It was 50 years ago, on July 25^th 1968, Pope Paul VI promulgated Humanae Vitae, his encyclical on the regulation of birth. No papal letter met with more criticism from within and without the Church.  No prohibition may be more violated by self-identified Catholics than those against the use of artificial contraception and sexual intercourse outside of marriage. Yet, no encyclical was more prophetic of the consequences of contraception for society.  And no teaching has been more fiercely debated by more people … who never read the letter!

It is time to find out what Humanae Vitae says and why Blessed Pope Paul VI said it.  The letter does not stand alone. It is built on centuries of consistent teachings grounded in Scripture, the Natural Law, the Beatitudes and more.  Since 1968, Paul VI's teachings have been elaborated by St. John Paul (The Theology of the Body; The Gospel of Life), Pope Benedict XVI (God is Love), and Pope Francis (Amoris Laetitia).

Read Humanae Vitae today.  It is only 11 pages!  You’ll find it is more relevant to people today than it was 50 years ago. 

These lectures are excellent outlines of Humanae Vitae, the historical context of Pope Paul VI's writing it, the response to the letter by the Church universal, and the prophetic consequences of artifical conception for men, women, families, and society.

Humanae Vitae 50 Years Later: Progess or Regress (66 mins)

Cracking the Contraceptive Myths (63 mins)