Relationships and Families - Contraception and the end of relationships

Question 1

What are artificial contraception and natural contraception?

Answer 1

Artificial - prevention of conception by using contraceptive devices such as a condom or the pill

Natural - reducing the likelihood of conception by using natural techniques like withdrawal.

Question 2

What are different Christian views on the use of contraception?

Answer 2

• Catholics say no to artificial contraception, even to stop STDs. It is sinful as God gave sex for reproduction.
• They do accept some natural methods to regulate when they have children
• One of the Church cardinals accepted the use of condoms as the lesser of 2 evils if one has an STD to stop it passing
• Most denominations allow contraception, Anglicans say it is responsible to use contraception to ensure children are planned and wanted.

Question 3

What is abstinence?

Answer 3

Not having sex until marriage

Question 4

What is the role and purpose of Teen-Aid?

Answer 4

• They promote the advantages of abstinence
• They want to emphasise the belief that sex was created by God as an expression of love within marriage, abstinence reflects a sense of self worth and value

Question 5

What is the Catholic view on divorce?

Answer 5

• They believe marriage is indissoluble
• Divorcing is just breaking legal agreement not God’s holy agreement
• If a couple is experiencing difficulties they can separate but must work on restoring the relationship and not get into other sexual relations
• They don’t allow remarriage after divorce as God hasn’t acknowledged the legal divorce.
• They annul marriages, meaning the promises were not valid and neither was marriage, because of reasons such as the marriage being forced. After annulment you are free to marry.

Question 6

What is the view of the Church of England?

Answer 6

• Couples should work on keeping their vows lifelong
• They recognise marriage can be tough and issues can occur
• Divorce is accepted and if there is a divorce, care for the couple is imperative
• Remarriage is allowed and if they want remarriage in the Church the parish priest will decide if so based on why the marriage was broken.