RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD IS LINKED TO MORAL AUTHORITY

COMMENTARY TO THEOLOGY OF THE BODY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II,
Page 401-403, General Audience of September 5, 1984



RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD IS LINKED TO MORAL AUTHORITY


Eric V. Encina




This particular topic is seriously striking to everyone of us. Indeed there can be no real responsible parenthood without moral maturity. It can also be defined as moral life in simple term. The absence of the sanctifying grace of God means there can be no any moral maturity and foundation in any married life.

In this theme or topic, it shows the witnessing of the Lord of Life to the covenant of married couple(s) to have a morally matured married life without such things that impair, destroy or desacralize marriage, such as infidelity, adultery or concubinage and all forms of common sexual immoralities. The Biblical passage of Malachi 2:14-15 is indeed striking at the heart of men, to present generation where faithlessness or unfaithfulness is too rampant nowadays because of the pressures of the culture of sins, the weakening moral life and the weaknesses of men and women and directly or indirectly supported by state legislations and chartered laws of divorce.

Faithlessness is a kind of prominent spiritual battle, not only of men but also of women in the modern world. In this chapter, the Lord has expressed hatred to 'divorce' and thus hates the sins of unfaithfullness to the wife or to one's spouse, is thus a strong indication and even a warning that is also offended. It also implies that when a man breaks the promise of faithfulness to wife, he also eventually breaks his promises to God-who witnessed in their marital covenant. This is very serious. Unfaithfulness to sacramental marital life, alas, causes or helps the advancement of building of the culture of death or expands the imperalialism of the contraceptive mentality down to all kinds of moral evils in the modern world.

Theology of the Body isa providential science of faith for the sanctification of human sexuality for the divine goal of procreation through marital human love that has the supernatural goal to rectify the moral aberrations of the present humanity.

It can also be interpreted here that the use of artificial contraception or abortifacient could also be a groundfor marital unfaithfulness. Because human sexuality in the light of faith is the expression of love between husband and wife for the procreation of human life or human being for the love of God and His glory. This truth is immutable as this is the expression of the will of God in perpetuity.

The use of artificial contraceptives is opposed to the dignity of the human person and morality of marriage and against the sacrament of the married couples. The Catholic Church infallibly teaches that this is intrinsically evil. Hence, Humanae Vitae and Familiaris Consortio have clearly defined and explained why the Church is opposed in perpetuity to any form of artificial contraception while carefully considers and regulates the right and lawful manners of natural methods of birth control and fertility.

The dignity of the human person as a rational and free being in the image and likeness of God is not only of being in "nature" but also of "supernatural origin", knowing the truth that man and woman are both destined to be the citizens of heaven. The use of contraceptives destroys, not only the manhood of man, but also the womanhood of woman, and thus also destroys his humanity and his/her morality. At present trhe use of such artificial methods impedes spiritua life and thus destroys life and family.

Man and woman have the natural freedom to express his/her/their biological needs but such natural freedom of body expression cannot be morally matured and thus bereft of the essential responsible parenthood if there is no understanding and application of the THEOLOGY OF THE BODY in the light of the faith and grace. Nature and moral maturity to together and now explained by the Theology of the Body. And all Christians must have discernment with conformity to the natural and moral order of human fecundity and of marriage.

In the practice of natural birth control methods --- which is called as a morally correct regulation of fertility, it is important to note that this practice is not absolute in itself. We can always practice moral maturity in every aspect but the natural method of birth control is limited within the logic and or reasons of necessity, in other words, it cannot be practiced without evidential reasons and truths. Otherwise, to use or practice natural birth control frequently for selfish reasons, can be also a ground to opposing the original nature of marriage, or the natural, moral and divine purposes of marriage or marital union. Children being brought about by the sacramental marriage are of Godly offsprings --- with the supernatural goal of populating Heaven with saints. The wisdom, discernment, the reasons, the inspirations guided by the grace of the God, can make married couples decide well when and how to morally and naturally or effectively apply the natural birth control methods without remorse of conscience.

The communion of the union of the body of the married couples means the expression of natural and moral love and fecundity ---and strictly---all forms of fertility or birth control methods are prohibited. What the Church intends or teaches with authority from God as explained in the Humanae Vitae and the Theology of the Body is the morally correct regulation of fertility, pregnancy and birth rate of the couples within the framework of nature and morality in order to fulfill the great tasks of responsible parenthood in the higher level. The purpose of which is morally matured expression of love or human sexuality of married couples according to truths. "Veritas Vos Liberavit!"


Responsible parenthood as explained by Humanae Vitae in short is the timely and yet morally way of application of the correct regulation of fertility or pregnancy to fulfill the task of responsible parenthood without any resort to unnatural, immoral and artificial contraceptives. This kind of responsible parenthood as explained by Humanae Vitae corresponds to the real dignity of the persons and of the married couples.


