Contraception

Adopted by the CCAR at the 98th Annual Convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
1987

WHEREAS Judaism considers sexual relations a matter of religious concern, and

WHEREAS the incidences of both teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in the population at large are on the rise, and

WHEREAS the availability of accurate information about reproduction, sexually-transmitted diseases, and contraception have been demonstrated to have a positive impact on curbing adolescent pregnancy and the incidence of sexually-transmitted disease,

Adopted by the 114th Annual Convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Omni Shoreham, Washington D.C.
March, 2003

Background

Fertility control.
Fertility control, or contraception, is the practice by which mechanical, chemical, or other means are used, either before or after a sexual act, in order to prevent fertilization of the ovum by the sperm, thus circumventing the possible consequences of the sexual act - the conception and ultimate birth of a child.

General agreement exists among Orthodox writers on the following two points:

The transmission of life.

ON MARRIAGE, FAMILY, SEXUALITY, AND THE SANCTITY OF LIFE

INTRODUCTION

The Orthodox Church in America, being, with all Orthodox Churches in the world, the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church of Christ, acting upon her mandate to teach God's truth to all people, solemnly affirms that every human person is made in God's image and likeness for everlasting life in God's coming kingdom.

FOREWORD

The Cardinal Members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in answer to the questions examined in ordinary session decreed the following replies:

Q. 1.When the uterus becomes so seriously injured (e.g., during a delivery or a Caesarian section) so as to render medically indicated even its total removal (hysterectomy) in order to counter an immediate serious threat to the life or health of the mother, is it licit to perform such a procedure notwithstanding the permanent sterility which will result for the woman?

R. Affirmative.

PREFACE

[The 195th General Assembly (1983)] recognize[d] that the issue of teenage pregnancy and premarital sexual activity is sometimes confused with the abortion issue itself . . . . We express our concern by requesting the appropriate agency, pursue a study of teenage sexuality and responsibilities in light of the covenant of creation.

p. 364

THE COVENANT OF LIFE AND THE CARING COMMUNITY
OPTIONS AND INTEGRITY AT THE BEGINNING OF LIFE

[The General Assembly] . . . urges that informed consent be required from all participants in contraceptive and fertility drug experimentation and states emphatically that racial ethnic, poor, and Third World women should not be used as guinea pigs for drugs deemed too risky for testing in affluent United States communities.

p. 367

COVENANT AND CREATION: THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
ON CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION