MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- Nearly 500 British priests have signed a statement in support of the papal encyclical that forbade married couples from using contraception.
They said the prophetic warnings contained within "Humane Vitae," (Of Human Life) published by Blessed Pope Paul VI July 25 1968, have proved to be accurate.
"We propose discovering anew the message of 'Humanae Vitae,' not only in fidelity to the Gospel, but as a key to the healing and true development of our society," they said in the statement sent to the London-based Catholic Herald magazine June 14, ahead of the 50th anniversary of the encyclical's publication.
The statement said "Humanae Vitae" represented a "re-affirmation of central aspects of the church's traditional teaching on human sexuality," including that the conjugal act was "always open to procreation and always unitive."
"Humanae Vitae predicted that if artificial contraception became widespread and commonly accepted by society, then we would lose our proper understanding of marriage, the family, the dignity of the child and of women, and even a proper appreciation of our bodies and the gift of male and female," the statement said.
"The Holy Father warned that governments would begin to utilize coercive methods to control what is most private and intimate," it said.
"At the time of the publication of 'Humanae Vitae,' many rejected its message and its warnings," it continued. "Many found the teaching that the use of contraception was in all cases 'absolutely excluded' and 'intrinsically wrong' difficult to accept and challenging to proclaim."
But 50 years after its publication, "so much has unfolded in our society that has been to the detriment of human life and love," the statement said.
"Many have come to appreciate again the wisdom of the church's teaching," it said, adding that signers hoped to affirm "the noble vision of procreative love as the Catholic Church has always taught and understood it."
"We believe a proper 'human ecology,' a rediscovery of the way of nature and respect for human dignity is essential for the future of our people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike," it said.
The 462 signatories represent about one in 13 of all of the priests in England, Wales and Scotland.
50 years after publication of Humanae Vitae, "so much has unfolded in our society that has been to the detriment of human life and love," the statement said.
"Humanae Vitae" was hugely controversial when issued by Blessed Paul VI, who will be canonized in October, not least because it overrode the initial proposals of a papal commission drafted to re-examine teaching on birth control.
The document clearly asserted the teaching of the church against artificial contraception at the height of the sexual revolution.
Blessed Paul warned the faithful that breaking the unitive and procreative aspects of the conjugal act would "lead to the way being wide open to marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards."
He said women would be treated as sexual objects even by their own husbands and that governments would seek to solve social problems by imposing the use of contraception "on everyone."
The pope appealed to scientists to develop methods of fertility regulation consistent with the principles of Catholic teaching, and natural family planning methods have since been devised.
"Humanae Vitae predicted that if artificial contraception became widespread and commonly accepted by society, then we would lose our proper understanding of marriage, the family, the dignity of the child and of women, and even a proper appreciation of our bodies and the gift of male and female,"
I don't think I am going to listen to a bunch of celibate (and possibly abusive) priests tell me how to run my marriage. I will make a very thoughtful and moral decision about how many children I am going to have and raise responsibly. Instead of treating my wife like a production object I will respect her dignity and make our procreation decisions a full partnership. I will also think globally and act locally, and do my best to promote good, sustainable birth control practices that do not promote "breeding like rabbits" (Pope Francis) and try to follow the good advice of Laudato Si in caring for our common environment and reducing the environmental degradation caused by over population. My approach really values humane vitae literally, and makes it possible to respect the dignity of responsible marriage and child bearing. It is hard to love your fellow man when you do not have the freedom and space and natural resources to live in a civilised manner. Popes get 3 hots and a cot every day in the Vatican--they would write different encyclicals if they had to live in Mumbai.
Amen Brother. So all the celibates will follow Humanae Vitae in their bedrooms while all of us married Catholics will follow our own consciences. This is just another attempt to push misogyny and sexism in our church because women are demanding equality in ministry and all sacraments now. It is not going to work now any more than it has in the past. I love the assumption that women weren't treated as objects before Vatican II. Clearly, these guys have not spoken to any women since none of them or not many would agree with that assessment. Thank God for the sexual revolution!
Paul VI was prophetic about what would happen to society and now we have
the 3rd generation growing up after the 1960's and matters have only gotten worse.