1. Humane Vitae and Contraception

2. Humane Vitae Promulgated by Pope Paul VI July 1968
Instruct Catholics on Sexual ethics, especially contraception issues
Contraception historically condemned by the Church

3. Context Popular disagreement with Church recently developed
Changes in popular opinion due to population explosions, new scientific and sociological views
1962, Pope John XXIII appointed Papal Commission to look into issue of contraception
1966, Papal commission submitted report to Pope Paul VI

4. On the Regulation of Life
Begins by reiterating married couples collaborate with God to transmit life
Developments (population, women’s role, technology, etc…) raise new questions
Questions about sex and its role
A big part of the 1960s was the Sexual Revolution which included sex without commitment

5. The Church’s Authority to Teach on this Matter
New questions are moral issues
Church has done deep reflection
Look to human reason, enlightened by Revelation

6. Nature of Married Life and Parenthood
Vocation of marriage is a total commitment of love
Love of marriage is “faithful and exclusive”
Fecund (Fertile) function
Ordered towards parenthood

7. Inseparable connection between Union and Procreation
Must respect natural law
Fecundity is unitive and procreative
Birth control, sterilization, and abortion are excluded under the lawful means of regulating number of children

8. Natural Family Planning
Not opposed to natural methods of family planning
Utilizing natural rhythms and cycles is permissible
Humans meant to work with God and nature, and not against them

9. The Call of Youth in the Church

10. Children’s Responsibilities towards Their Parents
Respect and be thankful to parents
Be obedient to parents
Love one’s brothers and sisters
Ephesians 6:1-4
Care for parents in old age

11. Pope John Paul II Vision for young people
Travelled to over 100 countries
Launched World Youth Days
Message of World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto

12. Vocations From Latin vocatus
God calls all people, at all times in our lives
Calls us to know Him better
Some called to Ordained ministry
Others to Lay ministry (Laity)
All Christians called to evangelize, sanctify, and transform

14. Vocations Office Each diocese has an office of Vocations
Headed by Vocations Director
Fr. Chris Lemieux (Toronto)

15. THE CALL TO PARENTHOOD

16. Parenthood Society begins with the family
Healthy families = healthy society
Church beings at home
Duties of the parent towards their children

17. Catechism #2222, 2378
"Parents must regard their children ad Children of God and respect them as human persons...A child is not something owed to one, but is a gift. The 'supreme gift of marriage' is a human person. A child may not be considered property"

18. Adopting and Fostering
Not always possible for children to live with parents
Fostering – looking after someone else’s child for a period of time
Adoption – Taking on full legal parental rights and responsibilities

19. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Medical procedure for infertile couples
Woman’s ovaries stimulated to produce multiple eggs which are then fertilized with embryos
In some cases, sperm and/or ovaries donated by third party
Surrogate mother – third party carries and gives birth to the baby

20. Why Does the Church Oppose IVF
Life begins at conception
Disregarding of fertilized embryos is depriving life
Separates procreation and unitive functions of sex
Also removes exclusivity of the married couple
Encourages idea of one having a “right” to children

21. What is the Church for Difficult for infertile couples
Not opposed to using science, as long as teleological ends of sexuality and dignity of life respected
For using science to over come fertility