'''''Contraception''''' is the term used to describe the intentional prevention of conception or impregnation. Thus contraception here does not refer to [[abortion]], or to those contraceptive techniques understood to be abortifacient in nature. {{Template:Disputed}}
A distinction is implicit here between birth control (or family planning) and contraception. The latter term is usually reserved for those methods which more directly inhibit or act against conception. Non-contraceptive methods of family planning (to limit the number and/or timing of children) include abstinence and Natural Family Planning. ==SynopsisOrthodox Teaching on Birth Control and Contraception== ==Birth Control==Non-contraceptive methods of family planning (to limit the number and/or timing of children) include abstinence and Natural Family Planning.
As [[Paul Evdokimov]] wrote, "In the age of the Church Fathers, the problem of birth control was never raised. There are no canons that deal with it."<ref>Evdokimov, p. 174.</ref> The Orthodox bioethicist [[H. Tristram Engelhardt]], Jr., agrees, writing, "Despite detailed considerations of sexual offenses by ecumenical councils, and by generally accepted local councils, and despite a recognition that marriage is oriented toward reproduction, there is no condemnation of limiting births, apart from the condemnation of abortion."<ref>Engelhardt, p. 265. </ref>
Opinions about ===Natural Family Planning===Many advocates of Natural Family Planning (NFP) believe it is superior to contraception have varied in . It is often said that the dynamics of NFP (similar to the fasts of the Orthodox Church) serve as a kind of catechesis for marital sexuality, emphasizing the need for self-control and honoring God-given fertility while at the same time recognizing the need for intimacy and allowing for a responsible family planning. There NFP is complete unanimity also useful for couples having difficulty conceiving. Additionally, because of the awareness of the woman's cycle that no form it brings it can also help a woman detect health risks manifested through irregularities in the cycle. Modern methods of contraception that NFP can be used by women with irregular cycles, as well as by women who are breastfeeding or pre-menopausal. With proper use, NFP is abortifacient is acceptable and there are definitive ecumenical canons that proscribe abortifacientsas effective as the Pill. ==Contraception== The Fathers dominant view, represented by the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]], the Churchof Moscow<ref>https://mospat.ru/en/documents/social-concepts/xii/</ref>, such as Ssthe Orthodox Church in America<ref>[http://www.oca.org/DOCmarriage. Athanasius asp?ID=19]</ref>, and by the Greatbioethicists Engelhardt and [[Stanley S. Harakas]], John Chrysostommay be fairly described as the teaching that non-abortifacient contraception is acceptable if it is used with the blessing of one's spiritual father, Epiphaniosand if it is not used to avoid having children for purely selfish reasons. Constantinople, Jeromein its 2020 document, Ambrose, Augustine ''For the Life of Hippo, Caesarious, Gregory the Great, Augustine World: Toward a Social Ethos of Canterbury and Maximos the ConfessorOrthodox Church'', all explicitly condemned abortion as well as says: "The Orthodox Church has no dogmatic objection to the use of abortifacients. Ss. Jerome safe and Clement non-abortifacient contraceptives within the context of Alexandria have also explicitly condemned coitus interruptus married life, not as an ideal or as a permanent arrangement, but as a provisional concession to necessity" (withdrawal§ 24) in their discussions . The position of the Greek Archdiocese of America was given by Harakas: "Because of the sin lack of Onan. The Fathers a full understanding of the Church have not expressed opinions on implications of the "moment" at which life beginsbiology of reproduction, so that our clear distinctions between non-abortifacient and abortifacient earlier writers tended to identify abortion with contraception may be anachronistic. However, of late a new view has taken hold among Orthodox writers and may not have existed in thinkers on this topic, which permits the use of certain contraceptive practices within marriage for the minds purpose of spacing children, enhancing the Fathersexpression of marital love, and protecting health."<ref>https://www. Consequently these Fathers' condemnation may extend to all contraceptive methodsgoarch. However there are a range org/-/the-stand-of opinions in -the present day -orthodox-church-on -controversial-issues</ref> Some would follow the issue earlier position taken by the Church of Greece in her encyclical of October 14, 1937<ref> [www.ecclesia.gr/greek/holysynod/commitees/family/3.pdf]</ref>, which accepted birth control but not contraception, i.e., it accepted abstinence and NFP, but condemned any method of non-abortifacient contraception.
