Ere Pumparse ... 530But consistent with Christ's words to the Apostles in John 16: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth...
Until we understand by whose authority the Church prohibits artificial contraception we're not in a position to understand the rest of its teachings on human loveuality. The only question I am interested in is: by whose authority does the Church teach this? If by its own, then I would have as little time for it as you. If by Christ's, then it behoves us to establish who exactly Christ was.. If he was just another prophet, a man like the rest of us, then his teachings have as much weight as any other individual's, and we can safely ignore them, confident in the knowledge he was just a man. If on the other hand we can reasonably conclude that he was indeed God, made man, then his teachings take on a different complexion altogether. If Christ was God, and if he set up his Church to continue, to interpret and to develop his teachings, then our argument is not with the Church but with Christ (and thus with God), destined to be "a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles."
Administering a "contraceptive" to a rape victim will in a number of cases have the effect not of preventing conception but rather of preventing implantation after conception, which is an abortifacient and not a contraceptive effect. -- + His Holiness Pope Pompous XVIII
"This is all Blarney!" -- Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth I
