Marital relations are a very difficult thing to \"govern\" in the Church. [Obviously, ***ual relations are only lawful for a married couple, so that is how my comments will be addressed]. However, the Church Fathers are very clear on this issue--there is no vagueness in their voice, however had modern scholars might want there to be. St. John Chrysostom says that contraception is a sin equal to abortion! Now there are scholars who say he didn\'t know the difference, but since he spoke about both, and since he was one of the best educated men of his era, this assertion is proposterous. Christ, the Fathers, the Scriptures, the whole Tradition of the Church calls us to break our enslavement to the passions. Contraception is just a way around this, by use of modern (or not so modern) technology.
BUT...St. Gregory of Nyssa also says that if a married couple gives in to their carnal passions in regard to their marital relations with one another in a way that is sinful...get ready...it is automatically forgiven by virtue of the Mystery! Beautiful.
We should, however, read and acquire the mind of the Fathers with regard to this very sensitive topic. Two good sources are--St. John Chysostom \"On Virginity\" (where he actually goes back and forth between marraige and virginity and praises each, and talks about the struggles of each), as well as St. Methodius \"The Symposium (or The Banquet): A Treatise on Chastity\" (which is the source St. John Chrysostom truly loved, and has a wonderful development of human love and ***uality in a Christian understanding).
Priest Matthew
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