I’m Catholic and contraception is not controversial

The following excerpts come from an April 12 story on LifeSiteNews

On Holy Thursday Melinda Gates publicly professed her Catholic faith and then personally attacked her Church over its position on contraception. I could not help but be reminded of Judas and his mysterious betrayal of Christ that night, sealed with a kiss. 

In fairness to Mrs. Gates, her speech wasn’t expressly about the Church. It was about her foundation’s new “NoControversy” initiative to promote universal access to contraception. Her message was simple: Contraception is not controversial. And to convince people of this, she argued that population control, abortion, and forced sterilization have nothing to do with the international promotion of universal access to contraception. If people associate them together, they are just “confused”.

From Melinda Gates speech: “This is a life and death crisis. Every year, 100,000 women who don’t want to be pregnant die in childbirth. About 600,000 women who don’t want to be pregnant give birth to a baby who dies in her first month of life.

“I know everybody wants to save these mothers and babies.
But somewhere along the line, we got confused by our own conversations and we stopped trying to save these lives. We need to be clear about our agenda. It is not abortion. It is not population control.”

But why attack the Catholic Church? Well, because the Church isn’t confused about contraception. In fact, even if the contraceptive movement really had successfully cut ties with the population control movement and no longer had anything to do with the promotion of abortion, which is very hard to believe thanks to the work of UN agencies like the UNFPA, the Church would still refuse to change its message: Contraception is bad for people….

Today, most Catholics struggle with the Church’s teachings on contraception, but many are convinced by and in wonder of the person of Christ and the Church which continues to proclaim His truth. Within their struggle, they keep following, convinced by the overall attractiveness of the faith.

Melinda Gates is not convinced, and so she chooses to deny its teaching, not because she hates the Church, but because she feels somewhat betrayed by it—because she can’t understand it, just like Judas couldn’t understand why Christ, instead of accepting to be turned over to the Romans, didn’t raise up an army of angels to take over and have Himself crowned King. However, we can’t forget, that those who stayed, eventually did.

In June the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with the support of the British Government and the UNFPA will host a family planning summit in London. Her speech was meant to pave the way for its success and to call for the entire world to get behind what she claims is a very worthy cause.

Those who denied Christ also did so for what they considered a worthy cause, and this story, even 2,000 years later, continues dramatically today.

For entire story, Click here.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 3:31 AM By Thomas Miles
I sure Ms. Gates will be called to the Archbishop’s office and spoken to as if she were a child and told to shut up or she is going to hell!!

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 5:08 AM By Dana
It’s ALWAYS about money. Ms.Gates, the Kennedy’s, et al, have the money to do real damage to the Church and to people’s understanding of what being being Catholic really means. What is a real Catholic? People outside the Church do not know, and to them she’s a real authority. They probably think, ‘She’s got so much money she could go anywhere, but she says she’s a Catholic so she must know. What’s wrong with the Pope? He must be gettin’ past it” Unfortunately, like Ted Kennedy’s funeral, these Catholic imposters are never challenged. Money talks to many, if not most of the Church hierarchy. That is truly one of the true weaknesses of the Church. I see it everyday in its treatment of arrogant, mean-spirited but oh, so rich politicians and movie stars. Unless you’re really poor or really rich, you’re really dispensable. We’re not going to hear anyone challenging the Gates woman, that’s for sure. I didn’t feel this way five years ago when I converted, but it’s one of the hard truths I’ve had to deal with…I’m sure no one agrees with me, and that’s fine.. Thank God for the beautiful model we have in our beloved pope for what it means to be Catholic. His courage, humility and daily devotion to following Christ is truly a beautiful testimony.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 5:21 AM By Tom L
she argued that population control, abortion, and forced sterilization have nothing to do with the international promotion of universal access to contraception – SO HOW DOES SHE FEEL ABOUT CHURCH TEACHING ON THESE ISSUES?

