I hope God does not mind me saying this; but Sparrow why on earth don't you get sterilised. Then you can enjoy proper nookey and never have to worry about it again.
God is weeding His garden. His permissible Will is allowing all that is happening so that all will recognize the "weeds" in order to pray for them. He has the perfect plan - therefore, trust and pray!
It has been an ancient and constant teaching of the Church from her foundation that contraception is wrong. Plain and simple. Clement of Alexandria (AD 191). "Because of its divine institution for the propagation of man, the seed is not to be vainly ejaculated, nor is it to be damaged, nor is it to be wasted" (The Instructor of Children 2:10:91:2 [A.D. 191]). "To have coitus other than to procreate children is to do injury to nature" (ibid., 2:10:95:3).
You are encouraging someone to undergo direct sterilization, which is an intrinsically evil act? Any “actions which are in themselves (that is, by their nature and condition) ordered toward a contraceptive end” are intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral, regardless of the purpose of the act. That quote is from Reply of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on Sterilization in Catholic Hospitals [Quaecumque Sterilizatio, March 13, 1975, AAS 68 (1976) 738-740; DOCUMENTA 25], distinguishing the sins of contraception and direct sterilization from indirect sterilization.
I don't know if this thought has already been proposed, but does anyone think that either the contraceptive quote or the Donald Trump attack could be the public blunder that Charlie referred to in a prophetic context?
I have had this thought as well. I never thought the Pope's lack of discussion about abortion during his visit in the US was enough of a blunder. This, however, seems much more of one. I hope it's this and not a bigger one down the line.
You know I have heard it said by one mystical source that Pope Francis is to experience a very powerful grace which will profoundly change the entire course of his Papacy. I think we need to be open to this. I think it is entirely possible.
What surprises me here on this forum is the fact that some have no problem with the Pope's statements nor subsequent discussion on contraception. I mean this is all fairly basic stuff. There was talk in other posts about the "evolution of church teaching". On matters pertaining to the natural moral law, ratified countless times by the tradition of the Church there can be no evolution, no change. This is a fact.
I am so sorry for your situation. I am not judging you. You have been gravely misinformed by it sounds like several priests. Contraception is not ok, even under your circumstances, and to follow our conscience means that it must be formed within the Church's teachings. If our conscience contradicts Church teaching, something is very wrong. We must take up whatever cross God gives us, and in your situation, it sounds like your cross would have to be either NFP or celibacy. There is no other moral option. To tell you differently would be uncharitable, because it is endangering your soul. I will pray for you, God bless you.
Thanks Heidi - well put. Thanks for voicing what I was thinking and unsure how to express. Sparrows - prayers going up for you and your spouse. For medical reasons, my spouse and I were celibate for nearly 6 years. It is a difficult cross, but not impossible. In fact, in some ways, my wife and my relationship grew during our celibate time. We were celibate, because we knew contraception was wrong, even if there was an underlying temptation to behave in a contraceptive manner. We grew, because we had to love and appreciate one another in different (non-sexual) ways.
My brother and I thought the same thing. Now what was the significance of the big blunder again? Was it the last sign post before major upheaval?
Yes and I was more than a little surprised to hear one member encourage another to get sterilised. This is pretty basic stuff.
I agree, it is so very difficult, but it is true. God will help you to find a way to be obedient if you sincerely want to be, but the situation as you describe it is not ok. I have had similar struggles and it boils down to sinning or suffering. I'd rather suffer in this earthly life than in the next. God loves you, He'll give you the grace.
I think Charlie had said that after the Pope made his "blunder" that Pope Francis would then enter the greatness of his papacy. Charlie later on then thought that the blunder was when he was here in the US talking to the Congress.
