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According to Humanae Vitae, what is one negative impact of contraception?

  1. It promotes financial instability.

  2. It encourages sex outside of marriage.

  3. It increases population growth.

  4. It supports natural family planning.

The correct answer is: It encourages sex outside of marriage.

Humanae Vitae, an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI in 1968, addresses the moral implications of contraception and emphasizes the importance of marriage and procreation. One of the concerns raised in the document is that contraception may lead to an increase in sexual behavior outside of marriage. The reasoning behind this is that the availability of contraception can lead individuals to separate the procreative purpose of sex from its unitive aspect, which may encourage more casual sexual relationships rather than fostering a commitment within marriage. This perspective is rooted in the belief that marriage should embody a total self-giving and openness to life, and contraception can undermine that by making it easier for individuals to engage in sexual activity without the intention of procreation. This shift in perspective may result in a broader acceptance of sexual relationships that are not grounded in the permanence and exclusivity of marriage, thereby possibly weakening the traditional views on sexual morality. The other options do not align with the core arguments presented in Humanae Vitae, which focuses specifically on the relationship between contraception, sexual ethics, and the sanctity of marriage rather than financial matters, population control, or natural family planning as a direct endorsement of contraception.