But the method isn't. Morally licit actions require a moral goal and a moral means to get there.
It is a distinction without a difference.
There is an immense difference between adulterating the marital act with a barrier, or adulterating my wife's body with chemicals or devices [most of which are abortifacient, btw], on the one hand, and simply abstaining when she's fertile, on the other.
"There is an immense difference between adulterating the marital act with a barrier...and simply abstaining when she's fertile, on the other."
I guess like FL, I don't see the distinction. I doubt the Fathers, especially guys like +Jerome, would either, had they known somewhat more about the actual biology involved.
Rejecting abortifacients is a no brainer.
In any event, in my Orthodox opinion, dogmatic proclamations like Humanae Vitae, without the possibility of economia, just breed contempt for the teaching authority of The Church. This "dogma" has very clearly been rejected by the Catholic laity which uses ABC at rates slightly higher than the general population. Vatican II gets quite a rap when it comes to the rise of "cafeteria Catholicism", but to my mind, Humanae Vitae as presented played a major role in the collapse of the Latin Church's authority among the laity.
By the way, nothing in Humanae Vitae's ultimate holdings are dogma in Orthodoxy and never were. They are theologoumenna.
There is no doubt that abortifacient conctraception should not be used by any practicing Christian.
Good points. I DO believe that the Lord has established that HE is in control of the womb(tell me otherwise and I ask that you read the Holy Scriptures AGAIN)
While I don't struggle with the thought of adultering the marital act with barrier/chemicals(don't do it and haven't done it), I do see your point.... still, what CAUSES the adulteration? Is it the physical condom, or the INTENT behind the condom. I contend that it is the latter. You wash the cup but are dirty on the inside.
Still, I don't equate rebelling against God's plan for procreation and substituting YOUR OWN PLAN with MURDER. Beware! Oral contraception and all other hormonal methods of 'contraception' is chemical MURDER of the Lord's little human creations.
Beware.
I take issue with chemically killing the conceived child. 90+ percent of people worldwide don't.
Good point, you can view NFP as sacrificial while other methods as incomplete.