Parental Obligation

The Pope discusses marital sex and procreation in regards to Parental Obligation. In section 10 of Humane Vitae, he writes that "Married love, requires of husband and wife the full awareness of their obligations in the matter of responsible parenthood" and continues to expound upon that topic. One area of awareness that he touches on is an awareness of the body and biological process, "With regard to the biological processes, responsible parenthood means an awareness of, and respect for, their proper functions. In the procreative faculty the human mind discerns biological laws that apply to the human person." (9).

However, the Pope also notes that procreation is not the sole utility of "the marriage act". When discussing marriages that are incapable of procreation, He writes that sex holds value in this circumstance "for its natural adaptation to the expression and strengthening of the union of husband and wife".

So the doctrine insists that responsible parents should be educated about the biology, and consequences of potential pregnancy, as well as respectful and protecting of one's life partner (section 9), while also acknowledging that sex is an important extension of emotional intimacy in a marriage.

However, the teaching moves on to condemn all forms of birth control outside of natural family planning, including sterilization of both the man and woman. If I were to address the Pope or a member of the Catholic clergy regarding Humane Vitae, my question would be this: What then, of the married couple, who desires both emotional and physical intimacy, but who's life and health could be endangered by another pregnancy? I have a personal investment in such a question because a family member of mine was told that if they were to become pregnant again, they would be putting both themselves and a child at risk.

In understanding of the biological "laws" of their bodies, are humans supposed to simply put trust in God not to have a dangerous pregnancy? Or should they acknowledge their understanding of the risks, and use that in conjunction with "Responsible Parenting" If a couple uses no birth control, and a pregnancy should happen regardless, as is possible and even likely, does that imply it is the "will of God" to risk the life of and potentially kill the wife and mother of the family?

In this doctrine the church's overriding claim, as I understand it, is that the will of God is inherent in the "natural laws" of our bodies. This concept is a strong statement with in-numerous complexities and complications. I can see where the Catholic church might be going with this, and how it was resultant of our history as humans, attempting to understand our existence and biology without the means and "seeing devices" of the technologies that are now available. However, as a child of a generation with ever expanding knowledge, science, and medicine, I am not quick to understand an inherent truth in the "Natural Laws" of our bodies. I am still working out where I stand on issues regarding life and faith, but I can confidently say that I do not think it is good or "righteous" to put a woman at risk who's health would be endangered by another pregnancy, and as an extension of that, I don't see why that should mean that sex should have to be removed from a marriage to protect her.