Birth Control: Is it Really Intrinsically Wrong?

Pope Paul VI argues that any form of birth control is intrinsically wrong in paragraph 14 of Humanae Vitae. Below are some specific excerpts that I found to be particularly interesting.

14. Equally to be condemned, as the magisterium of the Church has affirmed on many occasions, is direct sterilization, whether of the man or of the woman, whether permanent or temporary. (15)

Similarly excluded is any action which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation—whether as an end or as a means. (16)

" it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it (18)—in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general. Consequently, it is a serious error to think that a whole married life of otherwise normal relations can justify sexual intercourse which is deliberately contraceptive and so intrinsically wrong.

Clearly it is the argument of the Pope that any form of contraception, be it before, during, or after intercourse is never lawful and contradicts the moral order. He even condemns contraception that is used in good intention because "its very nature contradicts moral order...and thus must be judged unworthy of man".

This position that the pope is taking, if strictly followed by society, would result in negative consequences. Sure it may be believable and in some cases supported that contraception may, or already has, changed man's view of women (making them more materialistic and degrading their value), but the idea that contraception in any situation is unlawful is unrealistic. This is because society has constructed conscious politics in which "the greater good" path or option is typically followed. For instance, the two child rule in China. They implemented the law to control the population in order to increase the well being of the existing population. If the population grew or became to large there would not be sufficient resources (food, water, space, money) to provide a "humane" existence. There would be a portion of that population that would die due things such as disease and starvation.

Society is constantly in conflict with the 'natural law' because human intelligence has created a means for us to engage in such acts, because of natural instinct (desire to mate), without consequence(no pregnancy). Despite what the pope preaches about contraception the U.S education system constantly teaches various contraception methods. The American society has a view that forms of contraception are means of "safe sex". These views go against what the pope believes in a "fixed" human nature when in fact human nature is very much shaped by society and its constructions. The political, economical, and psychological constructs of society argue against a fixed human nature. We as humans are much different after the invention of birth control and in a good way. We can control when we have offspring to ensure that we are ready to provide for them, to give them every advantage possible, to protect the stability of society. Without contraception society would be strained by unplanned pregnancies, further spread of STDS's, and overpopulation.