thoughts on the analogy of our spousal union and the relationship of Christ with the Church? If you are Catholic, how would it impact you if Jesus didn’t REALLY give himself to you in the Eucharist? 

Resources:   

Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life: On the Regulation of Birth) 

Waggle Dance of the Bee 

God and Fertility in Scripture 

Study Mentioned by Patty

Margaret Sanger’s View on Sex, Marriage, Birth Control, and the Human Person

Contraception, Why Not? Janet Smith 

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/chase-the-sun

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