Milites Veritatis has posted an article by Monseigneur Vincent Foy on why the infamous 1968 Winnipeg Statement should be recalled.
The Winnipeg Statement was a document issued in 1968 by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops which essentially told the faithful that contraceptive practices were allowable according to the conscience of each couple. They in essence taught that contraception was not always a sin, contrary to the very plain teaching of Humanae Vitae, which Pope Paul VI had issued sometime earlier.
I don't want to take up all the reasons, but here are a few:
1. The Winnipeg Statement is tantamount to blasphemy. It is God who determines what is morally good and evil. The Church authentically interprets this natural moral law (cf. Humanae Vitae, n.4).
"Contraception is to be judged objectively so profoundly unlawful, as never to be, for any reason justified. To think or say the contrary is equal to maintaining that in human life, situations may arise in which it is lawful not to recognize God as God” (Pope John Paul II, L’Osservatore Romano, Oct. 10th,1983).
The Winnipeg Statement permits the negation of divine law. Is this not blasphemous?
(...)
14. It is not a right pastoral application of Humanae vitae. The Winnipeg Statement has been defended on the grounds that it is only a pastoral application of Humanae vitae. Bishops have said: "We tried at Winnipeg to make a pastoral application of the encyclical.” But right pastoral application is always in accordance with the truth, and the Winnipeg Statement is in accordance with a lie: that contraception is not always a grave moral evil. In truth, the "pastoral application" of the Winnipeg Statement is a betrayal, a deceit and a fraud.
(...)
16. Largely as a result of the Winnipeg permissiveness, Canadian theologians and others have felt free to dissent from the Church’s teaching not only on contraception but on a wide spectrum of magisterial teachings, e.g. on homosexuality, the ordination of women, on the fundamental option, even on abortion. Witness the revolt of 63 Quebec "theologians" against the encyclical Veritatis splendor in 1993.
17. It has led to discord between bishops and bishops, bishops and priests, priests and priests, pastors and associates, priests and laity, husbands and wives.