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 5:29 AM By Sandra
Melinda Gates is Confused. Her billions of dollars is killing off more babies, hurting more women and disposing of more families around the world–making her a one-woman evil exterminator of humans. Do these unfaithful Catholics really still think they are Catholic? Reality check–your not. Tho shall not kill.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 5:51 AM By Lilly
Melinda should take heed of these words. She needs to realize that there is a Power superior to her. “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:01 AM By Dan 
from the article: “That is why Melinda Gates did what she did. As a Catholic, she knows contraception is controversial, and she knows that dismissing the controversy isn’t as simple as laying the blame on confused people making confused arguments about the very real dangers of contraception and its affects on human health, relationship, and society. So she knew she had to dismiss the Church’s teaching as unreasonable and to do it publicly. If she was going to prove to the world that contraception was objectively good, she had to dismiss the Church and, and particular the Church’s audacious claim that it speaks the truth.” Then Melinda makes it clear that her use of contraception had nothing to do with promiscuity–rather she had to plan her future as a computer-science major and career woman. So she is attacking the idea that separating the procreative and untive aspects of the sexual act leads to a lowering of morals. Well, one could argue that Mrs. Gates use of contraception did free her to achieve a career which now has as its focus the destruction of the authority structure of the Church itself. Too many Popes have commented on the sin of contraception to think otherwise. Whether or not she was promiscuous in her sex life, one could only speculate as she provides no details of those college years. But that she has engaged in a spiritual promiscuity in doing battle with the Church seems beyond debate to this reader.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:10 AM By 4unborn
Melinda Gates should have said, “Although I say that I’m Catholic, contraception is not controversial.”

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:14 AM By Angelo
When will Bishops come to realize that their silence is causing grave harm. They have only one option at this point, and that is to start excommunicating people like this woman. The excommunications would certainly cause other pro-aborts to reconsider their crimes and the state of their souls before God. The people would then start taking Bishops seriously again. The Bishops are to be successors of the good Apostles and not the Iscariot. Many Bishops refuse to even deny communion out of what they claim to be compassion. Its false compassion to know someone is losing their soul to eternal fire and yet do nothing. Excommunication is the Church’s final healing balm to heal a fataly wounded soul before their end. Author of Life have Mercy on us!

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:19 AM By Sawyer
I wonder how much and what quality of faith formation Mrs. Gates had, and whether she attends Mass. These days, simply identifying oneself as “Catholic” hardly tells you anything about that person.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:28 AM By Ted
So, she’s public in her apostacy. Not the first, not the last, and not an example for anyone to follow.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:36 AM By JLS
She’s trying to refute God by means of rhetoric.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:49 AM By JMJ
Talk about someone with muddled thinking; it is both of the Gates. They have been funding ‘p.p.’ for many years, which as we know, is a very anti-God, anti-life, anti-women, bigoted and a baby killing-for-profit organization and sadly, anyone that supports them are on a one-way path to the gates of hell. As our Blessed Lady has told us more then once, T.V., etc. are the tools of the evil one and this is how he will take over the world for a period of time, which means that the Gates have been doing the devil a ‘great’ service. It is amazing how someone can make up figures and people will fall for it. The Gates are not bad people, just ignorant, blind and stupid. We need to get the computers out of the classrooms and put the books, paper and pencil back in, then, maybe, the kids will learn how to read and write and think, once again. +JMJ+

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:54 AM By BETH
Someone needs to send Mrs. Gates a copy of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”. Also someone needs to contact her Diocese Bishop – so he can contact her. – She may not receive Holy Communion when in the state of Mortal Sin.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 6:59 AM By MaryG
Free Barabbas!

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7:20 AM By jim
Yea for Melinda.Theologians also agree that a sin occurrs when the decision is made and the decision for natural family planning is the same as for artifical contraception.There is no sin therefore.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7:34 AM By BECCA
Melinda Gates is a heretic and schismatic. Those who advertise themselves as Catholic yet defy the teachings of our Faith should be compared to Judas. They commit the mortal sin of SCANDAL as well. Can they be saved ? – yes, IF they repent and try to undo the damage done by their scandal and financial support of evil.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7:36 AM By Adele
Of course there is no controversy when you only hang around with the likes of George Soros (atheist), Obama (socialist or communist), etc. The company she keeps is not Catholic.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7:42 AM By irene
The best contraception is the word “No”. If you do not want a child, or are not ready to become a parent, then you don’t have sex, period! Unfortunately sex has become a recreational sport these days, (thanks to the media); no longer something beautiful shared in marriage; in a commited relationship between husband and wife. For all the talk about how far women have come in the past century, how sad is it they think so little of themselves when it comes to matters of the flesh. And for Melinda and other Catholics who disagree with the Church’s position on contraception, why do they stay when they can join another church where they can do as they wish? How arrogant they are, to presume they can play ‘God’ and change things just to fit their own desires and lifestyle.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 8:13 AM By MD
People don’t see the truth about contraception because they don’t want to see it. The reality is that all the predictions made in Humanae Vitae have come to fruition, more divorce, the abuse of women, abortion as a means of contraception, etc. Contraception has served as the demise of our culture and this topic should not be taken lightly. We have to pray more than ever and be examples of love and an openness to life.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 8:28 AM By PAPA
Definitely a struggle for most Catholics especially when you see the numbers that Melinda points out, before you chastise her you need to consider the work the Gates foundation does throughout the World on this issue and the horrible aids epidemic which ravages so much of Africa, no on abortion, but on contraception we just might be wrong, dead wrong, we were on letting gays into the Priesthood.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 8:29 AM By DMR
I think her point was that, even if Catholics do not use contraception, it should be available to other women. Not all women are Catholic, and those that are not should not be forced to follow Catholic rules. They should be encouraged to see the light, but not stripped of their freedoms. I think for these women, it is better to allow them access to contraception than for their future (accidental) children to suffer from the mother not being prepared or capable to caring for a child.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 8:35 AM By maryd
I’ve got news for Melinda. Contraception does not save the lives of mothers and babies. Real programs providing medical care and inftrastructure such as Magificat Maternal Health or Maternal Life International save lives. The most important thing is skilled birth attendants. She has bought the lie of the left. It is a stupid propaganda point.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 8:45 AM By grampsc
The Church will prevail. Hopefully those in opposition to Church teaching will mend their ways.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 8:50 AM By Patrick
Wonder how all those women who don’t want to get pregnant get pregnant. Couldn’t be their corrupt lifestyle.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 8:55 AM By Peggy
How is it healthy to promote oral contraceptives and abortion, both of which are linked to breast cancer?

