should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
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should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
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reports in the papers this morning say that nuns should take the pill because being chaste puts them at risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers. these recommendations come from a lancet paper: http:
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Forums » Off duty » News & media » should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
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should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
posted at 8/12/2011 9:20 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 9
First: 21/10/2011 Last: 8/12/2011 |
reports in the papers this morning say that nuns should take the pill because being chaste puts them at risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers. these recommendations come from a lancet paper: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2961746-7/fulltext women who don't give birth or breastfeed have more periods and a higher menstrual cycle is linked to higher cancer risk. the pill has shown in other studies to reduce chances of developing the cancers above should nuns take the pill? yes it might reduce mortality but do nuns have their minds on higher things? |
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Re: should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
posted at 8/12/2011 11:40 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2054
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 23/5/2013 |
This is a bit like the lightbulb joke: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but the light bulb must WANT to change! It would need a powerful argument for a nun to want to take the P-Pill. They offer their chastity, their renunciation of all else of the World to their god, and accept all the disadvantages that follow, from a lack of TV to martyrdom. Beside the last, the possibility of disease is trivial, and many nuns braved leprosy when it was thought to be highly infectious to nurse the victims. And isn't contraception still a sin to the Catholic Church? As the same Church, and others, believe in virgin birth, would not contraception for the celibate be a sin in case of that possibility? JOhn |
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Re: should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
posted at 9/12/2011 3:54 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 21
First: 24/4/2009 Last: 9/12/2011 |
The reduction in cancer risks to the female genital tract by using the Progesterone pill has been scientifically documented. Further,women should have equal opportunity to reap the benefits of modern medicine irrespective of whether they are nuns or otherwise, in an ideal world. The next question would be how ideal is the world that we live in? Well, by denying nuns the benefits of the pill, how close are we planning to get to this ideal world? It is my belief that in the 21st century, one should not deny the benefit of a reduced cancer risk to nuns, for the simple reason that if a nun develops a cancer which could have been prevented by the use of a P-pill, the cost of treatment will be born by the tax payer and hardly by the catholic church. The choice should be left to the individual woman, nun or otherwise, and not to God or the church, who haven't given man kind much of a choice for two thousand years. Perhaps it is time for the flock to give the shepherds the choice! |
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Re: should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
posted at 9/12/2011 5:10 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 9/12/2011 |
In Response to should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?: reports in the papers this morning say that nuns should take the pill because being chaste puts them at risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers. these recommendations come from a lancet paper: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2961746-7/fulltext women who don't give birth or breastfeed have more periods and a higher menstrual cycle is linked to higher cancer risk. the pill has shown in other studies to reduce chances of developing the cancers above should nuns take the pill? yes it might reduce mortality but do nuns have their minds on higher things? Posted by saladfingers I thought they were already taking pills If not then they must take pills |
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Re: should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
posted at 9/12/2011 5:22 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 9/12/2011 |
This topic was discussed many years ago by the Vatican. After interminable pressure, Belgian nuns in the (then) Belgian Congo who were in danger of rape from guerillas, were given permission to use OCs as long as the risk remained. As far as I know this has been the only instance of the oral contraceptives being allowed use strictly as a contraceptive. If the use of OCs was presented as primarily medical (cancer prevention) maybe Rome would reconsider. But it might take several centuries of "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin" type discussion. DG |
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Re: should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
posted at 9/12/2011 5:56 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2054
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 23/5/2013 |
Really, UCH? This led me to look for the Catholic view on rape and the possibility of pregnancy. This: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0566.html says that: "The woman who is a victim of rape has the moral right to prevent the pregnancy" and that "If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medication that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum" Pin heads, indeed. I'd like to hear those arguments applied to barrier and anti-ovulatory methods of contraception, which I think are not sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Sorry, saladfingers, bit of a thead hijack! JOhn |
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Re: should nuns go on the contraceptive pill?
posted at 9/12/2011 8:41 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 9/12/2011 |
No, they should keep a healthy life style, being not overweight, and exercising regularly. This would decrease their breast/endometrius/ovary risk factor much more than pills. |
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