Unveiling "Vatican roulette": The church's historic stance on contraception

Arkadiusz Stempin and Artur Nowak's book Criminal History of the Vatican describes the Holy See's history of scandals and catalogue of sins. The literary work lists former popes, their partners, and children. The shocking book also mentions the mysterious term "Vatican roulette." What was it, and what did it refer to?

For many years, the Church fought against contraception, especially condoms and pills. As early as Paul VI, during the Second Vatican Council, prohibited women from using medications that would protect them from unintended pregnancy. 

Even the majority of the specially appointed commission of cardinals advocated for changing the Church's position on contraception. The Second Vatican Council recognized love as an equal goal of marriage alongside procreation, giving hope for a softening of the Church's approach. However, Paul VI rejected this possibility, fearing the harmful influence of liberalization.

Contrary to the majority opinion of his advisors, after four years of hesitation, the pope issued an encyclical in 1968 prohibiting contraception, claiming the right to the final decision on this matter. It went down in history as Humanae vitae, which means the encyclical against the pill. 

The encyclical allowed the avoidance of conception only through abstinence during fertile days, which in practice was difficult to apply and ineffective. The rhythm method, colloquially known as the "Vatican roulette," was an uncertain method that led to unwanted pregnancies.

At the same time, abortion, often the only alternative, was condemned as murder. Despite the enormous number of abortions worldwide, especially in Catholic countries, the Vatican did not change its stance.