The Natural Law

In the “Humanae Vitae,” Pope Paul VI mentions the importance of observing the natural law:

11. The sexual activity, in which husband and wife are intimately and chastely united with one another, through which human life is transmitted, is, as the recent Council recalled, "noble and worthy.'' (11) It does not, moreover, cease to be legitimate even when, for reasons independent of their will, it is foreseen to be infertile. For its natural adaptation to the expression and strengthening of the union of husband and wife is not thereby suppressed. The fact is, as experience shows, that new life is not the result of each and every act of sexual intercourse. God has wisely ordered laws of nature and the incidence of fertility in such a way that successive births are already naturally spaced through the inherent operation of these laws. The Church, nevertheless, in urging men to the observance of the precepts of the natural law, which it interprets by its constant doctrine, teaches that each and every marital act must of necessity retain its intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life. (12)

The Pope explains that although sexual intercourse doesn’t scientifically lead to procreation every single time, it is the duty of a husband and wife (alluding to the marital roles of a man and woman) to realize the sole purpose of such acts. He basically says that engaging in sexual activity means a man and woman accept their duty of procreation which can occur at any time [assuming artificial birth control methods are abstained.] The laws of nature, between a male and a female who should be married, regarding the number of children they are capable of having together, is already predetermined and therefore shouldn’t be tampered with.

In my opinion, this is complete and utter bogus. This statement engages several major debates – marriage between a man and a woman only, anti contraceptive methods, as well as the disapproval of scientific procedures such as in vitro to help with infertility. This would insinuate that couples who can’t afford children, couples who are too young, women who have been raped, and women as well as men who are having difficulties with fertility, among countless other scenarios, should either accept the responsibility of raising a child (despite the circumstances) OR learn to be content that having children was not his or her destiny.

This can have the most detrimental impact on an individual’s social, psychological, emotional, and physical well-being. That’s why birth control (including condoms and various forms of the pill) should be a completely acceptable alternative. There are plenty of responsible, involved couples who need to satisfy basic biological needs every now and then who are simply not ready to raise children. Seeking treatment for infertility problems is another option that should not be shunned upon. This problem doesn't reflect the parenting abilities of an individual and doesn't mean he or she shouldn't be allowed to have the same privilege of having kids. After all, there are plenty of people who are parents that shouldn't be.

The Duggars are a prime example of a family following the proposed “natural law” by having baby after baby, believing that each child is a gift from God that was meant to be. Frankly, this is not practical and no, all those children were not preserved in space and time to be born when they were. It’s called...having sex without protection will eventually lead to pregnancy in most cases and the Duggars just happened to get lucky being so fertile. Overall, we should be in control of our own bodies and should have the power to make decisions that will affect us. No one else should have that influence.