The document discusses several aspects of Christian ethics including scripture, natural law, tradition, and experience. It addresses the limitations of each and how the Catholic view moves from God to Jesus to scripture to the church. It also discusses the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae and asks for reactions to affirmations and challenges within the text. Key topics are outlined for understanding views on artificial and natural family planning.

1. Scripture and Christian Ethics “ starting point of Christian ethics” (XP, p. 13) Limitations of Scripture Scripture doesn’t speak (clearly or at all) to many contemporary issues Needs interpretation Natural Law What the natural law is Limitations of Natural Law? Who determines what’s ‘natural’? Tradition: The Church’s Role Role of bishops and pope Limitations of Tradition? Tradition can change New experience can challenge previous tradition Experience Bishop Untener’s map analogy Limitations of Experience? Is personal experience necessary to know something is wrong (or right)? Experience never stands alone and can even be biased

2. From Ethics to God From God to Jesus From Jesus to Scripture From Scripture to Church = Catholic Christian Ethics

3. What are your reactions to Humanae Vitae? What do you find in it that you would like to affirm? And what might you like to challenge or question? vt

4. learn what Humanae Vitae is really saying about artificial contraception, examine what the pope thinks is natural, use this to attempt to distinguish artificial birth control from natural family planning by seeing what Paul VI means by “open to the transmission of life”

5. I. Humanae Vitae “True or False” II. Pope Paul VI ’s position in Humanae Vitae A. What ’s he saying? [his thesis] B. Why is he saying it? III. Elements and Implications of his thesis IV. Natural Family Planning (NFP) A. How NFP brought about a change in Church teaching B. NFP vs. Artificial Contracepton

6. Humanae Vitae says that procreation is the only moral purpose of sex. Humanae Vitae says that because artificial contraception hinders procreation, it is immoral. HumanaeVitae says that NFP and artificial contraception intend the same thing. True False True False True False

7. … for understanding artificial vs. natural family planning. ... for understanding the purposes of sex. … for understanding the natural law. To whom is Humanae Vitae written? For whom is the natural law ‘natural’? So it ’s not because artificial contraception hinders procreation that it’s immoral. NFP does as well. So it ’s not the case that according to Humanae Vitae, the only moral purpose of sex is procreation. Unity is important as well.

8. Natural Family Planning What is it? How NFP brought about a change in Church teaching about birth control Compare & Contrast NFP & Artificial Contraception Ruether ’s difficulties with NFP

9. Good Bad GOD