40th Anniversary of Humanae Vitae
- Recapitulation and Secular Vindication
In publishing the Encyclical Humanae Vitae (HV), Pope Paul VI proved to be very
courageous in going against the advice of most of the theologians who were consulted
prior to its publication (though this turned out to be more than justifiable). After the
document’s publication, it is sad to say that many priests and bishops lacked the moral
fortitude to support and defend it. There was, in fact, open dissent on this document in
some Catholic circles. For a quick overview of the intrigues as well as the reasons for
opposition to HV, read the following article written by an anonymous seminarian:
http://www.catholicexchange.com/2008/07/19/113202/
(The fact that this article was written anonymously would suggest that some enemies
of HV are still in positions of power within the Church)
Fr. Walter Schu LC analyses why HV stirred up such a firestorm of dissent, and how this
dissent is still present in the Catholic Church albeit in a “silent” fashion....This silence
must be broken. Read: “Contraception: Breaking Silence” : http://ncregister.
com/site/article/15580/
As it turned out, HV turned out to be an incredibly prophetic document. For insights into
this, read a Pastoral Letter written by Archbishop Charles Chaput:
http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/~dewolf/chaput.htm
“Contraception has released males—to a historically unprecedented degree—from
responsibility for their sexual aggression.”
An overview of the social and physical problems caused by contraceptives in this recent
article by Dr. Janet Smith entitled: "The Social Footprints of Contraception". Click on:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0169.htm
An excellent and comprehensive article on HV by Mary Eberstadt is just published in the
electronic version of First things, “A Vindication of Humanae Vitae”:
http://catholicanada.com/web/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=729&Itemid=238
“....funny things that happened after the Pill freed everybody from sexual slavery once
and for all.” And “there can be no question that the Pill gave incredible license to
everything from adultery and affairs to premarital sex and within marriage to a
separation of the sex act and procreation.”
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- Catholic Dissent to Humanae Vitae
Cardinal James Stafford, who in 1968 was a priest in the diocese of Baltimore Maryland,
has written an eye-opening and deeply personal retrospective on the world-shaking events
which took place in the wake of the document's publication. This dissent remains
problematic to this day:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08072507.html
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- Voices in the Canadian Wilderness
Our own John Pacheco has long been a defender of HV and has written numerous
articles on this topic. In May 2006, John organized a Humanae Vitae Conference in
Ottawa (see: http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2006/0522/debate052206.shtml). Many of his
articles dealing with contraception can be found on the following link:
http://therosarium.ca/indextemps/articles.html
The above "Rosarium" link is an extensive collection of valuable articles dealing with
contraception by other authors as well.
Our oldest defender of HV is Monsignor Vincent Foy, who valiantly fought in favour of the
document since it was published. His latest article is entitled: “ Humanae Vitae and
Canada Forty Years After". See: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08072508.html
and http://catholicinsight.com/online/church/humanae/article_832.shtml
In this article, Msgr. Foy talks about the "Moloch Generation":
“A characteristic of the Moloch Generation is a loss of the sense of sin. If one can absolve
oneself of guilt in practising contraception why not from other breaches of the moral law?
….The contraceptive mentality brought with it a grave depreciation of the evil of killing or
preventing offspring.”
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- Our Canadian Bishops on this 40th HV anniversary
At least two of our Bishops have spoken out publicly to mark this important occasion:
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08051302.
html
Cardinal Marc Ouellet: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08061901.html
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- Humane Vitae and the “Theology of the Body”
Christopher West, a world renowned expert on "Theology of the Body" is producing a 6
part series of articles reflecting on Humanae Vitae in honour of it's 40th anniversary.
