Contraception

From "Abortion"

This social teaching statement was adopted by a more than two-thirds majority vote at the second biennial Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting in Orlando, Florida, August 28 - September 4, 1991.

V. Public Policy Issues Related to Abortion

...

A. Prevention of Unintended Pregnancies

WHEREAS among the more serious threats of the structure of family life, as it is now known, is the world's exploding population, and

We believe that the dissemination of birth control education for family planning is not an infringement of civil liberties nor an attempt to act in ways prejudicial to the interests of any racial, ethnic, religious or cultural group, but on the contrary, we believe planned parenthood is for those who desire it a vital contribution to responsible family life,

First issued in 1981, Updated by Rabbi Shawn Zevit and Rabbi Richard Hirsh, 2006

Founded in 1955, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is the rapidly growing synagogue arm of the Reconstructionist movement, serving over 100 congregations and havurot spread across North America . A voice of Reconstructionist Judaism in the greater Jewish world, JRF provides a wide array of services to its affiliates.

Ann L. Hanson

Minister for Sexuality Education and Justice

February 20. 2009

It took just a few hours for the uproar to begin. Shortly after the proposed Economic Stimulus package was released to the press, the attacks began. And, the very first issue that exploded in the news involved a provision that would allow states, thru Medicaid, to provide “family planning services and supplies” to low income women. The cost was estimated to be $550 million over the next 10 years and, when compared to the entire package, amounted to a small fraction of the total cost.

Scientific technologies today permit greater control of human fertility and reproduction than was formerly possible. These technologies make possible sexual intercourse with the expectation of pregnancy and childbirth greatly reduced. Christian married couples have a potential for fertility control that has created many questions with wide-ranging religious, medical, social, and political implications. Opportunities and benefits exist as a result of the new capabilities, as do challenges and drawbacks. A number of moral issues must be considered.

Whereas, many couples do not know what attitude to take toward family limitation, be it

RESOLVED: that the Northern Province of the Moravian Church believes it is the right of every married couple to have general knowledge and understanding of family planning made available to it.

Q. What is the LCMS stance on voluntary contraception?

Questions on Sexual Issues

The teaching of the Orthodox Church on sexual questions is strongly determined by the Church's attitude toward marriage and the family. A representative Orthodox statement which shows the centrality and importance of the family in Orthodox thinking is found in an encyclical letter by former Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America, issued on the occasion of National Family Week in 1972. He stated:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 1994 General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirm that rapid global population growth adversely affects the prospects for peace and justice by exacerbating poverty, deprivation and suffering, and depleting environmental resources; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church reaffirm the 1930 Lambeth Conference of the Anglican communion, which approved contraception for purposes of family planning; and be it further

As followers of Jesus, how do we respond to the brokenness of abortion? Here are little known facts about abortion in the United States:

* 1 in 5 married women choose abortion.
* 3 in 5 women seeking abortions have experienced contraceptive failure.
* 70% of all abortions are obtained by white women.
* in 59% of cases, a woman’s husband, boyfriend, or her parents pressured her to have an abortion.
* most of the women who choose abortions are under 30 years of age; the highest rate of abortions is for women aged 15-24.