:1) There are those who hold the view that one Where some patristic writers speak of sexNFP and withdrawal (''coitus interruptu''s natural purposes is the procreation ), they condemn it (St. [[Augustine of Hippo | Augustine]] <ref>Saint, Bishop of children Hippo (i1887).e"Chapter 18. sex is naturally oriented towards or "for" procreation)—Of the Symbol of the Breast, and that to actively separate of the procreative aspect Shameful Mysteries of sex from its purpose the Manichæans". In Philip Schaff. A Select Library of uniting husband the Nicene and wife Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Volume IV. Grand Rapids, MI: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.</ref>, St [[Jerome]] <ref>Jerome, Against Jovinian 1:20, (by natural family planning or artificial contraceptive methodsAD 393) is to distort ithttp://www.newadvent.org/fathers/30091.htm</ref>, [[Clement of Alexandria]])<ref>Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor of Children 2:10:91:2 (AD 191)</ref>. However, as John Noonan has shown, in each of these cases their position followed from their unbiblical idea, adopted from Stoic philosophy, that sexual desire was evil and thus marital intercourse was only permissible for procreation.<ref>Noonan, chapters III and IV.</ref>
:2)There are those who argue Although some patristic references to contraceptive herbs and potions refer to their destroying a child that natural family planning is acceptablebeing formed in the womb after the sexual act that gave rise to it (abortion), because it simply involves abstinence from sex during times when fertility is likely. Such is others seem to also include the opinion expressed by idea that these methods were also used to "sterilise" the Church of Greece womb to prevent this process from being initiated (St [[John Chrysostom]] in her encyclical his 24th Homily on Romans<ref>St John Chrysostom, Homilies on Romans</ref> and St. [[Caesarius of October 14, 1937Arles]]<ref>in his first Sermon)St Caeserius of Arles, (Sermons 1:12 [wwwA.ecclesiaD.gr/greek/holysynod/commitees/family/3522]).pdf]</ref>.
:3)There are those also individuals who teach would follow the Stoic view represented by St Augustine and others, that non-abortifacient any form of birth control or contraception other than abstinence is acceptable if it is used with sinful in that the blessing only permissible act of one's spiritual father, and if it marital intercourse is not used simply to avoid having children for purely selfish reasonsthe purpose of procreation. [http<ref> Sacred Seed, Sacred Chamber, https://wwwtheorthodoxlife.ocawordpress.orgcom/2015/05/18/sacred-seed-sacred-chamber/DOCmarriage</ref><ref>Orthodoxy, Contraception, and Spin Doctoring: A Look at an Influential but Disturbing Article, https://cjshayward.asp?ID=19 The statement on com/contraception/ </ref> Such individuals follow the typically Latin view that procreation is an essential feature of marriage , and family from which privilege the 10th All-American Council of procreative end above the Orthodox Church unitive. Eastern tradition typically follows St John Chrysostom in America] follows along these linesholding that procreation is a normal feature of marriage, but not essential to it.
While some local churches :Marriage does not always lead to child-bearing, although there is the word of God which says, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." We have issued official statements on this issueas witnesses all those who are married but childless. So the purpose of chastity takes precedence, especially now, when the whole world is filled with our kind. At the beginning, the procreation of children was desirable, it so that each person might leave a memorial of his life.... But now that resurrection is at our gates, and we do not an issue that has been clearly defined speak of death, but advance toward another life better than the present, the desire for posterity is superfluous. If you desire children, you can get much better children now, a nobler childbirth and a better help in your old age, if you give birth by the entire Churchspiritual labor.
Vocal opponents to the prevailing view of contraception in Orthodoxy today include [incomplete]:Bp. [[Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk|Hilarion of Vienna]] [ROC]So there remains only one reason for marriage, Bp. Artemije of Kosovo [SOC]to avoid fornication, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Fr. [[Patrick Henry Reardon|Patrick Reardon]], Frand the remedy is offering for this purpose. John Schroedel<ref>Chrysostom, Fr. John A. Peck and Frpp. Patrick Danielson85-86.</ref>
==Methods=='''[the following needs citations and perhaps clarification as to whether each of these reject birth control, contraception, or both)'''
Methods Vocal opponents to the prevailing view of family planning can be broken down into five categoriescontraception in Orthodoxy today include: Natural Family PlanningMetropolitan [[Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk|Hilarion of Vololamsk]] [ROC], withdrawalBp. Artemije of Kosovo [SOC], barrier contraceptivesFr. [[Josiah Trenham]], hormonal contraceptivesFr. [[Patrick Henry Reardon|Patrick Reardon]], and sterilizationFr. John Schroedel, Fr. John A distinction is implicit here between ''birth control'' or ''family planning'' . Peck, and ''contraception''Fr. Whereas the former terms may include all five categories, "contraception" is usually reserved for those methods which more directly inhibit or act against conceptionPatrick Danielson.
