Birth Control & Self-Hatred

[Chamomile]

[size="2"][font="Arial"]Reading about the recent budget deal that was struck last night, CNN reported that "[/font][/size][size="2"]Democrats said the Republican drive to defund Planned Parenthood proves the GOP is fixated on abortion and other issues related to women's health."[/size]

[size="2"]I am so tired of people referring to abortion as a "women's health issue." It is not healthy at all to destroy life - in fact, it's the exact opposite of what medicine is supposed to do. I wrote a comment to the CNN story, but I'm sure it will disappear underneath the 1,500+ other comments, saying this and that fertility and having babies is what is healthy and completely natural. [/size]

[size="2"]The more I think about this and the contraceptive-mentality our culture (and most of the world) now has, I see such a war on a woman's true, natural health. And [i][b]this[/b][/i] is what is sexist and unjust, not withholding federal funding for such things! Like ads on television that show us super-skinny models with perfect skin, women are taught to hate their bodies for existing as God created them.[/size]

[size="2"]Humans used to worship and sacrifice to fertility goddesses. Now we're sacrificing ourselves and our children - literally - to the goddess of infertility![/size]

[size="2"]It also makes me frustrated at the inconsistency of those who support birth control and also promote things like healthy and natural living through organic foods, sustainability, locally-grown food, etc. How can they not see this is hypocritical? Not everyone who supports these things support birth control and abortion, I know (because I'm one of them), but I know that the majority does. When you think about the amount of money that goes into marketing birth control and the non-environmentally-friendly packaging, you have to question how one could even support a non-medically necessary drug if they have any concern for the environment. I also have heard reports of the hormones being passed through our bodies, entering water supplies, and affecting wildlife.[/size]

[size="2"]But the environment is secondary to the personal and immediate impact of the "reproductive health" industry's lies. Self-hatred is being taught to young girls and women by promoting birth control and abortion. By encouraging women to use birth control - [i]to alter the way their body normally functions[/i] - you are saying that that woman is not good enough for society. She needs to change; [i]she must change[/i] to be acceptable. And if her body "messes up" by becoming pregnant after sex - the absolutely most natural and feminine thing our bodies can do - she has to fix it by killing the life within, regardless of that child's right to live and regardless of her own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. [/size]

[size="2"]And how easily women allow themselves to be used when they are on birth control... because sex becomes just something you do with no consequence. [/size]

[size="2"]It's ridiculous. I want to tell every woman using birth control that her body is beautiful, a miraculous work of God. So stop hurting it! Stop destroying yourself! Fertility is God's gift to women. We should rejoice that we are alive and not seek to needlessly alter the very substance of our existence. [/size]

[size="2"]I'm doubly annoyed at all this because I used to be quite feminist and supported organizations like Planned Parenthood and NOW. Looking back, I realize now that I didn't have the love and respect for my body and life as I do now that I'm Catholic, and that influenced that mindset. No one taught me that fertility is beautiful; even though I thought of myself as someone who was very natural and healthy, I lacked this crucial self-knowledge that gives peace. [/size]

[size="2"]As long as we hate ourselves, we can't love others perfectly. If women - who are created to be the heart of human society - continue to willingly inflict such harm on themselves, love and peace (those things so "embraced" in the sexual revolution) will never be a real part of our society.[/size]

[size="2"]Thank you for listening to me rant.[/size]

[Sternhauser]

Hear, hear! Well said. Women these days are kept on hormones the same reason cows are: to make it easier to use them as pieces of meat.

~Sternhauser

[Cherie]

[quote name='Sternhauser' timestamp='1302371631' post='2227096']
Women these days are kept on hormones the same reason cows are: to make it easier to use them as pieces of meat.
[/quote]

FTW!!! So true!!!

[Chamomile]

[quote name='Sternhauser' timestamp='1302371631' post='2227096']
Hear, hear! Well said. Women these days are kept on hormones the same reason cows are: to make it easier to use them as pieces of meat.

~Sternhauser
[/quote]

True. Sad thing is, a lot of people have more pity for the cows than their daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, etc...

[Cherie]

[quote name='Chamomile' timestamp='1302374226' post='2227105']
Sad thing is, a lot of people have more pity for the cows than their daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, etc...
[/quote]

Isn't that the truth?!

