The first order of business is to be clear: Catholics are not allowed to use artificial contraception. Now the Church does not oppose artificial contraception and the birth control pill because it wishes to restrict human freedom: it opposes artificial contraception because it leads to the sexual objectification of women, undermines marriages and ultimately paves the way for the tragedy of abortion.

The Catholic Church, faithful to its founder and head Jesus Christ, has elevated Catholic marriage to the level of a sacrament. Pope John Paul II's monumental teachings on sexuality, known as the "Theology of the Body" help us appreciate that a husband's love for his wife mirrors the love of God the Father for his son Jesus Christ; and just as the Holy Spirit results from the love between the Father and Son in the Trinity, so too is a child the result of the (sexual) love of a husband and a wife.

Catholics, who use artificial contraception despite the Church's clear teaching, frustrate the procreative aspect of marriage and wound their marriage at a very fundamental level. The sexual act in marriage is the union of a man and a woman; and the very depth of this union depends on trust - and when we use birth control, the language of the body says: "I desire the physical pleasures of your body, but not the requisite responsisbility of bringing forth new life."

The Catholic Church has always taught for a marriage to be valid, two important qualities must be present: the marriage must be unitive (the man and woman express their love in the sexual act) and it must be procreative (always open to the possibility of children).

Discvover the teachings of Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae.