The Church's Teaching

The principle followed by the Catholic Church is as follows: Any use of matrimony in the exercise of which the act is deprived of its natural power of procreating life by man's Industry is a mortal sin a sin again nature The teaching of the Church is to be found explicitly stated in the Encyclical "Cast Connubil" of Pope Pius XI. It was written in 1931, and deals with Christian marriage.

"Since, therefore, openly departing from the uninterrupted Christian tradition, some recently have judged it possible to declare another doctrine regarding the question, the Catholic Church . . . in order that she may preserve the chastity of the nuptial union from this foul stain raises her voice in token of divine ambassadorship and through our mouth proclaims anew; any use whatever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offence against the law of God and against nature."

The Encyclical was prompted by a Statement issued by the Lambeth Conference of 307 Anglican prelates, held in London. There it was stated by a majority of 193 to 67. with many refusing to vote on the subject that in certain cases where procreation was forbidden another voice than that of continence may be followed.