Encyclical Overview

Priscilla Fortunate Bassey

The rapid increase in population which has made many fear that world population is going to grow
faster than available resources, with the consequence that many families and developing countries
would be faced with greater hardships. This can easily induce public authorities to be tempted to take
even harsher measures to avert this danger. There is also the fact that not only working and housing
conditions but the greater demands made both in the economic and educational field pose a living
situation in which it is frequently difficult these days to provide properly for a large family.

DOCTRINAL PRINCIPLES:

The question of human procreation, like every other question which touches human life, involves more
than the limited aspects specific to such disciplines as biology, psychology, demography or sociology. It
is the whole man and the whole mission to which he is called that must be considered: both its natural,
earthly aspects and its supernatural, eternal aspects. And since in the attempt to justify artificial
methods of birth control many appeals to the demands of married love or of responsible parenthood,
these two important realities of married life must be accurately to defined and analyzed.

God's Loving Design:

Married love particularly reveals its true nature and nobility when we realize that it takes its origin from
God, who "is love," (6) the Father "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named." (7)
Marriage, then, is far from being the effect of chance or the result of the blind evolution of natural
forces. It is in reality the wise and provident institution of God the Creator, whose purpose was to effect
in man His loving design.

Married Love:

In the light of these facts the characteristic features and exigencies of married love are clearly indicated,
and it is of the highest importance to evaluate them exactly.

This love is above all fully human, a compound of sense and spirit. It is not, then, merely a question of
natural instinct or emotional drive. It is also, and above all, an act of the free will, whose trust is such
that it is meant not only to survive the joys and sorrows of daily life, but also to grow, so that husband
and wife become in a way one heart and one soul, and together attain their human fulfillment. Married
love is also faithful and exclusive of all other, and this until death.

Responsible Parenthood:

Married love, therefore, requires of husband and wife the full awareness of their obligations in the
matter of responsible parenthood, which today, rightly enough, is much insisted upon, but which at the
same time should be rightly understood.
Union and Procreation:

This particular doctrine, often expounded by the magisterium of the Church, is based on the inseparable
connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive
significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act.

Faithfulness to God's Design:

Men rightly observe that a conjugal act imposed on one's partner without regard to his or her condition
or personal and reasonable wishes in the matter, is no true act of love, and therefore offends the moral
order in its particular application to the intimate relationship of husband and wife.

Unlawful Birth Control Methods:

Therefore, we base Our words on the first principles of a human and Christian doctrine of marriage
when We are obliged once more to declare that the direct interruption of the generative process
already begun and, above all, all direct abortion, even for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely
excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children.

Lawful Therapeutic Means:

On the other hand, the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means
necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there
from provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever.

Consequences of Artificial Methods:

Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the
Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control.
Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity
and a general lowering of moral standards.

PASTORAL DIRECTIVES

Our words would not be an adequate expression of the thought and solicitude of the Church, Mother
and Teacher of all peoples, if, after having recalled men to the observance and respect of the divine law
regarding matrimony, they did not also support mankind in the honest regulation of birth amid the
difficult conditions which today afflict families and peoples.

Value of Self-Discipline:

The right and lawful ordering of birth demands, first of all, that spouses fully recognize and value the
true blessings of family life and that they acquire complete mastery over themselves and their emotions.

Conclusion:

Population is the economic strength of every nation both developed and under developed if and only if
the government can actually use it to enhance GDP of the country. Although this is not encouraging
couples to give birth to children the cannot carter for and subjecting them into illicit activities. I also
believed if all the doctrine principles listed above are adhere to by couples our homes will be
comfortable and a breeding ground for Christian homes.