FROM HUMANAE VITAE TO AMORIS LAETITIA
50 YEARS OF CONTROVERSY OVER THE CHURCH’S DOCTRINE ON BIRTH CONTROL
Keywords:
Amoris Laetitia, Benedict XVI, Birth Control, Conscience, Familiaris Consortio, Gaudium et Spes, Humanae Vitae, Paul VI, Pope Francis, Sensus Fidei, SynodalityAbstract
Like no other Pontifical document before and after the Encyclical Humanae vitae of Paul VI has unleashed ongoing controversial discussions. The discrepancies on the moral judgment on methods of birth regulation continue to exist until today, not only between spouses and theologians, but even amongst bishops. 50 years after its publication, with regard to the doctrine of the sensus fidei of God’s people there is the serious question, if the continuous missing consent is not a signal towards doctrinal rethinking. The present article carefully investigates the genesis of the disputed Encyclical, studies its interferences with lively debates on the doctrine of marriage during the last session of the Second Vatican Council and critically examines the reception of Gaudium e spes in Humanae vitae. It also studies the reception of the Encyclical in the pontificates of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. Finally, the author takes up the challenge of Amoris laetitia, in which Pope Francis demands to rediscover the message of Humanae Vitae.
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