I'm not a Roman Catholic, but here would be a few answers to boatbums question:
First, placing a physical (or drug) barrier rather than a self-control barrier smacks of the philosophy that we, instead of God, are the arbiters of our own fates, of who gets born and who dies. In fact, it says "we INSIST that we are in control of life and death."
Second, use of the physical barrier more likely leads to turning a blind eye to one's children's use of same when they become of a sexually active age.
Third, rejecting a well-intentioned church teaching in one area could lead to a life of looking for exceptions in other (all?) areas of church teaching. The straight-forward purpose of the contraception mandate is to honor God as being sovereign in all affairs.
I agree, well said Padre.
This subject always seems WEIRD to me. Does anyone actually think God is knitting His brow over contraception questions, when we cannot even get “THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD” correct? Really. Here we are, called to be ambassadors for Christ, preaching the reconciliation God desires for man, through the finished work of His Son, and yet, contraception is the highest note we can reach for Him.
"Well intentioned church teaching" ≠ Scripture. There's no point in following church teachings if they do not line up with the Word of God. It does not impress God or earn brownie points with Him.
Considering the rate of contraceptive failure, I hardly think that God is not sovereign in conception. If God so chooses that a certain person exist, that person will despite the efforts of parents to prevent pregnancy. And there's no fool proof contraceptive.
There's danger in mandating what God is silent on in Scripture. It smacks of legalism and is how cults are born.
Thank you for this very succinct and gracious reply.
It does speak to the very core of our nature as created beings. We are not the Creator and Author of life, He is.
I wish I had understood this sooner and been open to more children.