A Prophecy FULFILLED
Fr. Stanislas de Lestapis, a French Jesuit, died in 1999 at the age of 94. He had been a member of the Papal Commission on Birth Control and was one of the signatories of its minority report. He had published a book, Birth Control, of which the third edition appeared in 1962, before Humanae Vitae (1968).
In chapter 7, “The Contraceptive Civilization”, he made the following bold prophecies:
• “We do not hesitate to say that the acceptance of contraception will produce profound changes in our civilization, these changes are already taking place in countries that have officially endorsed contraception for one or two generations.” • “Voluntary numerous families will progressively disappear, and the large family will tend to appear as a monstrosity.”
• “Populations and families which have deliberately become less creative will experience spiritual ageing and premature sclerosis.”
• “The idea and the ideal of family happiness will be downgraded in terms of a so-called right to happiness and of what people think are the ‘techniques’ of achieving it.”
• Morality among the young will deteriorate. The unmarried will be more licentious. The sexuality of women will lose its connection with marriage.”
• “There will be a grave change in the bond of love, due to the reversal of sexual function. It will remain fixed at an ‘adolescent’ stage. Society as a whole will slip into this ‘transitory’ stage.” • “The maternal instinct will become sterile, due to the repression of the desire for children which is innate in women. There will be a silent hostility toward life and its first manifestations: pregnancy, childbirth and even sometimes towards dolls and babies.”
• “A new concept of sex, now essentially defined as ‘the capacity for erotic play for the sake of the couple,’ all reference to procreation now being only accidental.”
• “A growing tolerance of homosexual behavior, as erotic play that succeeds in expressing personal intimacy between friends or lovers.”
• “Finally, contraception will raise hopes which it cannot fulfill, and will give rise to frustrations and deep dissatisfactions, which will contribute to:
- The crisis of divorce and instability of modern marriages. - The deterioration of mental health, and lack of sexual desire in women. - The abdication of parents confronted by their task as educators. - The ennui secreted by a civilization that is entirely centered on a comfortable way of life and sexual satisfaction.” • “We may be accused of drawing a rather somber picture. No one will reproach us for not being frank. It only remains to justify these predictions.” Fr. Lestapis goes on for twenty pages to justify separately each of his predictions, some very clearly, others less so, given the intangible nature of his subject. However, a simple observation of our contemporary world will tell us that many, if not all of them, have come to pass. Is this just coincidence or is it because “the acceptance of contraception” actually has “produced profound changes in our civilization”? If that is so, we can hardly treat the assertion of Humanae Vitae that “every use of marriage should be open to the transmission of life” as an open question. |
5 comments:
Thanks so much for the post, very helpful info.
Wonder if the good father ever spoke to a woman about any of this. He seems to know a lot about female desire, childbirth, attitudes toward family. One has to assume that before being a priest the good father was an actual father who struggled with a wife about family planning, the cost of raising kids and the tough question of his wife wrestling child rearing with a career (which she has to have today for the family to survive). To have such wisdom about the struggles of raising a family, the father must have had considerable experience or he wouldn't speak so strongly.
@ mcasey
Would you apply that same logic to a doctor about quiting smoking, but doesn't smoke herself? A grief counselor who helps a victim of a rape, yet has never been violated herself? A personal trainer that has never been obese, yet himself never overweight? A family theapist that guides a troubled marriage, yet has never experienced a divorce?
Friend, I have never cheated on my wife, but that does not disqualify me from praying for and confronting any relative or friend commiting adultary about the dangers and immorality of such a sinful life. If I care for his soul am I not called by the Gospel to do so? I ask you.
And in humility, if I am in the darkness of sin : excessive gambling, racist hatred and bigotry, drug use, theft, etc...I would think you proclaiming the truth of my darkness would show more love for my soul even if you have never gambled, hated anyone for color Our Lord made their skin, or snorted coke or robbed your employer. In that case, my soul would rely on your love for another than any experience you may or may not have.
You know, as a sinner and a married man, I still receive solid advice in the confessional about family life...imagine that..and yet that priest hasn't walked a mile in my shoes.
The old saying was "you can see the game better from the sidelines!"
Control of one's desires along with your spouse is a very, very unifying thing. Struggling together and then being together, far healthier than the best "after-fight intimacy." I had to learn it all too late, but I know, and this priest absolutely nailed the situation as it exists today.
The old saying was "you can see the game better from the sidelines!"
Sure--I see that all the time in the crazy, immature, and bombastic claims of the velvet clad bishops. They've forgotten who they are and what their role is.
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