With today being the 50th Anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical, Humanae Vitae, I thought I would return to a series I haven’t written for some time. I am not going into the details of this incredibly prophetic document since you can find a lot of people writing on this document, if you only just search the words online. I will say that when the late Holy Father wrote this document, some of you probably know this, it was rejected by many prominent Catholic theologians for its bold statements regarding human sexuality. There are books written about the rejection of this document and the dissent that it produced, and in some circles within the Church the dissent continues even to this day.

Although I have been aware of this document for many years (I read it for the first time about 20 years ago), I recently heard it mentioned in our Natural Family Planning Class. So many people, even many Catholics, have chosen to use the poisonous contraceptive otherwise known as The Pill over the beauty of God’s design for the human body. They have also perverted the human body in other ways so eloquently outlined by the Holy Father. If you have never read this short encyclical, I would encourage you to read it. As I mentioned above, it is prophetic. Pope Paul VI could see the writing on the wall when it came to human sexuality. Everything he prophesied would happen has happened.

With this being said, what the does the Catechism of the Catholic Church state on the aforementioned topic? This information comes from the section focusing on the Sixth Commandment and quotes the aforementioned encyclical. To read the complete section of this part of the Catechism, I would also read the QLC titled – The Love of Husband and Wife (and NFP Awareness Week).

In regards to human sexuality, the Catechism states –

“Love is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being” (FC 11). [#2392]

By creating the human being man and woman, God gives personal dignity equally to the one and the other. Each of them, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity. [#2393]

Christ is the model of chastity. Every baptized person is called to lead a chaste life, each according to his particular state of life. [#2394]

Chastity means the integration of sexuality within the person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery. [#2395]
Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices. [#2396]

The covenant which spouses have freely entered into entails faithful love. It imposes on them the obligation to keep their marriage indissoluble. [#2397]

Fecundity is a good, a gift and an end of marriage. By giving life, spouses participate in God’s fatherhood. [#2398]
The regulation of births represents one of the aspects of responsible fatherhood and motherhood. Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception). [#2399]

Adultery, divorce, polygamy, and free union are grave offenses against the dignity of marriage. [#2400]

For a complete understanding, I would encourage you to read paragraphs #2331-2391. If you are not familiar with Humanae Vitae, please search these words online (I just did) and you will find a plethora of links talking about how the destruction of human sexuality continues to eat way at society today and destroy the family.

Blessed Pope Paul VI…Pray for us