Spring Break
Contraception not the problem
Letter to the Editor
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Viewpoint
When I made the decision to transfer to Notre Dame I knew that it would be a fairly conservative environment. However given that this is one of the top universities in the nation I was not expecting the spiritual traditions of the university to corrode science, health and common sense for that matter.
Yesterday's Viewpoint column ("An anniversary worth remembering") by Prof. Emeritus Rice did exactly that. In short, Professor Rice chose to lump together the majority of Americans who make the responsible decision to practice safe sex by labeling them as "insane" and hedonistic. Professor Rice cites the ill conceived and outdated arguments of Paul VI, that contraceptives would lead to the "general lowering of morality," the objectification of women and then, in an incredible leap from any logical foundation, attempts to equate contraception with abortion.
But fear not! For those married couples who choose to express their love for one another without the burden of raising a family of 15 or so children, the Professor offers the superb counsel of Paul VI: "take into account the natural rhythms [of a woman's reproductive cycle] to regulate birth without offending the moral principles." That's some top notch advice from someone who obviously is not a medical professional.
Professor Rice makes a common fallacy among those of older generations that modern society has run amok in immorality and crudeness. Quite the opposite is true as can be observed by humanity's continued progress, specifically over the last few generations, and most evidently in our nation. Poverty, racism and discrimination of all forms have declined over the years. I would argue this makes our generation of young Americans the most moral to date.
Though, there seems to be an obsession among the more pious among us to equate sexuality with morality. The simple truth of the matter is that we are all human, and our sexuality is an important part of who we are. Premarital sex, agree with it or not, is not some new idea resulting from improved contraception methods. In fact, one study suggests that 30 percent of all first births in colonial New England were conceived before marriage. Even the Puritans were getting it on!
Yesterday's Viewpoint column ("An anniversary worth remembering") by Prof. Emeritus Rice did exactly that. In short, Professor Rice chose to lump together the majority of Americans who make the responsible decision to practice safe sex by labeling them as "insane" and hedonistic. Professor Rice cites the ill conceived and outdated arguments of Paul VI, that contraceptives would lead to the "general lowering of morality," the objectification of women and then, in an incredible leap from any logical foundation, attempts to equate contraception with abortion.
But fear not! For those married couples who choose to express their love for one another without the burden of raising a family of 15 or so children, the Professor offers the superb counsel of Paul VI: "take into account the natural rhythms [of a woman's reproductive cycle] to regulate birth without offending the moral principles." That's some top notch advice from someone who obviously is not a medical professional.
Professor Rice makes a common fallacy among those of older generations that modern society has run amok in immorality and crudeness. Quite the opposite is true as can be observed by humanity's continued progress, specifically over the last few generations, and most evidently in our nation. Poverty, racism and discrimination of all forms have declined over the years. I would argue this makes our generation of young Americans the most moral to date.
Though, there seems to be an obsession among the more pious among us to equate sexuality with morality. The simple truth of the matter is that we are all human, and our sexuality is an important part of who we are. Premarital sex, agree with it or not, is not some new idea resulting from improved contraception methods. In fact, one study suggests that 30 percent of all first births in colonial New England were conceived before marriage. Even the Puritans were getting it on!