Religious Beliefs about Contraception & Family Planning (OCR GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Notes

8.1.2 Religious Beliefs about Contraception & Family Planning

There are many different methods:

• Artificial e.g. condom, pill/injection, coil,
• Natural – the rhythm method (where a woman works out her least fertile days from her menstrual cycle)
• The withdrawal (before ejaculation the man removes his penis from the woman's vagina).
• Both of these methods can prove ineffective.
• Permanent – an operation to sterilise a man/woman. All Christians believe that children within a marriage are a gift from God, however there may be times when it is the right thing to do to avoid bringing children into the world.

Religion	Belief on Artificial Contraception	Reasoning/Conditions	Additional Information
Roman Catholic	Artificial contraception is considered morally wrong.	Sex is viewed as an act intended to create new life; therefore, using contraception interferes with the natural purpose of sex.	Natural family planning methods (e.g., rhythm method) are acceptable, as they do not involve artificial intervention.
Church of England	Approves the use of artificial contraception.	Acceptable if having a baby would cause serious issues such as illness, poverty, or severe strain on family resources.	The Church emphasises responsible parenthood and considers the well-being of the family and potential child in its guidance.
Islam	Artificial contraception is permitted within marriage.	It is acceptable for family planning purposes, such as spacing out the births of children, as long as it doesn't prevent having children altogether.	Permanent contraception methods like sterilisation are generally discouraged unless there are serious health concerns.

Family Planning

Family planning refers to the practice of controlling the number and spacing of children in a family through various methods, including natural and artificial contraception.

Different religious traditions have varied perspectives on family planning, often reflecting their teachings on the purpose of marriage, the sanctity of life, and the role of sexual relations.

Christianity

Roman Catholic Perspective:

• Sex has two purposes: unitive (strengthening the marital bond) and procreative (producing children). Artificial contraception is seen as disrupting the natural purpose of sex.
• Natural Family Planning: The Church endorses natural family planning (NFP), which involves monitoring the woman's fertility cycle and abstaining from intercourse during fertile periods. NFP is considered morally acceptable because it respects the natural order of procreation.

Church of England (C of E) Perspective:

• The Church of England allows the use of artificial contraception, viewing it as a responsible choice for couples, especially if having more children could lead to health risks, financial strain, or other serious issues.
• The Church emphasises the importance of responsible parenthood, where the well-being of the existing family is considered alongside the potential for new life.

Islam

Islamic Perspective:

• In Islam, family planning is generally accepted within marriage, provided it does not lead to the complete avoidance of having children. The primary purpose of marriage in Islam is to build a family, so permanent contraception methods are usually discouraged unless necessary for health reasons.
• Conditions for Acceptance: Contraception is acceptable for spacing out the births of children, managing the family's financial stability, or ensuring the mother's health. However, both spouses should agree on the use of contraception, as mutual consent in marital decisions is emphasised in Islam.

Ethical Considerations:

• The debate around family planning often involves ethical considerations, such as the sanctity of life, the purpose of marriage, and individual autonomy.
• Religious teachings may influence these ethical views, but they also intersect with broader societal concerns, such as population control, gender equality, and access to healthcare.