The sexual revolution was raging in the 1960’s, and the contraceptive pill had taken the decade by storm. The issue generated so much opposition to Catholic moral teaching that many Catholics expected Pope Paul VI to approve artificial contraception as a legitimate moral practice. Support for such a change was prominent even among Catholic academics, clerics, and intellectuals. With the promulgation of Humanae Vitae on July 25, 1968, the pope made clear that Catholic teaching would not change. Today, voices are heard even in the Vatican predicting that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will reverse that teaching. The temper of the times is in fact similar in many ways to that which preceded Humanae Vitae. We present today the first of two articles putting into context the issues at stake, laying out the principles with both theological and natural law perspectives.
Learn more: www.ncregister.com/commentaries/contraception-and-infallibility-part-1