I too am RC. IMHO if (artificial methods of) birth control cannot be separated from feminism then feminism is pejorative. However, feminism may not necessarily by definition be linked with forbidden methods of birth control. I just can't tell myself. I surmise the answer is based upon the life and lifestyle of individual feminists, individual by individual. When someone tells me that he/she is a feminist (some men are too!), I’m not always sure what to think. It depends upon the individual woman (or man!).
Feminism is about equality and equality must include a way to regulate reproductive function.
If you are not in favor of artificial means of birth control, then you are not a liberal in my opinion. Then again, this is my opinion only; certainly nobody is bound by my opinion (except me!).
It's not that I am opposed to artificial birth control but rather that I am obedient to the Church.
But you do have control over your reproductive functions! You can choose to have sex or not to have sex without regard to the impulses men and women experience in this life, in this sex-drenched society, and even with our being burdened by the concupiscence of the flesh.
That's been the choice I've made. But that also means I've made the choice not to marry, at least for now.
The Church does have an answer. Stay single. Being single does not necessarily mean being called to the monastic life.
Actually my choice to stay single isn't the Church's answer to my problem. The Church (and I don't mean the Church in its official function but its reality) is not welcoming of single people, especially single women.
And I don't necessarily agree that I've been 'called' never to have children. It's just that I feel like that's the choice I've been given by the Church, lots of children or no children.
Yeah, the "stay single" recommendation seems patently oversimplified for a clerical celibate to recommend. But no one--man or women--according to Church teachings may ever engage in sexual intercourse outside of marriage.
I haven't been told to "stay single" by any priest.
If you want to say, for example, that men have it easy, that they marry, have sex, and still put their careers in first place, then you would likely be correct. They traditionally don't catch the "hell" they should get for doing so yet a woman in the same position is condemned for this behavior.
I don't think women are "condemned" for wanting to have it all. It's just not possible. Most Catholic women simply ignore the Church's teaching on birth control because they know it doesn't fit into the reality of their lives.
Well the world is changing and not for the better. Women are increasingly able to pull this off like the men have done. And unfortunately they are starting to act more like men!
Women have always been more than a womb. It's just that male society never recognized that reality.
Careerism is a mortal sin under many circumstances. So is the indulgence of materialistic consumerism. My pastor once complained from the ambo that many parents care more about buying their next large-sized, expensive, SUV than putting their children in a Catholic School. Or a larger house or a high status, high paying job, etc. He of course is right on . . . except I must sadly state that some of the religious education in Catholic schools is sadly lacking nowadays.
Careerism doens't necessarily equal consumerism. Men and women are more than gamete contributors. Women are more than wombs. Recognizing this fact doesn't equal "careerism."
BTW, I'm not saying that if you work at a career, then you shouldn't marry. My wife works. In fact, if I croaked today, my wife would be able to support our children and still get them to adult life. It cuts down on the need for expensive life insurance and frankly is an emotional comfort to me given the worry wart that I am! We live below our means and are not in any debt other than a mortgage which is about to go away. Is it because we make a lot of money? W do well because we are both college educated and professionals. No, we do it because we do not believe in consumer debt whatsoever. We are not into high status or living beyond our means. Yes, we are doing better now than when we first married but we act financially pretty much the same way as when we were first married.
Yet we have NEVER neglect our children and we don't spoil them like so many of their friends are spoiled. Yet it is still a lot of hard work. My wife stayed home when our children were real young--yes women have to do this more than men. Why? Well you may not like this statement, but the umbilical chord doesn't really separate from the baby at work.
Why wouldn't I like that statement? I also don't think that a mother who works is 'neglecting' her children.
I think most women are fundamentally unsatisfied by the role assigned to them by society. We're told that becoming a mother is supposed to fulfill us but it doesn't. Does being a father fulfill all of your needs? People, men and women, are intellectual beings.
Motherhood is the lot of women, not men. Yes, men could do a lot better. But most of the secular feminists refuse to acknowledge this role of women and in it's most extreme rejection of this role--pathological man hatred and lesbianism--we have big trouble for society.
I'd say that pathological male hatred and lesbianism are not caused by secular feminism but rather by male behavior. I've read that most lesbians were sexually molested as children. Other lesbians say that their choice is 'political,' e.g. a rejection of the patriarchial heirarchy in the 'typical' family.
Two out of every 5 women will be the victim of sexual violence at some point in their lives.
The surprising thing is that most women don't hate men. Really, more of us should. That would be a rational response to the way most of us have been treated.
I've known a few decent men but most (I apologize for generalizing) are real jerks. I blame society for male 'jerk-ness.'
I’m not saying that men too cause much of this trouble in our society.
Men are the ones with control.
Birth control is right or wrong based upon objective criteria. For example, adultery is always wrong. There can be no equivocation about it although concrete circumstances may mitigate the spiritual crime of adultery, e.g., the maturity of the offender, undue influence, poor catechesis, etc..
My parents used artificial birth control and still had four children. Most other Catholic couples I know use birth control. I don't think it's led to some kind of 'evil' in their relationships. I see the Church's argument about the slippery slope and the "contraceptive" culture.
That's why the Lord Jesus Christ ONLY is the Judge (with a capital "J") and not us. Even if these guys (the hierarchs) are a bunch of ignorant or prejudiced men, if what they are saying comes from God, then that is what's important.
Female opinions on this issue are fundamentally different from male opinions. And I don't think that God has intended for women to be 'chained' to their reproductive functions.
Yes, I know that these words and concepts are not of much comfort to anyone, man or woman, in this miserable life in which we live.I understand and agree to a certain extent what you have just stated above. Nevertheless, no matter how fulfilled a man may be in reaching his career ambitions, if it hurts his family then he has not done God's will for his life and the life of his family. Same with a mom. Besides, marriage and sex represent a sacrifice pure and simple (well, maybe not simple!) even in the happiest and holiest of marriages.
We're not talking about career fulfillment. That's as much as myth as 'the cult of motherhood.'
