Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Respect Life Office
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Contraception & Birth Control


Contraception literally means –against(contra)-(con)ception.  “[D]espite their differences of nature and moral gravity, contraception and abortion are often closely connected, as fruits of the same tree.”  The culture of death is quietly growing in the prevalent use of contraceptives and sterilization to deny the God-given fertility of men and women.  Contraceptive’s first “mechanisms” are to “prevent” conception, but when this "prevention" fails, many contraceptives act as abortifacients and destroy the newly created person.  And when contraceptives fail completely and the contraceptive mindset is already in place – abortion is often the resultant remedy.

Not only is contraception – against the life of the new born child – it is also detrimental to married love and detrimental to the dignity of the woman – whether married or single.  When the sexual act is separated from its potential fecundity is reduced to an act of use. Contraception, instead of liberating women, has caused them to be used as objects of use.    

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Facts & Figures


Contraception are the techniques and birth control methods use to prevent or stop human fertilization. Contraceptives can be abortifacient, preventing the implantation of the fertilized egg and the removal or expulsion of the fetus or embryo from the uterus.
  • The Catholic Church teaches that “the direct interruption of the generative process already begun, and, above all, directly willed and procured abortion, even if for therapeutic reasons, are absolutely excluded as licit means of regulating birth. Equally excluded … is direct sterilization, whether perpetual or temporary, whether of the man or the woman.” 
  • Contraception includes barrier methods, such as condoms or the diaphragm, injectable contraceptives, and hormonal contraception, also known as oral contraception. 
  • Sterilization is most common form of contraception, second to the pill
  • The “pill” increases the risk of breast cancer by over 40% if taken before a woman delivers her first baby. If taken 4 or more years before the woman’s first child is born, the increase for breast cancer is 70% more. The pill can also increase the risk of liver and cervical cancer.
  • Forty-eight percent of women with unintended pregnancies (5) and 54% of women seeking abortions were using contraception in the month they became pregnant.
  • Numerous studies examining sexual behavior and STD transmission have demonstrated risk compensation behavior, i.e., a greater willingness to engage in potentially risky behavior when one believes risk has been reduced through technology.9Increasing access to contraception gives teens a false sense of security, leading to earlier onset of sexual activity and more sexual partners, which counteracts any reduction in unintended pregnancies.
  • Twenty-three studies published between 1998 and 2006, and analyzed by James Trussell’s team at Princeton University, measured the effect of increased EC access on EC use, unintended pregnancy, and abortion. Not a single study among the 23 found a reduction in unintended pregnancies or abortions following increased access to emergency contraception.

Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) --  A network of over 300 physicians worldwide to assist women. ​​
Foundational Principles
  1. It is reasonable and appropriate to respect a woman's right to choose to reverse a medical induced abortion.
  2. A woman should never be coerced into starting or continuing an abortion.
  3. Human beings are valuable and should be protected at all stages of their development.
  4. Mifepristone does not significantly increase the chances of birth defects. Reversing a mifepristone medical abortion is within reasonable medical practice.
  5. Progesterone can reverse the effects of mifepristone and has been safely used in pregnancy for over 40 years.
​Staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by medical professionals. 
            1-877-558-0333
   www.abortionpillreversal.com


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Educational Materials on Church Teaching


Respect Life Programs
     40 Days for Life 

Respect Life 101
     Contraception & NFP:  Presentation / Facilitator Notes

Church Documents
     USCCB:  Abstinence and Chastity 
     USCCB:  Contraception 
     USCCB:  Sterilization 
     Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC): Contraception 
     Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC): Respect for Human Life  
     Mulieris Dignitatem: The Dignity and Vocation of Women (MD) 
     Blessed John Paul II's Letter to Women 
     Evangelium Vitae: The Gospel of Life (EV) 
     Donum Vitae: The Gift of Life (DV) 
     Humanae Vitae (HV) 

Additional On-Line Materials
     Janet Smith, "Contraception: Why Not?"


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Leadership & Volunteer Opportunities


​If you or your organization has expertise or an interest in the topic of contraception and birth control, or if you would like to learn how you can assist in the life-saving work of the Respect Life Office by becoming a resource for information on the Church's teaching on contraception and birth control, please contact us. 
“Catholics must be committed to the defense of life in all its stages and in every condition”
                                                                                                                                                                                              St. Pope John Paul II, 1995

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Respect Life Office ~ Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph  ~ 20 West Ninth Street ~ Kansas City, MO 64105 ~ ​(816) 756-1850
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  • HOME
    • News & Communications >
      • 2023 Midwest March for Life
    • Share Your Gifts
    • About Us
  • Pastoral Programs
    • 40 Days for Life >
      • Our "Message"
    • ComPassio
    • Gabriel Project >
      • Walking With Moms in Need
      • Kansas City Pregnancy Clinic & Mercy and Truth
    • Knights of Columbus >
      • Meet Life (Missouri)
      • Faith in Action (Supreme)
    • Life & Justice Campaign
    • March for Life
    • Project Rachel >
      • Rachel's Vineyard Retreats
    • Spiritual Adoption
    • Stand Up for Life >
      • Teen Pro-Life Boot Camp
    • Catholic Partners >
      • Catholic Charities of KC-St. Joseph
      • Catholic Mobilizing Network (Death Penalty)
  • Education
    • Pro-Life Issues >
      • Abortion
      • Adoption
      • Contraception & Birth Control
      • Death Penalty
      • Euthanasia & Assisted-Suicide
      • Fetal Development
      • Post-Abortion
      • Religious Freedom & Conscience Protection
      • Reproductive Technologies
      • Stem Cell Research & Human Cloning
    • Papal Encyclicals & Church Documents
  • Parish Ministry
    • Respect Life Coordinators >
      • Parish Respect Life Coordinator Sign-Up
    • Respect Life Committees
    • Prayers & Liturgies
    • Priests & Pastors
  • Public Policy
    • Contacting Elected Officials
    • Pro-Life Policy Advocacy Organizations
  • Resources
    • Abortion Pill Reversal
    • Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC's)
    • Residential Pregnancy Homes
    • Adoption
    • Reproductive Technologies
    • Fetal Anomalies & Special Diagnoses
    • Post-Abortive Healing
    • Death Penalty
    • Ethical Research, Therapies & Cures
    • End of Life Care & Documents
    • Religious Freedom & Conscience Protection >
      • USCCB Religious Freedom Week
    • International Pro-Life >
      • European Refugee Crisis
  • Contact Us