[metmom]

Read Acts. What happened when Paul and Barnabas got into an argument in Antioch about circumcision?? They couldn't say....."well let's see what the Bible says about this!". They couldn't! No, Instead, Acts tells us that they returned to Jerusalem to consult with the "apostles and ancients" and it was in fact Peter who rose up to give the decisive oration.

It was NOT Peter. It was James.

It's the same today. There is nothing in Scripture about the morality of artificial contraception! There must be a living, breathing Magisterium, connected to the Apostles to decide on these matters.

Ah, the old contraception issue.

Whenever Catholics are taking a beating, they resort to that.

So if Scripture is silent on artificial contraception, then on what basis did the magisterium decide that it was wrong?

[marshmallow]

Ah, the old contraception issue.

What's "old" about it? It's a current and ongoing issue and you won't find an answer in Scripture.

Whenever Catholics are taking a beating, they resort to that.

Translation: I have no answer.

Add in vitro fertilization. Scripture says nothing. Cloning.....nothing.

How could it? These are new technologies.

Beat me some more.

So if Scripture is silent on artificial contraception, then on what basis did the magisterium decide that it was wrong?

On what basis?

On the basis of 1) Divine Revelation and 2) the Natural Law as understood by the teaching authority of the Church.

Here's a quote....

"This kind of question requires from the teaching authority of the Church a new and deeper reflection on the principles of the moral teaching on marriage—a teaching which is based on the natural law as illuminated and enriched by divine Revelation."

"No member of the faithful could possibly deny that the Church is competent in her magisterium to interpret the natural moral law. It is in fact indisputable, as Our predecessors have many times declared, (l) that Jesus Christ, when He communicated His divine power to Peter and the other Apostles and sent them to teach all nations His commandments, (2) constituted them as the authentic guardians and interpreters of the whole moral law, not only, that is, of the law of the Gospel but also of the natural law. For the natural law, too, declares the will of God, and its faithful observance is necessary for men's eternal salvation. (3)

In carrying out this mandate, the Church has always issued appropriate documents on the nature of marriage, the correct use of conjugal rights, and the duties of spouses. These documents have been more copious in recent times."

Excerpted from the document Humanae Vitae which explains the whole thing.