Birth Control in Jewish Law

Extract

Since the advent of Vatican Council II initiated by the late Pope John XXIII, indeed of blessed memory, there has been a great transformation within the Roman Catholic Church in its attempt to renew itself. Traditional Catholic patterns of thought and attitudes of mind have been under severe criticism, challenge and analysis. Indeed, a reformation from within has taken place. As a consequence there has been theological development, a revaluation in biblical exegesis and an attempt to show how the Church in its mission is relevant to the problems and the needs of contemporary society.

It was during this process of self-examination and aggorniamento that the Encyclical Humanae Vitae, ‘On Human Life’, appeared, in July 1968. The impact of the encyclical was enormous upon the Catholic world and the world at large and so began the debate, discussion and division of opinion within the Church.

Countless numbers of Catholics who were looking forward to a modification in the traditional teaching on birth control were deeply disappointed. The Holy Father had spoken and it was forbidden.

As a Jew with a profound regard for the Kerygma of Christ, I attended many lectures and ‘Teach Ins’ within the Catholic community on Humanae Vitae and it was strange to observe that not on any single occasion did I hear a Catholic speaker or member of an audience ask the basic question; what does Jewish religion that is Orthodox Rabbinic Judaism teach on birth control? In view of the fact that the Church claims to be the new Israel, the completion of the old Israel, I was puzzled as to why this vital question was never asked.