How are we going to get the message out?
In Moral Theology today we were discussing contraception versus natural family planning. The conversation was quite tame since we were all pretty much on the same page. Well, actually, there was one married protestant sitting in the back of the class but he didn't say single word all class either (a) he was intimidated by the majority "orthodox" Catholic students in the class (b) he was writing a paper while sitting at the back of the class. It's actually kind of unfortunate because it would have been nice if we'd had more dialogue.
Anyways, we were discussing how the Church's position on contraception (for the purpose of the discussion, assuming we were discussing non-abortifacient forms of contraception) could be explained or understood by a non-Catholic. My professor was saying that among the moral theologians who are faithful to the Magisterium (which unfortunately are seemingly few and far between these days) there are some who argue that the Church's teachings on this issue can be argued strictly from a rational position and others that argue that the Church's teachings can only be adequately presented from a Catholic theological perspective, in reference to divine revelation and the authority of the Church. Obviously the first position might get you somewhere with non-Catholics while the second position won't get you anywhere.
I was thinking about it and really I'd probably side with the first group, the rationalists. While I don't think you can explain the fulness of the Church's teachings without Catholic theology, I think that reason alone can prove that the Church's teachings are valid and true. Just like Aquinas says that we can prove that God exists by reason alone, but need divine revelation to know him as a personal and affectionate God, I think we can use reason to prove that contraception is wrong, but it is only in the Church that we can find the full beauty, depth, and implications of this Truth.
In the midst of all this, as always, we need to remember that we can't view the issue of contraception in isolation from other issues surrounding the dignity and sanctity of human life such as IVF, abortions, euthanasia, and other such intrinsically evil acts. The Gospel of Life is a unitive whole. But how do we share the Gospel of Life outside of the Church? First of all, we need to remember St. Francis' call to preach the Gospel always and only when necessary use words. First we, Catholics, need to be sure that we are living the Gospel of Life in our own lives. According to statistics, ninety percent of Catholics (the same rate as the general population) contracept in North America. First we need to address that issue. And with regards to the Catholics who are contracepting we should be able to turn to divine revelation and the authority of the Church to explain the teachings of the Church.
I have many more thoughts on this issue and don't have time to get them all down, but I just feel such an urgency that we share the Gospel of Life. There is such a desperate need in our society to hear the Truth. The Culture of Death is causing decay in our society and people are unecessarily suffering because of ignorance. How are we going to get the message out that human life is sacred? There is such depth and beauty to the teachings of the Church on the sanctity of human life and on sexuality and it's a shame that it's a message that many people have never heard before. Let me restate that, it's not merely a shame, it's a tragedy.
If only people (Catholics and non-Catholics alike) could have the Church's teachings properly explained to them they would see what freedom there is in following God's plan and design for human life.
Anyways, we were discussing how the Church's position on contraception (for the purpose of the discussion, assuming we were discussing non-abortifacient forms of contraception) could be explained or understood by a non-Catholic. My professor was saying that among the moral theologians who are faithful to the Magisterium (which unfortunately are seemingly few and far between these days) there are some who argue that the Church's teachings on this issue can be argued strictly from a rational position and others that argue that the Church's teachings can only be adequately presented from a Catholic theological perspective, in reference to divine revelation and the authority of the Church. Obviously the first position might get you somewhere with non-Catholics while the second position won't get you anywhere.
I was thinking about it and really I'd probably side with the first group, the rationalists. While I don't think you can explain the fulness of the Church's teachings without Catholic theology, I think that reason alone can prove that the Church's teachings are valid and true. Just like Aquinas says that we can prove that God exists by reason alone, but need divine revelation to know him as a personal and affectionate God, I think we can use reason to prove that contraception is wrong, but it is only in the Church that we can find the full beauty, depth, and implications of this Truth.
In the midst of all this, as always, we need to remember that we can't view the issue of contraception in isolation from other issues surrounding the dignity and sanctity of human life such as IVF, abortions, euthanasia, and other such intrinsically evil acts. The Gospel of Life is a unitive whole. But how do we share the Gospel of Life outside of the Church? First of all, we need to remember St. Francis' call to preach the Gospel always and only when necessary use words. First we, Catholics, need to be sure that we are living the Gospel of Life in our own lives. According to statistics, ninety percent of Catholics (the same rate as the general population) contracept in North America. First we need to address that issue. And with regards to the Catholics who are contracepting we should be able to turn to divine revelation and the authority of the Church to explain the teachings of the Church.
I have many more thoughts on this issue and don't have time to get them all down, but I just feel such an urgency that we share the Gospel of Life. There is such a desperate need in our society to hear the Truth. The Culture of Death is causing decay in our society and people are unecessarily suffering because of ignorance. How are we going to get the message out that human life is sacred? There is such depth and beauty to the teachings of the Church on the sanctity of human life and on sexuality and it's a shame that it's a message that many people have never heard before. Let me restate that, it's not merely a shame, it's a tragedy.
If only people (Catholics and non-Catholics alike) could have the Church's teachings properly explained to them they would see what freedom there is in following God's plan and design for human life.
posted by DP | 6:09 PM
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