This article describes the Church's struggle against birth control during the first half of the twentieth century in the diocese of Padua (Northeast Italy), from priestly mercy – inspired by the doctrine of St. Alfonso de’ Liguori – to strict discipline following the publication of Pio XI's encyclical, Casti Connubii, in 1930. We examine documents that until now have been overlooked: moral cases discussed during periodic meetings among Paduan priests from 1916-58, and written answers provided by priests in response to a question concerning their efforts to combat the limiting of births, asked in occasion of Bishop Agostini's visit to the parishes in 1938-43. This documentation reveals the limited effect of the Catholic Church’s position against birth control on reproductive behavior.
Tacit Consent: The Church and Birth Control in Northern Italy
DALLA ZUANNA, GIANPIERO
2011
Abstract
This article describes the Church's struggle against birth control during the first half of the twentieth century in the diocese of Padua (Northeast Italy), from priestly mercy – inspired by the doctrine of St. Alfonso de’ Liguori – to strict discipline following the publication of Pio XI's encyclical, Casti Connubii, in 1930. We examine documents that until now have been overlooked: moral cases discussed during periodic meetings among Paduan priests from 1916-58, and written answers provided by priests in response to a question concerning their efforts to combat the limiting of births, asked in occasion of Bishop Agostini's visit to the parishes in 1938-43. This documentation reveals the limited effect of the Catholic Church’s position against birth control on reproductive behavior.
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