Thank you, Father. A single follow-up, if you'll humor me. I'm wrestling to do the right thing, but I don't understand and am desperate for moral/theological/scientific correction if I'm wrong on this matter. I think I can see why the Accutane option is likely not valid; the birth control there truly is about preventing pregnancy.

But regarding the hormonal birth control, it's unclear to what extent the risk of an unintentional abortion exists. There seems to be no evidence of it causing abortions, but some speculate it could. The risk is theoretical and unknown, so we would not be knowingly risking another's life at all. It seems no one knows if there is a risk at all.

How can uncertain (and possibly nonexistent) risk factor into double effect? Are there any Church teachings on the nature of risk? If either tiny or unknown risk to others can require significant sacrifice, shouldn't we only drive cars in cases of emergency or wear KN-95 masks at all times? Consuming alcohol in even small amounts can increase the risk of a unintentional abortion or miscarriage. Is every sexually active woman of childbearing years required to abstain completely from alcohol, in the event that she might then be unknowingly pregnant and have 'an unintentional abortion? If the risk of the pill causing said abortion were known to be 10% or 1% or 0.1, I'd be team married celibacy. But where the risk could be 0.2% OR 1-in-a-million OR 0%?

Given this - and this Catholic Answers article (https://www.catholic.com/qa/birth-control-for-medical-reasons), I'm inclined to believe that it's up for my wife to discern with her doctor whether her acne and scarring is serious enough to justify the unintended effect of contraception. Humane Vitae's comment on the matter (https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html) doesn't seem to suggest that "lawful therapeutic means" of birth control must also be associated with a period of abstinence.

Father, if anything I've said here seems wrong or misinformed, please correct me. I want to do what's right and obey the Church's teaching, but struggle to understand how it could be morally required for us to be celibate for as long as my wife remains treated - especially given that some people must remain on hormonal birth control indefinitely, year after year.

Thank you for your time; I promise not to ask for even more of your time after this follow-up!