CSDC 233

Concerning the “methods” for practising responsible procreation, the first to be rejected as morally illicit are sterilization and abortion⁵²¹ Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae, 14: AAS 60AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 60 (1968) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1968), 490-491.. The latter in particular is a horrendous crime and constitutes a particularly serious moral disorder⁵²² Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 51: AAS 58AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 58 (1966) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1966), 1072-1073; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2271-2272; John Paul II, Letter to Families Gratissimam Sane, 21: AAS 86AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 86 (1994) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1994), 919-920; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae, 58, 59, 61-62: AAS 87AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 87 (1995) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1995), 466-468, 470-472.; far from being a right, it is a sad phenomenon that contributes seriously to spreading a mentality against life, representing a dangerous threat to a just and democratic social coexistence⁵²³ Cf. John Paul II, Letter to Families Gratissimam Sane, 21: AAS 86AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 86 (1994) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1994), 919-920; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae, 72, 101: AAS 87AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 87 (1995) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1995), 484-485, 516-518; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2273.. Also to be rejected is recourse to contraceptive methods in their different forms⁵²⁴ Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 51: AAS 58AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 58 (1966) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1966), 1072-1073; Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae, 14: AAS 60AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 60 (1968) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1968), 490-491; John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, 32: AAS 74AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 74 (1982) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1982), 118-120; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2370; Pius XI, Encyclical Letter Casti Connubii (31 December 1930): AAS 22AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 22 (1930) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1930), 559-561.: this rejection is based on a correct and integral understanding of the person and human sexuality ⁵²⁵ Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae, 7: AAS 60AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 60 (1968) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1968), 485; John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, 32: AAS 74AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 74 (1982) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1982), 118-120. and represents a moral call to defend the true development of peoples⁵²⁶ Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae, 17: AAS 60AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 60 (1968) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1968), 493-494.. On the other hand, the same reasons of an anthropological order justify recourse to periodic abstinence during times of the woman's fertility⁵²⁷ Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae, 16: AAS 60AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 60 (1968) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1968), 491-492; John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, 32: AAS 74AAS — Acta Apostolicae Sedis (official gazette of the Holy See)Volume 74 (1982) at vatican.va — scanned PDF (1982), 118-120; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2370.. Rejecting contraception and using natural methods for regulating births means choosing to base interpersonal relations between the spouses on mutual respect and total acceptance, with positive consequences also for bringing about a more human order in society.