Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Sometimes you just need a little Flannery

to get right to the point.

from a letter Flannery O'Connor wrote to a friend:
The Church’s stand on birth control is the most absolutely spiritual of all her stands and with all of us being materialists at heart, there is little wonder that it causes unease. I wish various fathers would quit trying to defend it by saying that the world can support forty billion. I will rejoice in the day when they say: This is right, whether we all rot on top of each other or not, dear children, as we certainly may. Either practice restraint or be prepared for crowding.

3 comments:

sarah said...

I love this. I have always admired the Catholic Church's stance on not supporting contraception, because I think it elevates us above the level of animals and it makes s-x - and the possibility of new life s-x carries - something important and sacred. The only thing that worries me is the Aids crisis in Africa, and I wonder if c-ndoms were encouraged more there, lives would be saved. But somehow I doubt it.

Sorry for the funny spelling, I didn't want to offend anyone!

Theresa said...

Well put, Flannery!
Like your previous commenter, I share concerns about AIDS in Africa. Karen, do you know what the Church, in all her wisdom, has said about the distinction between using a condom for contraception vs for disease prevention?

Karen Edmisten said...

Well, something that is intrinsically wrong can never be employed, even if a good outcome is intended. Following that road would eventually lead us to things like euthanasia, etc. (i.e., in order to prevent suffering.) I know it's a hugely complicated issue, and that there is massive suffering involved, but compromising on something that is foundationally wrong doesn't ultimately build the foundation of Truth, but rather further tears it down.