[Brian Kopp DPM]

It appears there is not consensus among the Orthodox regarding contraception.

Contraception

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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. 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.

1) There are those who hold the view that sex should only be for the purpose of procreation, and so even natural family planning would be prohibited.

2)There are those who argue that natural family planning is acceptable, because it simply involves abstinence from 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. The statement on marriage and family from the 10th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America follows along these lines, as does "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.

While some local churches have issued official statements on this issue, it is not an issue that has been clearly defined by the entire Church.

Vocal opponents to the prevailing view of contraception in Orthodoxy today include [incomplete]: Bp. Hilarion of Vienna [ROC], Bp. Artemije of Kosovo [SOC], Fr. Josiah Trenham, Fr. Patrick Reardon, Fr. John Schroedel and Fr. Patrick Danielson.

[Kolokotronis]

“Fr. Josiah Trenham, Fr. Patrick Reardon, Fr. John Schroedel and Fr. Patrick Danielson.”

Doc, trust me on this one, these guys DO NOT speak for Orthodoxy; they don’t even speak for their own jurisdictions. They are not hierarchs though a couple at least have the egos of hierarchs They are all, so far as I know, converts and confirmed Westernizers, as their sermons demonstrate. Among many cradle Orthodox they are NOT well thought of or particularly respected as theologians.

Bishop Artemije has been defrocked the by the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church for “questionable business practices”, hardly a person anyone would want to be identified with. He as recently as mid November was defiant to the Synod and insists he still may offer public liturgies. He is attempting to foment a revolt against the Synod and the Serbian Patriarch.