Why Does The Church Oppose Artificial Contraception?

There really should be no mystery. In 1968, Pope Paul VI wrote an encyclical, Humanae, Vitae, answering the question: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html. But virtually everyone who criticizes the Church's position, has not read this encyclical, nor addressed the assumptions and reasoning in it. Instead, they ascribe insidious motives to the Church, conjuring up bogeymen like a desire to repress women, or to ensure that there is an abundant supply of poor, stupid Catholics from which the Church derives her power. But, if you read Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul is very clear about the Church's motives, which are only to discern the natural law, which the Church does not view itself as creating, or even having the ability to change. And, Pope Paul also knew and asserted that what the Church had discerned as natural law would be controversial and difficult to accept:

"18. It is to be anticipated that perhaps not everyone will easily accept this particular teaching. There is too much clamorous outcry against the voice of the Church, and this is intensified by modern means of communication. But it comes as no surprise to the Church that she, no less than her divine Founder, is destined to be a "sign of contradiction." (22) She does not, because
of this, evade the duty imposed on her of proclaiming humbly but firmly the entire moral law, both natural and evangelical.

Since the Church did not make either of these laws, she cannot be their arbiter—only their guardian and interpreter. It could never be right for her to declare lawful what is in fact unlawful, since that, by its very nature, is always opposed to the true good of man. "

These are not the words of some nefarious cabal attempting to repress woman, but the words of a thoughtful and courageous seeker of truth and wisdom, despite the challenging nature of that truth, and its likely unpopularity. The Church is but the messenger; it does not create the rules.

Pope Paul made some assertions about the consequences of the use of artificial contraception. Let's see if you might think he was right:

1) "...first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards"

2) "... a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection."

3) "Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone"

More infidelity? Lower moral standards? Sexual objectification of women? Is it even arguable that the Pope's warnings about the dangers of artificial contraception were not warranted, and have not, in fact, been born out? The final warning is particularly concerning, given the latest debate. Forcing the Church to offer contraceptives and sterilization to her employees is getting very close to the government imposing the use of contraceptives on everyone.

If you wish to argue with the Church about the use of contraception, you owe it to yourself to educate yourself on her position by reading Humanae Vitae. You may well come to question your assumptions about the Church, and even if you find it difficult to accept the conclusions the Church makes, you will be able to see that the Church has no malice towards anyone, and in fact considered all the concerns that you have, and understands well your concerns, but she simply cannot tell you what you want to hear, any more than she could tell you it is okay to covet, kill or steal.