What Do Religions Say About Birth Control and Family Planning?

The Roman Catholic Church forbids sex outside marriage, so its teachings about contraception should be understood within the context of a husband and wife. Catholicism is the only major faith institution in the United States that forbids the use of contraception. The Church is against all chemical and barrier methods of birth control and considers them morally unacceptable, preaching that all sexual acts must be open to procreation.

Natural family planning such as periodic abstinence is the only contraceptive method sanctioned by the Church. Catholicism believes that sex has no value except for procreation so using birth control to prevent reproduction encourages sinful uses of sex. Still, most Catholics disagree with the prohibition of birth control; in fact, surveys find that approximately 90% of Catholic women of childbearing age and who are sexually active use a birth control method forbidden by the church.

The Presbyterian Church:

Presbyterianism fully promotes equal access to birth control options. In fact, the Presbyterian Church has been advocating for legislation that would require insurance companies to cover the costs of birth control, asserting that contraceptive services are part of basic health care and warned that unintended pregnancies can lead to higher rates of infant mortality and maternal morbidity, and threaten the economic viability of families. Presbyterians have been urging Congress and the president to include comprehensive family planning in any proposal for national health care.

_Sources:

Blumenthal, P. (2007). Overcoming Cultural Barriers in Contraceptive Care. Baylor College of Medicine.

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. (2006). Religious Views on Contraception. Call to Justice.

_{Thomas, D.L. (2007). Family Life. The Light Planet.}