ABUSES:


Most of the married couples now are in dilemma - in deep moral troubles, not only because of the flooding of the artificial contraceptives and their side-effects in most aspect, but also in the application of natural family planning methods. Some couples with or without Christian backgrounds pratice the natural methods that become bereft of morally correct regulation of fertility and pregnancy because, by selfishness and narrow understanding, THEY WANT TO AVOID PREGNANCY, CHILD-BEARING, CHILDREN--as the primary motive in using natural birth control method. However, having lower or higher number of pregnancy or children, morally and economically speaking, analogically, does not actually matter so long as there is RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD with moral maturity and so long as there is RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE with economic and social security provision--fulfilling the tasks that STATE EXISTS FOR THE PEOPLE, AND NOT FOR THE PEOPLE FOR THE STATE. Lowering the birth rate by the use or abuse of natural methods because of the reasons of poverty--which is man-made, is not at all reasonable and justifiable. Children are a wealth of the nation, as the future co-constributor of the country's progress. Thinking and even accusing that chilldren cause poverty is economically unacceptable and silly. There is a common belief nowadays that lowering birth rate is the solution to poverty and economic crisis, but there is no proof that that this is true and can be no true, where in fact lowering birth rate can be economically devastating in the long-term for one nation. Most people fail to see the paradox of the age of global plenty that we need CHILDREN to use and consume production even in this age of over-production of material wealth. God provides so gracefully in plenty the wealth of the earth and we should not prevent children to enjoy the plentiful of God's providence and blessings. The worse is the plague of artificial contraceptives and abortion industry that destroy innocent human lives, intend to eliminate children, destroy marriage while making profits, using poverty and economic crisis surrepticiously for the purpose of making a new world order without God, and without respect to life and family, of making the culture of hedonism, materialism, ungodliness and death. The truth is we are facing the problem of long term depopulation, not of overpopulation.

HEALTH:

Contrary to UNPFA, the health matters related to child-bearing or pregnancy is not a problem in itself so long as the couples follow the nature and the nutritional health tips for healthy pregnancy. Population controllers and the abortionists make all sorts of scaring tactics to the couples that having high pregnancies cause diseases and death while COVERING UP the side-effects and deaths caused by using contraceptives and procuring abortion. There can be no sickness so long as the couples comply and follow the will of God and their state of married life.

Humanae Vitae only morally and naturally regulates the fertility of married couples according to reasons, logic and morally acceptable situations but in no way promotes birth control but in truth accepts a large family however with responsible parenthood with moral maturity and high ethical value, respecting the conscience of the married couples on the natural limiting of children. It also implies that using natural birth control methods with reason is also meant ti be an ethical responsible parenthood while the use of artificial contraceptives to limit children is viewed by the Christian teachings as unethical expression of responsible parenthood. However, we are accused by those anti-lifers, the pro-choicers and those financiers that failure to use artificial contraceptives, the Christian couples are viewed as irresponsible. We can see the distinction and difference of understanding, views and orientation. Any birth control method without moral maturity and ignorant of the moral and natural order is both intrinsically evil and perpetually sinful.

The Theology of the Body also presents the subject of mastery, sacrifice and continence on the part of the married couples in order to understand the real meaning of life but in no way diminishes the biological, natural, moral order and expression of love in the marital life.

Humanae Vitae wants us to dwell into a perfectly correct moral balance, of natural order to make married couples be truly graceful and deeply responsible parents of their children.

The Theology of the Body that embodies Humanae Vitae helps us to shape our attitude towards a higher moral order with ethical and natural expression of human love and sexuality in the marital union.

It is indeed interesting to remind us that POPE PAUL VI writes: "THIS SELF-DISCIPLE...BRINGS TO FAMILY LIFE ABUNDANT FRUITS OF TRANQUILITY AND PEACE. IT HELPS IN SOLVING DIFFICULTIES OF OTHER KINDS. IT FOSTERS IN HUSBAND AND WIFE THOUGHTFULNESS AND LOVING CONSIDERATION FOR EACH OTHER. IT HELPS THEM TO REPEL THE EXCESSIVE SELF-LOVE WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF CHARITY. IT AROUSES IN THEM A CONSCIOUSNESS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. AND FINALLY, IT CONFERS UPON PARENTS A DEEPER AND MORE EFFECTIVE INFLUENCE IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN - FOR THESE LATTER, BOTH IN CHILDHOOD AND IN YOUTH, AS YEARS GO BY, DEVELOP A RIGHT SENSE OF VALUES AS REGARDS THE TRUE BLESSINGS OF LIFE AND ACHIEVE A SERENE AND HARMONIOUS USE OF THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL POWERS" (HV 21).

I highly recommend the reading, study and application of the THEOLOGY OF THE BODY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II to help build or rebuild the culture of life and the civilization of love.


Comments, suggestions, rejoinder, correction, opinions are welcome.



Eric V. Encina
Filipino Pro-life/Family/Justice Activist
Activism Center For Life, Family & Justice
c/o Lito Alhambra Old House, Homesite,
Km2. Brgy. Lawa-n, PO Box 8, 5800 Roxas City, Capiz Province,
Philippines
eric_encina@yahoo.com
rc_encina@yahoo.com
reynalda_life@yahoo.com my wife’s email
New Email: eric.encina8@gmail.com