Church Document
Humanae Vitae
Encyclical of Pope Paul VI (1968)
Pope Paul VI's encyclical on the regulation of birth, reaffirming the Church's teaching that each and every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life. Condemns contraception, sterilization, and abortion as intrinsically disordered.
Key themes
The transmission of life
The unitive and procreative meanings of the conjugal act
Responsible parenthood
Lawful and unlawful means of regulating birth
Document type
Encyclical
Issuing authority
Pope Paul VI
Issued date
25 July 1968