©2025 Victor R. Claveau, MJ
It seems to me that people walk around the elephant in the room and do their best to simply ignore it. They might be thinking that if they don’t make eye contact, it will somehow go away or cease to exist on its own accord. Yet, this enormous beast has been standing among us for 95 years. And, for the most part, ignored by Catholic clergy. It is an evil presence, spawned by Satan himself.
It all began when a group of Anglican Bishops decided that artificial contraception could be justified under certain serious circumstances and that the use of birth control could be left up to the conscience of the individual. Until that day, all Christian churches were unanimous in their opposition to artificial birth control.
The Anglican Bishop’s resolution (15) of August 15, 1930:
“Where there is a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse (as far as may be necessary) in a life of discipleship and self-control lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, in those cases where there is such a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles. The Conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception-control for motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience.”
The United States’ Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches) endorsed “the careful and restrained use of contraceptives by married people,” while at the same time cautioned that “serious evils, such as extramarital sex relations, may be increased by general knowledge of contraceptives.”
This Resolution was the thin blade of the axe, which pried open Pandora’s Box and released the chaos that continues to this day. This disobedience to God’s will (“Be fruitful and multiply” Gen. 1:22) began the slimy slope to the moral cesspool that engulfs much of the world today.
Cardinal Francis Bourne, (1861—1935), Archbishop of Westminster, the spiritual head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales was a strong leader and the first Church official to condemn the Lambeth decision.
Pope Pius XI also swiftly reacted to this capitulation. In his encyclical Casti Connubii, (On Christian Marriage) published on the last day of 1930, he wrote:
“In order that she [the Catholic Church] may preserve the chastity of the nuptial union from being defiled by this foul stain, she raises her voice in token of her divine ambassadorship and through our mouth proclaims anew: any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin” [§56].
The Catholic Church continues to stand firm in her condemnation of artificial contraception. All other mainline religious groups not only allow artificial contraception but, in many cases, recommend it.
The teaching of the Catholic Church on contraception has not changed ― and will never change. In 1988, St. John Paul II summarized the Church’s teaching regarding birth control in a single sentence:
“No personal or social circumstances have ever or can ever justify such an [contraceptive] act.” He also stated that the ban on contraception “cannot be questioned by the Catholic theologian.” [i]
Many women who would never consider a surgical abortion now use low-dose birth control pills. In his book, The Facts of Life: An Authoritative Guide to Life and Family Issues, Dr. Brian Clowes explains how a large number of women who identify themselves as pro-life use these pills:
“This means that ‘pro-life’ women who are using an oral contraceptive, or some other means of abortifacient birth control, are committing abortions themselves on a frequent basis. These abortions are “silent” and unseen, but they are no less abortions in the eyes of God than are gruesome third-trimester D&X (partial birth) abortions. There are many ‘pro-lifers’ who are using these pills and who are involved in their promotion and distribution. These people must consider whether they can, in good conscience, criticize women whose action differs from their own only in that they have to drive to a ‘clinic’ (mill) to commit it.”[ii]
Dr. Ronald Chez, a scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), publicly stated that the ‘pills’ of today, with their lower estrogen dose, allow ovulation up to 50% of the time! Dr. Thomas Hilgers, the renowned fertility expert who is currently the Director of the Pope Paul VI Research Institute, was present when this statement was made but the NIH has never published this information. In fact, the NIH has been more than a little hesitant to publish specific data in the medical journals to which private MDs have access. The drug companies are similarly reticent to provide such data. Nevertheless, the scientist mentioned above was at that time the head of the pregnancy research development branch of the NIH, itself the spearhead for contemporary medical research![iii]
Women who use low dose birth control pills frequently conceive. According to Emory University’s Contraceptive Technology, “The first-year failure rates among typical users (of oral contraceptives) as observed in real world use are estimated to be 8%…This means that 1 woman in 12 will become pregnant Rev. Fr. David Begany, S.S.J.[1]in the first year of OC use.” Because the third mechanism of the Pill alters the lining of the uterus, the fertilized egg will not be able to implant, and will be expelled from the mother’s body.
It should be obvious to those who have eyes to see, that this permissive artificial contraception mentality has led to the wanton destruction of millions of God’s children. It is the responsibility of our clergy to educate the public on the evils of artificial contraception, Not to do so, makes them culpable in this “grave sin.”
[i] Pope St. John Paul II, during a November 12, 1988 address to the final session of a three‑day meeting of 300 Catholic moral theologians at the Pontifical Lateran University to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. “Pope Warns Theologians not to Question Ban on Contraception.” The Wanderer, November 24, 1988, page 1.
[ii] Brian Clowes, Ph.D., The Facts of Life: An Authoritative Guide to Life and Family Issues, Human Life International, (pp. 74-75).
[iii] Sterns, David, M.D., Sterns, Gina, R.N., B.S.N., Yaksich, Pamela, “How the Pill and the IUD Work: Gambling with Life” (American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555, http://www.lifeandlibertyministries.com/archives/000185.php.
