"If we marry, it is only so that we may bring up children." St. Justin Martyr
("First Apology," c. 160 A.D.)
"God made the male and female for the propagation of the human race." St. Irenaeus
("Against All Heresies," c. 180 A.D.)
"Because of its divine institution for the propagation of man, the seed is not to
be vainly ejaculated, nor is it to be damaged, nor is it to be wasted. To have
coitus other than to procreate children is to do injury to nature." St. Clement
of Alexandria ("The Instructor of Children," 191 A.D.)
"On account of their prominent ancestry and great property, the so-called
faithful want no more children from slaves or lowborn commoners, they use drugs or
sterility or bind themselves tightly in order to expel a fetus which has already been
engendered." St. Hippolytus ("Refutation of All
Heresies," 225 A.D.)
They (certain Egyptian heretics) exercise genital acts, yet
prevent the conceiving of children. Not in order to produce offspring, but to
satisfy lust, are they eager for corruption." St.
Epiphanius of Salamis ("Medicine Chest Against Heresies," 375
A.D.)
"...and that which is sweet, and universally desirable, the having of children,
they esteem grievous and unwelcome. Many at least with this view have even paid
money to be childless, and have mutilated nature, not only killing the newborn, but even
acting to prevent their beginning to live." St. John Chrysostom
("Homilies on Matthew," 391 A.D.)
"But I wonder why he (the heretic Jovianianus) set Judah and Tamar before us for
an example, unless perchance even harlots give him pleasure; or Onan, who was slain
because he grudged his brother seed. Does he imagine that we approve of any sexual
intercourse except for the procreation of children?" St. Jerome
("Against Jovinian," 393 A.D.)
"You may see a number of women who are widows before they are wives. Other,
indeed, will drink sterility and murder a man not yet born." St. Jerome ("Letter
22," 396 A.D.)
"And then, fearing because of your law against child-bearing...they copulate in a
shameful union only to satisfy lust for their wives. They are unwilling to have
children, on whose account alone marriages are made. When this is taken away,
husbands are shameful lovers, wives are harlots, bridal chambers are brothels,
fathers-in-law pimps." St. Augustine of Hippo ("Againt
Faustus," 400 A.D.)
"For necessary sexual intercourse for begetting (children) is alone worthy of
marriage. But that which goes beyond this necessity no longer follows reason but
lust." St. Augustine of Hippo ("The Good of
Marriage," 401 A.D.)
