Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical, Humanae Vitae on July 25, 1968. You can read the entire document here:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html
What do we observe about the moral culture of our society in relation to what was said in this document back in 1968? I would encourage you to at least read section 17 if you don't want to read the whole document. This portion of the encyclical refers to the consequences of using artificial birth control methods. Was Pope Paul VI correct in his observations? Let's focus on just one sentence for a moment.
"Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that 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."
The man "may forget the reverence due to a woman". How long has it been since you heard that type of language to describe a true relationship of love between a man and a woman? The entertainment industry has worked diligently over the years to help dismantle the moral code to a point where we as a culture have lost the honor, dignity, and respect for married love and simply reduced it to the pursuit of our lustful passions. Reverence is obviously lost in the process and so is sincere care and affection.
Humanae Vitae was greatly criticized and rejected as being out of touch with reality. Now that we have 45 years of hindsight since the release of this encyclical, is the message any clearer than it was in 1968?
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html
What do we observe about the moral culture of our society in relation to what was said in this document back in 1968? I would encourage you to at least read section 17 if you don't want to read the whole document. This portion of the encyclical refers to the consequences of using artificial birth control methods. Was Pope Paul VI correct in his observations? Let's focus on just one sentence for a moment.
"Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that 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."
The man "may forget the reverence due to a woman". How long has it been since you heard that type of language to describe a true relationship of love between a man and a woman? The entertainment industry has worked diligently over the years to help dismantle the moral code to a point where we as a culture have lost the honor, dignity, and respect for married love and simply reduced it to the pursuit of our lustful passions. Reverence is obviously lost in the process and so is sincere care and affection.
Humanae Vitae was greatly criticized and rejected as being out of touch with reality. Now that we have 45 years of hindsight since the release of this encyclical, is the message any clearer than it was in 1968?
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