11. May a married woman use contraceptives for a medical purpose?

There are three fonts (or sources) of morality.

Catechism of the Catholic Church: "The morality of human acts depends on: the object chosen; the end in view or the intention; the circumstances of the action. The object, the intention, and the circumstances make up the 'sources,' or constitutive elements, of the morality of human acts." (CCC, n. 1750.)

Compendium of the Catechism: "The morality of human acts depends on three sources: the object chosen, either a true or apparent good; the intention of the subject who acts, that is, the purpose for which the subject performs the act; and the circumstances of the act, which include its consequences." (Compendium of the CCC, n. 367.)

USCCB Catechism: "Every moral act consists of three elements: the objective act (what we do), the subjective goal or intention (why we do the act), and the concrete situation or circumstances in which we perform the act.... All three aspects must be good -- the objective act, the subjective intention, and the circumstances -- in order to have a morally good act." (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, p. 311-312.)

The three fonts of morality can be summarized as follows:

[1] the intention or purpose of the person who chooses the act
[2] the moral object, which determines the intrinsic moral meaning of the act
[3] the circumstances, especially the consequences, of the chosen act

When the moral object is evil, the act is intrinsically evil and always immoral. A good intention and good consequences cannot change the moral object of the act from evil to good. All three fonts must be good for the knowingly chosen act to be moral. Whenever any one or more fonts is bad, the act is immoral (sinful). An act with an evil moral object does not become moral by being done with a good intention (or purpose), or in difficult circumstances.

Pope John Paul II: "Consequently, circumstances or intentions can never transform an act, intrinsically evil by virtue of its object, into an act 'subjectively' good or defensible as a choice." (Veritatis Splendor, n. 81.)

A medical purpose (first font) cannot transform the moral object (second font) of the act of using contraception from an evil to good. The use of contraception deprives the sexual act of its procreative meaning, making the moral object and the intrinsic moral meaning of the act evil. When the act of using contraception is done for a good purpose (or intention), the moral object of the act remains evil. Intentions and circumstances cannot change the moral object. The use of contraception is intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral, even when used for a medical purpose, or in dire circumstances.

A good end does not justify an intrinsically evil means.

[Romans]
{3:8} And should we not do evil, so that good may result? For so we have been slandered, and so some have claimed we said; their condemnation is just.

Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: "It is never permitted to do something which is intrinsically illicit, not even in view of a good result: the end does not justify the means." (Dignitas Personae, n. 21.)

Pope John Paul II: "…the end never justifies the means." (Message for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1 January 2004, n. 8.)

Pontifical Council for the Family: "…one cannot do evil for a good end. The end does not justify the means." (Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, Pontifical Council for the Family, 3. c.)

Catechism of the Catholic Church: " 'An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention' (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, Dec. praec. 6). The end does not justify the means." (CCC, n. 1759; inner quote from St. Thomas Aquinas, On the Ten Commandments.)

The use of an intrinsically evil means is never justified by a good purpose (i.e. a good intention). The use of contraception is intrinsically evil because it deprives the sexual act of its procreative meaning. A medical purpose (the intended end) can never justify the use of an intrinsically evil means to achieve that end.

Both Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II taught that the use of contraception is intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral, "whether as an end or as a means." (Familiaris Consortio, n. 32, quoting Humanae Vitae, n. 14.)

A contraceptive act is an end when the purpose (the intention or intended end) is to prevent conception. But even if the contraceptive is used as a means to another end, such as when chemical contraceptives are used to treat a medical problem, or when a barrier method is used to prevent disease transmission, the use of contraception remains intrinsically evil. The intended end is in the first font; the effects (consequences) are in the third font. But the act of using contraception remains inherently directed at an evil moral object: the deprivation of the procreative meaning from a sexual act. A good intended end and good anticipated consequences cannot change the inherent moral meaning of the act itself. Contraceptive acts are inherently immoral.