The Elephant in the Room
©2025 Victor R. Claveau, MJ
It seems to me that people walk around the elephant in the room and do their best to simply ignore it. They might be thinking that if they don’t make eye contact, it will somehow go away or cease to exist on its own accord. Yet, this enormous beast has been standing among us for 95 years. And, for the most part, ignored by Catholic clergy. It is an evil presence, spawned by Satan himself.
It all began when a group of Anglican Bishops decided that artificial contraception could be justified under certain serious circumstances and that the use of birth control could be left up to the conscience of the individual. Until that day, all Christian churches were unanimous in their opposition to artificial birth control.
The Anglican Bishop’s resolution (15) of August 15, 1930:
“Where there is a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse (as far as may be necessary) in a life of discipleship and self-control lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, in those cases where there is such a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles. The Conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception-control for motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience.”
The United States’ Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches) endorsed “the careful and restrained use of contraceptives by married people,” while at the same time cautioned that “serious evils, such as extramarital sex relations, may be increased by general knowledge of contraceptives.”
This Resolution was the thin blade of the axe, which pried open Pandora’s Box and released the chaos that continues to this day. This disobedience to God’s will (“Be fruitful and multiply” Gen. 1:22) began the slimy slope to the moral cesspool that engulfs much of the world today.
Cardinal Francis Bourne, (1861—1935), Archbishop of Westminster, the spiritual head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales was a strong leader and the first Church official to condemn the Lambeth decision.
Pope Pius XI also swiftly reacted to this capitulation. In his encyclical Casti Connubii, (On Christian Marriage) published on the last day of 1930, he wrote:
“In order that she [the Catholic Church] may preserve the chastity of the nuptial union from being defiled by this foul stain, she raises her voice in token of her divine ambassadorship and through our mouth proclaims anew: any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin” [§56].
The Catholic Church continues to stand firm in her condemnation of artificial contraception. All other mainline religious groups not only allow artificial contraception but, in many cases, recommend it.
The teaching of the Catholic Church on contraception has not changed ― and will never change. In 1988, St. John Paul II summarized the Church’s teaching regarding birth control in a single sentence:
“No personal or social circumstances have ever or can ever justify such an [contraceptive] act.” He also stated that the ban on contraception “cannot be questioned by the Catholic theologian.” [i]
Many women who would never consider a surgical abortion now use low-dose birth control pills. In his book, The Facts of Life: An Authoritative Guide to Life and Family Issues, Dr. Brian Clowes explains how a large number of women who identify themselves as pro-life use these pills:
“This means that ‘pro-life’ women who are using an oral contraceptive, or some other means of abortifacient birth control, are committing abortions themselves on a frequent basis. These abortions are “silent” and unseen, but they are no less abortions in the eyes of God than are gruesome third-trimester D&X (partial birth) abortions. There are many ‘pro-lifers’ who are using these pills and who are involved in their promotion and distribution. These people must consider whether they can, in good conscience, criticize women whose action differs from their own only in that they have to drive to a ‘clinic’ (mill) to commit it.”[ii]
Dr. Ronald Chez, a scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), publicly stated that the ‘pills’ of today, with their lower estrogen dose, allow ovulation up to 50% of the time! Dr. Thomas Hilgers, the renowned fertility expert who is currently the Director of the Pope Paul VI Research Institute, was present when this statement was made but the NIH has never published this information. In fact, the NIH has been more than a little hesitant to publish specific data in the medical journals to which private MDs have access. The drug companies are similarly reticent to provide such data. Nevertheless, the scientist mentioned above was at that time the head of the pregnancy research development branch of the NIH, itself the spearhead for contemporary medical research![iii]
Women who use low dose birth control pills frequently conceive. According to Emory University’s Contraceptive Technology, “The first-year failure rates among typical users (of oral contraceptives) as observed in real world use are estimated to be 8%…This means that 1 woman in 12 will become pregnant Rev. Fr. David Begany, S.S.J.[1]in the first year of OC use.” Because the third mechanism of the Pill alters the lining of the uterus, the fertilized egg will not be able to implant, and will be expelled from the mother’s body.
It should be obvious to those who have eyes to see, that this permissive artificial contraception mentality has led to the wanton destruction of millions of God’s children. It is the responsibility of our clergy to educate the public on the evils of artificial contraception, Not to do so, makes them culpable in this “grave sin.”
[i] Pope St. John Paul II, during a November 12, 1988 address to the final session of a three‑day meeting of 300 Catholic moral theologians at the Pontifical Lateran University to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. “Pope Warns Theologians not to Question Ban on Contraception.” The Wanderer, November 24, 1988, page 1.
[ii] Brian Clowes, Ph.D., The Facts of Life: An Authoritative Guide to Life and Family Issues, Human Life International, (pp. 74-75).
[iii] Sterns, David, M.D., Sterns, Gina, R.N., B.S.N., Yaksich, Pamela, “How the Pill and the IUD Work: Gambling with Life” (American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555, http://www.lifeandlibertyministries.com/archives/000185.php.
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