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 9:23 AM By DMP
How wonderful it would be if Ms. Gates could have the teaching of the church fully explained to her, and be led to a closer relationship with Jesus, and then use those millions of dollars to promote Natural Family Planning[as Mother Theresa did], as well as free Maternity clinics. NFP is healthy, once learned, it is free, acceptable to all religions and cultures, promotes self knowledge, woman’s dignity, equality of men and women, sacredness off sex and Life. Unlike artificial contraception, it does not lead to health problems, breakdown of the family, promiscuity, and women being used. Pray they start using their money for good not evil.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 9:41 AM By Ron
During the ‘Walk for Life’ and at various ablution clinics I have been cursed at with the false claim “You don’t care if women die”. First, I do care if women die, but most of all I care if innocent blood is spilled (A sin that cries to Heaven for vengeance). So I decided to find out the truth, here are two references: 1)”The Maternal Death Rate from Abortion is almost 3 times higher than the Death Rate from Childbirth, according to a 13-year population study of pregnancy-associated deaths [American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology]. The study found that the mortality rate associated with abortion is 2.95 times that of the mortality rate associated with regnancies carried to term”. 2) “Where is the maternal death rate lowest? Ireland, where human abortion is a crime against humanity”.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 9:48 AM By k
DMR, contraception offends God, no matter who uses it.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 10:21 AM By Bob
I know a few real Catholics and Mrs. Gates, you’re no Catholic!

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 10:27 AM By BETH
jim, CCC: “2399 The regulation of births represents one of the aspects of responsible fatherhood and motherhood. Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception).” Morally unacceptable means are mortal sins. Please read the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” prior to making false statements about the Catholic Faith. Thanks.

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 11:14 AM By Life Lady
jim, PAPA, and DMR, do you three really think that your ridiculous postings are rational in consideration of the topic here? There is nothing to praise this woman about in terms of the damage she and her money has done around the world, promoting abortion and contraception. The most simple and easiest way to avoid pregnancy is to not engage in sexual activity. Within the context of a married couple, the best way to not have children that a married couple cannot provide for is to not engage in sexual activity that would result in pregnancy. This is not something new, it is simply the truth. The Church is here to remind us of that teaching, and that the persons involved in relationships the world over, are worthy of the dignity of respect as individuals. The response to every person is the same: respect for the individual. We are called to holiness, not obsession with sins of the flesh. This woman is not to be applauded, and her work is not praise worthy. Rather she should be asked to cease from calling herself Catholic, since she obviously knows nothing about what that means to be a Catholic, and the three of you should get a copy of the Cathecism of the Catholic Church and educate yourselves on what the Church is about, and what it means to be, and live, the Catholic life. Catch the Clue Bus, fellas, your lack of understanding is showing!

Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2012 12:08 PM By goodcause
If you want to reduce the birthrate, develop the economy. The higher the standard of living, the lower the birthrate. Remember that the internal Vatican recommendation emanting from a Bishop’s Commission on the issue of contraception in 1966 was to overturn the traditional teaching and permit birth control. Pope Paul VI waited two years and upheld the old teaching. The most recent polling from about six weeks ago was that only 22% of US Catholics support the Church teaching. Most US Catholics believe this is a dead issue and have moved on.