The Natural Methods for the Regulation of Fertility: At the Heart of the Culture of Life
In Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II responds to the contemporary culture of death by asking to replace it with a culture of life. While looking at all aspects of life and clearly expanding one's view of the life issues, His Holiness challenges us to look again at the very foundation upon which a culture of life can be built. No issues are raised more frequently in Evangelium Vitae than those related to the natural methods for the regulation of fertility, human sexuality, human procreation and the virtue of chastity. We must commit ourselves to examining more closely these most important issues and understand their significance in relation to the building of a culture of life. ''It is frequendy assert€d; says-E..Qpe John Paul II, " that contraception, if made safe and available to all, is the most effective remedy against abortion. The Catholic Church is then accused of actually promoting abortion, because she obstinately continues to teach the moral unlawfulness of contraception. When looked at carefully, this objection is clearly unfounded. It may be that many people use contraception with a view to excluding the subsequent temptation of