5
edits
Changes
no edit summary
==Synopsis==
Until about 1970, all Orthodox churches generally opposed the use of contraception. Since that time a "new consensus" has emerged, mostly, but not just exclusively in America. This new view basically holds that contraception is acceptable within a Christian marriage if:
:1) the means of contraception is not abortifacient,
:2) if it is used with the blessing of one's spiritual father, and
* http://www.oca.org/DOCmarriage.asp?ID=19.
This "new consensus" has not gone unchallenged. Some teach that it is sinful to artificially separate the pleasure of intercourse within marriage should be for from God's prupose of procreation only. Others hold a view somewhat similar to the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] position, which would allow family planning in principle, i.e., Natural Family Planning, while at the same time opposing contraception—many Orthodox hierarchs and theologians from around the world lauded ''Humanae Vitae'' when it was issued. A few think the "new consensus" position is too conservative and more freely allow contraception.
Many people, on all sides, believe that this change in thinking on this issue of contraception has not received adequate examination. Too often it has become tied up in identity politics, with various groups accusing the other of western influence. It is true that this discussion is closely related to a number of complex issues that have not fully been addressed in Orthodox theology. Roman Catholics are sometimes bewildered by how the Orthodox Church could allow such a change in teaching. One might respond by saying that the dynamics of the Orthodox tradition function much differently than Rome's, and that this issue must be worked through in a manner quite different from a magisterial decree.
It must be noted that the Fathers of the Church, such as Ss. Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius the Great, John Chrysostom, Epiphanios, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine of Hippo, Caesarious, Gregory the Great, Augustine of Canterbury and Maximos the Confessor, all explicitely condemned contraception, whether abortive or non-abortive. As of yet, there is yet to be a single Orthodox Saint who did not consider the use of contraception to be a grave sin.
Vocal opponents to the current secularized view of contraception in Orthodoxy include [incomplete]:
Bp. Hilarion of Vienna [ROC]
Fr. Josiah Trenham
Fr. Patrick Reardon
Fr. John Schroedel
==Methods==
==External links==
===Organizations===
