My spouse has severe menstrual issues that are alleviated by the use of hormonal birth control. This is an instance where our priest permitted its use as the intent is to treat an illness and not to prevent life.
I think even the Catholic Church permits such things, under what's called "the principle of double effect", where a greater good is produced by something that also has a residual evil that is not intended or desired. The ectopic pregnancy where a woman's fallopian tube is removed is a classic example; the child will die, but that wasn't desired.
Like many other things in our Orthodox Faith, there are exceptions out of the love of God for us in our frailty. I could go through a litany if exceptions. My own mom would have been unable to have another child, having difficulties with her own continuous struggle for survival. My father worked 2 jobs to pay medical bills and I watched as a child for when to call an ambulance. Thankfully, Bishops and most Spiritual Fathers understand the human body, psychology and Godly living more than in the past.
People say God will give you as many kids as you need, so dont use birth control and have sex when both of you two's income can only properly afford having 2 kids responsibly... God gave us brains that can think and discern. Sex is there both as a means of bonding the husband and wife spiritually as well as reproduction. We are not animals just having sex to breed. Are we not supposed to take medicines when we are sick? or go see doctors at all? What if someone has HIV? Are they supposed to never marry or have sex then? Or just pass on HIV virus to his or her partner??
Hey there, so if someone is HIV positive and they are taking medication as they are meant to, and their diet/exercise/sleep/etc is good, they can enter a state of being "undetectable" (they still have HIV, but the viral load is under 200 copies/ml of blood measured). When someone is undetectable they cannot transmit the virus. Also if your partner has HIV, you can take pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP for short, and if you're taking it consistently it reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99%. Of course these things should be discussed with your doctor!
This is where I currently struggle. I have a 4 month old and haven’t been intimate with my husband since March because of the traditional orthodox view on contraception (condoms, specifically, as I would never use an abortion inducing contraception). Our marriage is being negatively affected because of my anxiety of possibly getting pregnant so soon again. Is it really wrong to use condoms within marriage when sexual intimacy is about more than procreation? Especially when we have a baby so young? I’m so conflicted.
@@Mrswesford Please speak with your spiritual father about this and also pray to God to only give you another baby if you will be able to cope. Which He will do anyway, because He always wants the best for you no matter what.We have 7 children and every time I would think :"how will I be able to cope????", but we always do. Also, if you are fully breastfeeding you should have less chances of getting pregnant. This is only true for up to 6 months after birth though.
One other difference -- Fasting-- The Marital fast I believe it is called-- Before liturgy and during all other fasts (Nativity Fast, Lenten Fast, Apostle's Fast, Dormition Fast, Wednesday Fasts, Friday Fasts...) but again, Spiritual Father's do have say in that also and also- its not really specifically to be considered a birth control- but it will have that effect.
Weird how by doing what the Church teaches you achieve the same result, but with more because you aren't interfering from having children for selfish reasons, but as a natural consequence of growing in holiness. turns out we should just do what the Church teaches, they're usually right haha
The "marital fast" is not spoken of much in Catholic circles. At least not the ones I roam in. I would like to understand more about that (though I understand, Bojan, if a single guy wouldn't want to do that).
Now, I am Catholic, and I am under the understanding that the estrogen pill is often used as a hormonal medication to treat many things, not merely to contracept. So far as it's used as a medication, there's nothing wrong. That said, many of the Catholics who don't want the residual effect of contraception do look for other ways. I live in the home town of the Pope Paul VI Institute. They're a Catholic fertility clinic that's been doing a lot of study into natural ways to treat anything surrounding reproduction - not only things the Pill palliates, but also infertility. This unhappiness with the contraceptive pill and with in-vitro fertilization has really made several Catholics think: what actually is going on in the human body when it's not working, and how do we actually fix it?
We don't exactly use the rythm method, there are several newer methods that are a lot more in depth. Actually the first thing me and my GF where told in classes as we prepare for our future (because the earlier you track these things the better so you go into marriage with a clue) is that when we are married, we should not treat this as birth control, but true family planning, and every time we would have marital relations, we where answering the question posed by God, which is that we accept an openness to creation. You could really go into a whole video series about it from just what I know. And I got information to read up on still.
I believe this matter is between the Lord, husband and wife, not the church fathers, priests, etc.. Except abortion which is wrong including the "morning after pill" bc it is not known if conception took place, which is a form of abortion with this pill if conception took place.
So to treat an actual disease? Yes, I'm pretty sure that's okay, even for us Catholics, even while sexually active, since the intention is not to prevent pregnancy.
If you use this medication only as medication, then it is, by definition, not "birth control" anymore and therefore not sinful. But my suggestion is to be vigilant with these things, for they can quickly lead you into temptation of using them as contraception when the time of the devil's temptation comes.
@@BanterWithBojan "Rhythm Method" (of contraception/birth control) is the older term for "N.F.P." (Natural Family Planning) which encompasses more than counting the days of the ovulation cycle N.F.P. involves charting the wife's ovulation cycle; but it also uses modern methods to detect the approachment of ovulation (body temperature, secretions, etc.) The ideal with NFP is for the couple to cooperate to make it work. The old joke used to be: Q: What do you call people who use the Rhythm method? A: Parents
Bojan, what are you painting? I think I see a shadow of Holly Mary in fire or something? Although, probably I am absolutely wrongly wrong...in a very wrong way...
Whether you are Catholic or orthodox, this is misleading because both churches, even in the most traditional interpretations, are okay with Natural Family Planning aka the rhythm method aka tracking cycles within marriage
If I become pregnant again it can kill me (almost did last time) which would leave 4 children without a mother. This is one allowable reason for birth control/ sterilization.
Sounds like a lack of faith that God won't get you through another birth. We must always trust God and His plans for us. I speak as someone who is infertile but will leave it up to God and His perfect will for us.
You are in objective state of mortal sin. I beg you, go to confession as soon as possible and never use that abominable thing again. Abortion is from the devil, and he leads many souls to hell through it. The ends don't justify the means. You can _pray_ to be the healthiest mother possible. It's much more effective than contraception. God bless and keep you always.
@@emilylloyd1684 This kind of skewed doctrine is _exactly_ why I will forever (God willing!) remain Catholic. The Orthodox Church is clearly in error in allowing these abominable practices. God made you this way. It's a supreme act of pride to try to skew His creation via such artificial means. You're basically spitting in His face. Besides, even though you EO don't have the concept of mortal sin in your faith, I think it is safe to say that if you are using artificial contraception (without a _very serious_ reason, which the Orthodox Church precisely defined) in context of sexual intercourse, and if you die with this sin on your soul, you will be damned to hell, even by EO standards, so I suggest you think this one through. On the other hand, if you are using birth control as medication, it is not, by definition, real birth control, as its effects have _nothing_ to do with "birth control" (as a concept) in the first place. By the way, you shold become Catholic, as the Catholic Church is the only true Church founded by Jesus Christ. This is apparent by the fact that She does not permit such demonic practices as artificial contraception. I am not writing this because I want to bash you, I want you to know the Truth and save your soul. Amen. Pax et bonum.