I love your original post, btw. So true. I [i]hate[/i] birth control and I have made it my mini-mission to speak against it. What gets me is that so many in the pro-life movement, albeit perhaps not Catholic, are completely against abortion but have no problem with birth control. How do they not see the two are inextricably connected?!

[Lisa]

[quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1302374566' post='2227108']
Isn't that the truth?!

I love your original post, btw. So true. I [i]hate[/i] birth control and I have made it my mini-mission to speak against it. What gets me is that so many in the pro-life movement, albeit perhaps not Catholic, are completely against abortion but have no problem with birth control. How do they not see the two are inextricably connected?!
[/quote]


Unfortunately, I even know a lot of Catholic people that say things along the lines of: "well, I use birth control so I wouldn't have to consider having an abortion," or "I'm taing it for cramps/acne/other reason, but then I don't 'have to worry' about getting pregnant either." Life is a gift, not something that we 'have to worry about'- and that applies to both abortion and birth control. Life=conception to natural death. Sometimes, people's opinions make me sad and .

Edited April 9, 2011 by Lisa

[Archaeology cat]

Chamomile, great post.

[quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1302374566' post='2227108']
I love your original post, btw. So true. I [i]hate[/i] birth control and I have made it my mini-mission to speak against it. What gets me is that so many in the pro-life movement, albeit perhaps not Catholic, are completely against abortion but have no problem with birth control. How do they not see the two are inextricably connected?!
[/quote]
Not too long ago I was talking to a lady I know and pointed out that, if you're against abortion, then you should logically be against the pill. I was talking only about the fact that the pill can act as an abortifacient. This lady is Baptist, and was unaware that the pill she was on did that, and was mortified. Sometimes, it really is about not being aware at all, which is sad.

[Sternhauser]

A major problem with the "contraception is better than abortion" justification is that all hormonal contraception can be abortifacient.

~Sternhauser

[Ash Wednesday]

I think contraception has also changed the entire way people in the modern age define marriage. If you can take away any procreation, children (or at least openness to children), then it really shouldn't be surprising that people would then conclude that marriage is a matter of romantic partnership only, thus need not involve children, and as it would follow, need not involve just a woman and a man.

Someone from a secular point of view may say "so what?" but it's a connection that I'm not sure people in the middle of the road make (i.e. evangelicals, Christians and Catholics or other socially conservative religious people that support artificial contraception and traditional marriage at the same time.) As A-Cat pointed out, often there's just a lot that people just go along with but don't really fully realize the implications.

[Cherie]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' timestamp='1302380515' post='2227118']
I think contraception has also changed the entire way people in the modern age define marriage. If you can take away any procreation, children (or at least openness to children), then it really shouldn't be surprising that people would then conclude that marriage is a matter of romantic partnership only, thus need not involve children, and as it would follow, need not involve just a woman and a man.
[/quote]

I think it was Janet Smith who spoke about how the Pill has actually led to more divorces [i]for that reason ...[/i] they are completely messing up God's whole reason for human sexuality. Sex to them is something fun (even a "normal human function") that should be without consequences. I always get looks of shock when I say, "If you don't want children, [i]don't have sex."[/i] (Or, "If you don't want children, [i]don't get married."[/i]) You have a lot of pro-breastfeeding people who are like, "What do you think they're FOR, anyway?!" Well, in the same vein, what do you think [i]sex[/i] is for?!? Of course that's an overly simplistic statement, but still ... the underlying truth, to me, is self-evident. I guess other people have just "gone along" with society for so long that they really [i]don't[/i] recognize the implications.

We must get the word out there, people!!!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1302392490' post='2227130']
I think it was Janet Smith who spoke about how the Pill has actually led to more divorces [i]for that reason ...[/i] they are completely messing up God's whole reason for human sexuality. Sex to them is something fun (even a "normal human function") that should be without consequences. I always get looks of shock when I say, "If you don't want children, [i]don't have sex."[/i] (Or, "If you don't want children, [i]don't get married."[/i]) You have a lot of pro-breastfeeding people who are like, "What do you think they're FOR, anyway?!" Well, in the same vein, what do you think [i]sex[/i] is for?!? Of course that's an overly simplistic statement, but still ... the underlying truth, to me, is self-evident. I guess other people have just "gone along" with society for so long that they really [i]don't[/i] recognize the implications.