===Natural Family Planning=Methods of Contraception==Even many people who accept the "new consensus" position as outlines above think that Natural Family Planning (NFP) is superior to contraception. It is often said that the dynamics of NFP (similar to the fasts of the Church) serve as a kind of catechesis for marital sexuality, emphasizing the need for self-control and honoring God-given fertility while at the same time recognizing the need for intimacy and allowing for a responsible family planning. NFP is also useful for couples having difficulty conceiving. Additionally, because of the awareness of the woman's cycle that it brings it can also help a woman spot health risks manifested through irregularities in the cycle.
Modern methods Methods of Natural Family Planning differ greatly from the old "rhythm" method, which worked by marking days on a calendar and required a regular cycle length to be effective. NFP contraception can be used by women with irregular cyclesbroken down into four categories: withdrawal, as well as by women who are breastfeeding or pre-menopausal. With proper usebarrier contraceptives, NFP is as effective as the Pillhormonal contraceptives, and sterilization.
===Withdrawal===
Besides being ineffectiveWhen opponents of contraception look for biblical support for their position, methods they inevitably point to the story of withdrawal have traditionally been opposed Onan in Genesis 38, claiming that the sin committed by Onan was his commission of ''coitus interruptus''. However, this is an almost exclusively Western reading of the Church text. The only Eastern Father to read the Onan account as overa condemnation of contraception was [[Epiphanius of Cyprus | St Epiphanius of Cyprus]]. [[Origen]] had not done so in his commentary on the passage, <ref>Selections on Genesis, PG 12.129</ref>, nor had [[John Chrysostom | St John Chrysostom]] <ref>''Homilies on Genesis'' 62.1, PG 54.533)</ref>, nor [[Ephrem the Syrian | St Ephrem the Syrian]]<ref>''In Genesim et in Exodum commentarii'', 34.1</ref>. Moreover, according to Noonan, Epiphanius had taken this position “only in the context of his anti-indulgence Gnostic polemic.”<ref> Noonan, p. 101.</ref> It was his friend [[Jerome | St Jerome]] who was to shape the Western (mis)reading of Onan through his [[Vulgate]], which departed significantly from both the Hebrew and Old Latin he used as the basis of his translation. In addition to adding the word for semen which is not in the original, he slants the fleshtext to make it appear that ''coitus interruptus'' was the reason he was punished by God, saying “God slew him because he did a detestable thing". But the Hebrew has only “he did not please God,” and the Old Latin that “he appeared evil before the Lord,” neither of which focuses on the act.<ref>See Noonan, pp. 101-102.</ref>.
===Barrier Contraceptives===
==Bibliography==
*[[John Chrysostom |Chrysostom, St John]]. ''On Marriage and Family Life''. Crestwood: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2003.
*[[H. Tristram Engelhardt|Engelhardt, H. Tristram]], Jr. ''Foundations of Christian Bioethics''. Swets & Zeitlinger, 2000. See especially Chapter Five.
*[[Paul Evdokimov|Evdokimov, Paul.]] ''The Sacrament of Love: The Nuptial Mystery in the Light of the Orthodox Tradition''. Crestwood: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1985. See especially pp. 174-180.
*[[John Meyendorff|Meyendorff, John]]. ''Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective'', second expanded edition. Crestwood: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1975. See especially Chapter Thirteen.
*Noonan, John T., Jr. ''Contraception: A History of Its Treatment by the Catholic Theologians and Canonists''. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1966.*[[Philip Sherrard|Sherrard, Philip.]] "''Humanae Vitae'': Notes on the Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI," in ''Sobornost'' 5:8 (1969).*Zaphiris, Metropolitan ChrysostomosGerasimos. "The Morality of Contraception: An Eastern Orthodox Opinion," in ''The Journal of Ecumenical Studies'' 11:4 (1974). ''Note:'' http://jonathanscorner.com/writing/contraception/ provides a commentary on Zaphiris 1974 and an "opposing views" piece to the "new concensus".
*Zion, William Basil. ''Eros and Transformation: Sexuality and Marriage: An Eastern Orthodox Perspective''. Lanham: University Press of America, 1992. Chapter Seven is entitled "Orthodoxy and Contraception."
