Very odd situation

ootmother2

When Pfizer introduced Viagra, they contacted the Vatican to see if it would meet approval there.  This was under Pope John Paul's reign, around 2005, I believe. The Vatican's stand at that time was that Viagra might restore vitality to many marriages and enthusically supported the drug.

Catholic Exchange simply stated that Viagra was not considered to go against nature as BCPs.

Phoenix brought up the fact that the Viagra users are generally post fertile and post human menopause but that's a whole different topic.

Only about 1/3 of all insurance companies actually pay for Viagra.  The Vatican pharmacy does not ever dispense  it nor does it dispense any birth control either. (I found it a bit odd that the medication most frequently dispensed by the Vatican pharmacy is Valium   btw, it does carry high end beauty products.  go figure.

Viagra has directly caused the death of 16 users, hardly relevant.

I can't wait to talk to our pastor tomorrow night because I'd love to know what the "ordinary priests" think about all this.

Riss91

I guess I see viagra as a drug that can assist fertility, similar to other drugs that would help women ovulate and maintain pregnancy. I don't think Viagra is anything like ABC. I guess it is "artificial", but it is restorative, rather than destructive to your natural body function.

bibliophile2010

I don't really see the problem with Viagra on a moral level. It does not prevent the body from working they way it was designed to (stricly speaking -- we've all heard stories to the contrary), and the unitive and procreative elements of sex are coequals. Viagra does not remove either and may help restore the former.

The fact that it is not stocked at the Vatican pharmacy, in my mind, does not speak to its moral value in any way, IMO.

chelseamb11

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_very-odd-situation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:9dd6f445-25bb-4322-877e-ebc6fded5f2fPost:fa3ffdf7-423c-4afd-a0d3-276d283ae398">Re: Very odd situation</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't really see the problem with Viagra on a moral level. It does not prevent the body from working they way it was designed to (stricly speaking -- we've all heard stories to the contrary), and the unitive and procreative elements of sex are coequals. Viagra does not remove either and may help restore the former. <strong>The fact that it is not stocked at the Vatican pharmacy, in my mind, does not speak to its moral value in any way, IMO.</strong>
Posted by bibliophile2010[/QUOTE]

Agreed.  The pill helps people avoid the "consequences" of sex, whereas viagra just helps people have sex.  Big difference.

MedStudent13

This is a very common argument used by those who oppose the Church's position on birth control (as well as those who seek to brand the Church as 'sexist'). The fact of the matter is that Viagra cures a disorder. Pregnancy, reguardless of how the left would like us to think, is not a disease or disorder!

Simply_Caitlin

Birth control can actually be prescribed for medical reasons that have nothing to do with "birth control" though.  Just saying it helps with many different disorders and diseases like endometriosis or dysmenorrhea.

agapecarrie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_very-odd-situation?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:9dd6f445-25bb-4322-877e-ebc6fded5f2fPost:6899554d-a97d-4c18-8b57-734301bf3bbc">Re: Very odd situation</a>:
[QUOTE]Birth control can actually be prescribed for medical reasons that have nothing to do with "birth control" though.  Just saying it helps with many different disorders and diseases like endometriosis or dysmenorrhea.
Posted by Simply_Caitlin[/QUOTE]

<div>Actually, it only medicates the symptoms, it doesn't actually fix the problem, and in fact, makes them worse.</div><div>
</div><div>Napro technology helps actually diagnose and heal the problems. </div>