We must get the word out there, people!!!
[/quote]
Are you talking about "[url="http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0002.html"]Contraception: Why Not[/url]"? Great paper.

[Cherie]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1302392614' post='2227131']
Are you talking about "[url="http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0002.html"]Contraception: Why Not[/url]"? Great paper.
[/quote]

Yes, I think she does mention it there. This is a GREAT thing for EVERY Catholic to read, btw ... I'm serious, this is [i]necessary[/i] reading (or listening, I know it's also available on CD) if we're going to eloquently and knowledgeably fight the battle against contraception. She also spoke at a Theology of the Body weekend conference I went to a few years ago; I was able to meet her and take part in some pretty amazing conversations. I have the utmost respect for her!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1302392809' post='2227133']
Yes, I think she does mention it there. This is a GREAT thing for EVERY Catholic to read, btw ... I'm serious, this is [i]necessary[/i] reading (or listening, I know it's also available on CD) if we're going to eloquently and knowledgeably fight the battle against contraception. She also spoke at a Theology of the Body weekend conference I went to a few years ago; I was able to meet her and take part in some pretty amazing conversations. I have the utmost respect for her!
[/quote]
Agreed. Quite possibly the best Catholic response to contraception that is out there.

[Chamomile]

What wonderful replies. I'm glad there are people that see the harm birth control does. We definitely need to spread this information.

Yes, I loved Janet Smith's talk! I listened to it on CD awhile ago (so I'm definitely influenced by her) and was just amazed at how truthful it was. She gives facts that are impossible to ignore and connects them together so well. I think every couple preparing to be married should have to listen to that.

[quote name='Chamomile' timestamp='1302374226' post='2227105']
True. Sad thing is, a lot of people have more pity for the cows than their daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, etc...
[/quote]

I can't believe I left out [b]wives[/b]! The Scripture tells husbands, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for it..." (Ephesians 5:25). St. Paul goes on to say that Christ wants to sanctify the Church and present her as holy and without blemish. Birth control doesn't fit into that picture of love and self-sacrifice of the husband.

The Church is always fertile, always open to life, always giving birth to her children. If you read the Song of Songs, the Lover describes the Beloved (and vice-versa) in lush, natural images full of life. This is God's plan for His Beloved, and marriage is to be a sign of this union. And so a husband who agrees that his wife should be on birth control is acting in a totally un-Christlike manner since he's making he infertile. On a purely natural level, he's also laying the entire responsibility of family planning on her - making [i]her [/i]take unnecessary medicine that changes her body. Most men aren't aware of this burden carried by women because women aren't even aware of it themselves.

There is also a presentation out there by someone who presents scientific evidence about how the Pill alters the way we choose our partners by interfering with pheromones - that those on BC are choosing the wrong partners because their natural ability to select a good potential husband has been sabotaged. I haven't heard it yet, and have only found it available on a DVD for purchase. But it sounds interesting and plausible.

But I wonder if there have been psychological studies done on how birth control affects women? This is sort of where I was coming from with the original post... it is truly an attack on the dignity of women, and without fully embracing one's femininity, emotional and mental problems will arise - in addition to the physical problems, which can wreak havoc on a person's brain, too.

Edited April 10, 2011 by Chamomile

[LaPetiteSoeur]

If anyone gets the Our Sunday Visitor, there was a big article on the harms that birth control do. The columnist (I don't remember who, bad LPS) wrote about how many Catholics don't go to confession to congess using birth control because they don't believe it's wrong, but they know the church does.

That's weird. I don't know. I sort of the "follow the church, because it was founded by Jesus Christ and since it has been around for 2000 or so years, it's got to be right." theology.

What many Catholics who believe in birth control don't realize is that it degrades women so much. Being chaste before marriage is a matter of respect for both partners. If someone is not ready to wait, then they are not worth it. If they don't respect you, they are definitely NOT worth it.

So many students use birth control now--even when they were in high school. Sometimes I wanted to just grab them by the shoulders and shake them until they understood. But then, that's unChristian, so my friends and I prayed for them. It hasn't worked, at least so far.

As far as the idea that people are more concerned about cows than actual people, my mom always mentions PETA, as they are more concerned about unborn animals than they are about unborn babies. Too bad baby humans have souls and animals don't.

Just my two cents. Thanks for starting this thread! It's a current issue that drives most Catholics nuts!