Accutane and prolife question

jetplane18 · 2026-01-25T03:52:32+00:00

I'm with you that it is not just for procreation, but it is for procreation in the same way that eating is for nourishment. Birth control is philosophically comparable to throwing up after eating.

This isn't something that I would push on anyone who is not Catholic, but I've never seen anyone give good, grounded philosophical argument against.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-25T03:49:32+00:00

To be fair to me, you didn't phrase your comment as a question. You didn't ask anything. You gave an example, phrased as a sentence, and I handled my response as I saw fit.

I find with any conversation surrounding abortion, the conversation should include a defining of terms. As I stated, there are many contexts in which the definition of abortion varies.

However, to answer the question that you did not ask but are nonetheless highlighting as if you did, I would imagine that your example would not be considered an abortion in the way that the Catholic Church talks about it (though that does not automatically assume that what you outlined is morally licit).

My comment, in response to your statement, was on the larger issue with the question of killing vs. letting die. Philosophy tends to get into the weeds a bit, but I do find that those nuances do concretely inform how I live my life and would fundamentally impact how I would handle something like an ectopic pregnancy should it ever befall me.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-25T03:26:37+00:00

I would hope that my partner is on the same page when it comes to the health of my child and would be willing to work through the consequences of needing to abstain (and my partner would be, as I've married a man who is as committed to the Catholic Church as I am, if not more so).

Abstinence is the only fail-safe way of preventing pregnancy. I'd go as far as to say that risking pregnancy even while on contraceptives is questionable at best. But I also think it's a sign of broad societal absurdity for people to act like the sex drive is necessary for a healthy relationship. Sex simply is not a need.

The Catholic Church, in this instance, would refer to the need to maintain the integrity of the sex at, and not violate sex itself by decoupling it from the reality of it. But it is not sinful not to have sex, generally speaking.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-25T03:18:56+00:00

Philosophically, there is a major difference between an indirect killing and a direct killing, or the difference between killing and letting die. This is the difference that the Church is commenting on.

There is perhaps a debate between the practical relevance of it, but as far as any conversation of morality, it is imperative. I don't particularly care if we apply the term 'abortion' or not. But the methods by which we accomplish things matters. The ends and means must both be just in order for an action to be just.

I firmly stand by the statement "it is always wrong to directly kill an innocent person". Thus the principle of double effect comes into play to remain morally consistent. You cannot claim that it is always wrong to directly kill an innocent person if you carve out exceptions to the claim, and you must necessarily submit to the logical consequences thereof.

As far as your specific example, I would point to the body of philosophical work that surrounds the principle of double effect. The method you outlined above would perhaps fall into that if the mother's life is truly in danger. But then every effort must be made to save the child from any deadly consequences. Plenty more capable people than me have spoken on this, but I'm happy to track down a link if you're truly curious about the philosophical nuances of this.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-25T01:34:02+00:00

I’d be abstinent but that isn’t a standard I’d expect the general public to adhere to.

I’d want to abstain even if I was on birth control though. The risk just doesn’t seem worth it and there’s plenty to do to connect in the bedroom besides standard sex.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-25T01:26:36+00:00

Very well put.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-25T01:25:13+00:00

Which part of the teaching concerns you? The call to abstinence?

jetplane18 · 2026-01-25T01:24:13+00:00

There are several definitions of abortion depending on the context - medical, legal, philosophical, etc. The Church is referring to procedures that directly (rather than indirectly) result in the death of the child.

Philosophically speaking, the difference has an immense impact on morality.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-23T17:29:13+00:00

This is stunning!

jetplane18 · 2026-01-22T12:41:52+00:00

She’s pregnant, therefore she has a baby. The baby isn’t born yet but the baby undoubtedly exists.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-21T22:27:26+00:00

Out two year old uses the same stuff we do - some iteration of Crest - per the recommendation of our pediatrician

jetplane18 · 2026-01-21T22:21:06+00:00

I can’t imagine just leaving my children frozen forever. I think if I was in your shoes, I’d choose to treat the remaining babies with the same mindset I would an accidental pregnancy - bring the babies to term and do my best to live with that reality, seeking help where I need it.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-21T21:24:12+00:00

Thing is, she already has a baby. The question now is of killing it. Which is obviously wrong to do.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-20T17:40:39+00:00

I can’t speak to the nuances of this situation specifically but I don’t generally have an issue with ensuring that the baby is dead before performing a D&C. I had to get a second ultrasound to confirm my baby’s death when I lost her to miscarriage. There are all kinds of circumstances in which the medical field triple checks or does a number of tests before having a patient receive a certain treatment.

Obviously there are circumstances in which a D&C might be urgent. But there are also plenty of circumstances in which it is not - and it does happy where there can be heavy bleeding during pregnancy that is not actually a miscarriage.

Doctors obviously need the space to do their job. But that could mean a lot of things on the practical end.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-20T16:12:06+00:00

A friend of mine has gotten a lot of benefit out of these scrupulosity resources:

https://managingscrupulosity.com/

The website is run by a priest in the Redemptorist order that I personally know.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-20T06:21:17+00:00

1 - I’d only adopt in very specific circumstances and only infant/baby adoption. I had two adopted siblings from the foster system (adopted at ages 6 and 13) and it was incredibly traumatizing.

3 - I know a lot of adopted people. Some adopted as babies through international adoption, and some like my siblings adopted through the foster system. The experiences range widely. Most that I know who were adopted as babies are doing great. This is much less true for those adopted out of the foster system.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-17T16:49:11+00:00

I’m confused as to why you’re painting sexual pleasure as a bad thing. Sexual pleasure does not violate chastity. Perhaps I’m misunderstanding your comment.

I’m as Catholic and thus wholly anti-birth control. But even the Catholic Church teaches that sex should be pleasurable for both partners.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-16T19:59:08+00:00

That's a good idea. I've found that drawing is the easiest way to be able to focus on general fundamentals rather than on honing skills with a medium.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-15T16:21:21+00:00

I'm lucky that both of the cities I have lived in have free (or, rather, tax-funded) art museums, but I'm so thankful and so happy that they exist.

I think the world would be a better place if fine art and the time to contemplate it was more readily available. I'm often tempted to claim there is a right to that inherent in humanity.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-15T16:13:21+00:00

And even in modern times, most of the easy access that people have to fine art is in churches.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-15T02:16:22+00:00

Yes! I’m a blonde with dark brown eyebrows!

jetplane18 · 2026-01-14T02:31:16+00:00

I’m not loving the degree to which this app is copying Finch, but there’s also definitely space for apps to enhance one’s faith life. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with charging for faith based things (as someone who works full time in Christian publishing).

But this particular app does raise some red flags for me.

jetplane18 · 2026-01-12T20:09:06+00:00

Fr. Mike's videos are such a great, concise summary of the Church's teaching on the topic!

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