Part 1: Contraception and Cultural Chaos: http://www.catholicexchange.
com/2008/07/21/113184/
Part 2: "Does Contraception Foster Love?": http://www.catholicexchange.
com/2008/07/22/113185/
Part 3: Contraception and the Language of the Body: http://www.catholicexchange.
com/2008/07/31/113186/
Part 4: Sex Speaks - True and False Prophets: http://www.catholicexchange.
com/2008/08/01/113187/
Part 5: Contraception v. Natural Family Planning: http://www.catholicexchange.
com/2008/08/04/113188/
Part 6: Humanae Vitae and True Sexual Freedom: http://www.catholicexchange.
com/2008/08/05/113189/
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See this hopeful article by Janet Smith- “Time to Preach About Contraception”:
http://ncregister.com/site/article/15449
Homily by Fr. Tim McCauley from Russell on HV, “Contraception, or the Good News
about Sex and Marriage”:
http://www.olmm.ca/homilies/2008/06/08/contraception-or-the-good-news-about-sex-
and-marriage/
15 Filipino Bishops Lead 12,000 in Prayer Rally Celebrating 40th Anniversary of
Humanae Vitae Encyclical: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08072803.html
Filipino President Says She’s With the Church against Contraception and For Life: http:
//www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08072901.html
Recent New York Times article: "The Pope vs. the Pill" by John Allen: http://www.nytimes.
com/2008/07/27/opinion/27allen.html
National Post article:"40 years later, the Pope's words on birth control have stood the
test of time" by Douglas Farrow:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/07/31/douglas-farrow-
40-years-later-the-pope-s-words-on-birth-control-have-stood-the-test-of-time.aspx
Three articles in a dedicated issue of MercantorNet.com deal with Humane Vitae. The
first one “The Pill: past its use-by date” exposes the fantasy ideology driving the quest for
perfect contraception." Singapore's fertility woes call for a rethink of sexual attitudes "
describes what happens when governments, not parents, regulate births. A revealing
interview with philosopher Christopher Tollefsen discussing how deeply contraception
has affected our social world in " Sex without consequences, a world without
commitment."
Humane Vitae receives new respect in Canada: http://www.catholicregister.
org/content/view/2096/849/
Former Humanae Vitae Dissenter Signs HLI Pledge:
http://www.catholicexchange.com/2008/08/06/113412/
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- Read this landmark Encyclical for yourself:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-
vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html
“Most couples simply have no idea what they’re getting themselves into when they
sterilize their sexual acts. So none of this is about assigning culpability. If I drink a cup
of poison — but don’t know it’s poison — I haven’t committed suicide; I’m not culpable
for my own death. But it will still kill me, because whether I think it’s poison or not has
no bearing whatsoever on whether it is poison or not. Furthermore, if you know it’s
poison and I don’t, what would be the loving thing to do if you saw me reaching out to
drink it?
The Church is not trying to impose her morality on us. Like any loving mother, she is
trying to prevent her children from unwittingly ingesting a very dangerous “poison to
love.” On the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, let us thank Pope Paul VI for loving
us so much.” (Christopher West)n and the Language of the
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Some common questions on HV – By Archbishop Charles J. Chaput
In the weeks following publication of his pastoral letter (see above), Archbishop Chaput
answered some common questions about family planning and related issues. Click on
the following Web site: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource.php?n=664
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- Catholic News Agency (CNA) compilation of articles on
Humanae Vitae
To help our readers celebrate in the 40th anniversary of the visionary document Humanae
Vitae, CNA is offering resources to help deepen your understanding of the letter. Click on
the following: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/humanaevitae/
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- Why so many articles on Humanea Vitae Lately?
A plethora of articles has appeared in the last few weeks to commemorate the
40th Anniversary of this landmark encyclical. Remember, that’s the encyclical
reaffirming Church teaching on artificial contraception which was met with
widespread dissent when it was proclaimed in 1968. What's going on?
George Weigel offers some explanations in “Humanae Vitae at 40”: http:
//www.the-tidings.com/2008/080808/diffce.htm
July 25th marked the 40th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae (HV) ,
the landmark encyclical reaffirming the Church’s position against artificial contraception.
“When Pope Paul VI issued this document on July 25, 1968, it fell like a bomb. Many
people wished the issue would just go away. It hasn’t. And it won’t. In fact, it can’t “go away.”
This encyclical takes us to the very foundations of human life ( humanae vitae ).”
(Christopher West )