Humanae Vitae - On the Regulation of Birth - Part I

As part of the ministry of the Gospel of Life Committee, we will
periodically include in our bulletin writings on various topics important to
a culture of life. This article concerns the encyclical letter Humane
Vitae, written by Pope Paul VI in 1968. This encyclical came as a response
to a world that was facing new technologies in birth control amidst great
fears over world populations and available resources, difficulties in the
education of children, changes in consideration of women and their place in
society, and the value of conjugal love in marriage.

Humanae Vitae starts out saying, “The most serious duty of transmitting
human life, for which married persons are the free and responsible
collaborators of God the Creator, has always been a source of great joys to
them, even if sometimes accompanied by not a few difficulties and by
distress.” The encyclical understands the rise of questions around the
moral teachings concerning marriage. “Would not a revision of the ethical
norms, in force up to now, seem to be advisable, especially when it is
considered that they cannot be observed without sacrifices, sometimes heroic
sacrifices?

The encyclical states that birth and control of birth, contraception,
concerns human life. It is to be considered “in the light of an integral
vision of man and of his vocation, … his supernatural and eternal vocation.
And since, in the attempt to justify artificial methods of birth control,
many have appealed to the demands both of conjugal love and of ‘responsible
parenthood,’ it is good to state very precisely the true concept of these
two great realities of married life.”

The encyclical then defines the concepts of these realities. “Conjugal
love reveals its true nature and nobility when it is considered in its
supreme origin, God, who is love.” Marriage is “the wise institution of the
Creator to realize in mankind His design of love. By means of the
reciprocal personal gift of self, proper and exclusive to them, husband and
wife … collaborate with God in the generation and education of new lives.”
This love is fully human … not, then, a simple transport of instinct and
sentiment, … and principally, an act of the free will, intended to endure
and to grow … in such a way that husband and wife become one only heart and
one only soul, and together attain their human perfection.” “’Marriage and
conjugal love are by their nature ordained toward the begetting and
educating of children. Children are really the supreme gift of marriage and
contribute very substantially to the welfare of their parents.’”

“Responsible parenthood is exercised … by the deliberate and generous
decision to raise a numerous family, or by the decision, made for grave
motives … to avoid … a new birth.” “Responsible parenthood also and above
all implies a more profound relationship to the objective moral order
established by God.” Transmitting life is not fully autonomous and apart
from the creative intention of God. “Not every conjugal act is followed by
a new life.” However, “each and every marriage act … must remain open to
the transmission of life.” “By safeguarding both these essential aspects,
the unitive and the procreative, the conjugal act preserves in its fullness
the sense of true mutual love and its ordination towards man’s most high
calling to parenthood.”

This article is continued here. We highly recommend you read the
Encyclical in its entirety. It is only 20 pages long and can be found here.