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Birth Control and Contraception

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→‎Synopsis: fixed a typo
'''''Contraception''''' is the term used to describe an intentional prevention of the conception of a child. This term may also be used to describe the intentional prevention of pregnancy, which may be defined differently from conception.
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==Synopsis==
Opinions about contraception have varied in the Orthodox Church. There is complete unanimity that no form of contraception that is abortifacient is acceptable and there are definitive ecumenical canons that proscribe abortifacients. The Fathers of the Church, such as Ss. 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 abortion as well as the use of abortifacients. However there are a range of opinions on the issue of non-abortifacient contraception.
==Synopsis==Until about 1970, Orthodox churches generally opposed the use of contraception. Since that time a "new consensus" has emerged, not just in America. This new view basically holds that contraception is acceptable within a Christian marriage if: :1) There are those who hold the means of contraception is not abortifacient, :2) if it is used with view that sex should only be for the blessing purpose of one's spiritual fatherprocreation, and :3) if children are not completely excluded from the marriageso even natural family planning would be prohibited.
The statement on marriage and :2)There are those who argue that natural family planning is acceptable, because it simply involves abstinence from the 10th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America follows along these lines: sex during times when fertility is likely.
* :3)There are those who teach that non-abortifacient contraception is acceptable if it is used with the blessing of one's spiritual father, and if it is not used simply to avoid having children for purely selfish reasons. [http://www.oca.org/DOCmarriage.asp?ID=19The statement on marriage and family from the 10th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America] follows along these lines, as does [http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/3/14.aspx "The Bases of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church," section XII. 3], which was approved by the 2000 Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
This "new consensus" has While some local churches have issued official statements on this issue, it is not gone unchallenged. Some teach an issue that intercourse within marriage should be for procreation only. Others hold a view somewhat similar to has been clearly defined by the [[Roman Catholic entire 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 Vocal opponents to the prevailing view of contraception has not received adequate examinationin Orthodoxy today include [incomplete]:Bp. Too often it has become tied up in identity politicsHilarion of Vienna [ROC], with various groups accusing the other of western influenceBp. It is true that this discussion is closely related to a number Artemije of complex issues that have not fully been addressed in Orthodox theologyKosovo [SOC], Fr. Roman Catholics are sometimes bewildered by how the Orthodox Church could allow such a change in teachingJosiah Trenham, Fr. One might respond by saying that the dynamics of the Orthodox tradition function much differently than Rome'sPatrick Reardon, Fr. John Schroedel and that this issue must be worked through in a manner quite different from a magisterial decreeFr. Patrick Danielson.
==Methods==
===Withdrawal===
Besides being ineffective, methods of withdrawl withdrawal have traditionally been opposed by the Church as over-indulgence of the flesh.
===Barrier Contraceptives===
<!-- Types. Statistics. Opinions. -->
 
===Intrauterine devices (IUD)===
The presence of a device in the uterus prompts the release of substances hostile to both sperm and eggs; the presence of copper increases this spermicidal effect. However, the same effect is believed to harm developing embryos. While the primary mechanism of the IUD is spermicidal/ovicidal, post-fertilization mechanisms are believed to contribute significantly to their effectiveness. Because Christians define fertilization as the beginning of life, this secondary effect is considered by them as early [[abortion]].
===Hormonal Contraceptives===
* [http://www.epm.org/articles/pilldebate2.html The Growing Debate about the Abortifacient Effect of the Birth Control Pill and the Principle of the Double Effect] - by Dr. Walt L. Larimore
* [http://archfami.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/9/2/126?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=postfertilization&searchid=1052273133039_87&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&journalcode=archfami Postfertilization Effects of Oral Contraceptives and Their Relationship to Informed Consent] - Article by Dr. Walter L. Larimore
* PBS aired a documentary a little while ago on “The "The Pill." Their [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill extensive website] contains video interviews, social history and documentary, a contraception timeline, a flash presentation of how the Pill works, internet links, and many other resources. A transcript of the television show is also available online.* [http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=15052 Government Lists All Estrogens Used in Oral Contraceptives, Hormone Replacement Therapy as 'Known Human Carcinogens']* [http://www.pilltruth.com/ Pilltruth.com] - More information about hormonal contraceptives ===Sterilization=== ==Bibliography==*[[H. Tristram Engelhardt|Engelhardt, H. Tristram]], Jr. ''Foundations of Christian Bioethics''. Swets & Zeitlinger, 2000. See especially Chapter Five. *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.*Sherrard, Philip. "Humanae Vitae: Notes on the Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI," in ''Sobornost'' 5:8 (1969).*Zaphiris, Chrysostomos. "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." ==See also==*[[Abortion]]*[[Marriage]] ==External links==   ===Organizations===*[http://www.orthodoxnfp.org The Orthodox Natural Family Planning Association]<!-- *[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodoxnfp/ Orthodox NFP Discussion List] - A discussion group for those working to implement NFP in an Orthodox context ---> ===Discussion Group Threads relevant to the topic of Orthodoxy and Contraception===* [https://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/orthodox.html The "Indiana" List archives] (search under contraception, birth control, or natural family planning) <!-- http://listserv.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=orthodox --->* [http://www.monachos.net/mb/messages/4226/1140.html?1030056988 Monachos.net Discussion Community] - Discussion on birth control<!--* [http://www.orthodoxfamily.com/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Read&BID=22&TID=1&SID=2773 OrthodoxFamily.com] discussion on NFP --->* [http://www.byzcath.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=001383 ByzCath.org discussion on birth control] - Includes Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox Perspectives<!-- * [http://www.cin.org/archives/apolo/199811/0543.html Catholic Information Network discussion on contraception] - Includes Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox Perspectives ---><!-- * [http://www.stmichael.org/cgi-dir/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Questions&action=display&num=87 St. Michael the Archangel Discussion Group] - Discussion with reference to contraception and the Orthodox Church ---><!-- * [http://pub141.ezboard.com/fgregsdiscussionboardgodtalk.showMessage?topicID=1980.topic Greg K.'s ezBoard Discussion List] --->  [[Category:Bioethics]][[Category:Ethics]]
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