THE CATHOLIC MAGISTERIUM ON BIRTH CONTROL IN THE CONTEXT OF TIV CULTURE

This thesis focused on the Catholic Magisterium on Birth Control in the context of Tiv culture. It identified the central thesis of the Magisterium and also critiqued its assertions. The research also compared the Catholic Magisterium on birth and the practice of birth control in Tiv culture. The methodology for the collection of data was through primary and secondary sources. The Magisterium of the Catholic Church on birth control was drawn primarily from Magisterial documents on the subject. The research used a structured questionnaire and oral interviews as primary sources on the practice of birth control in Tiv society. Copies of the questionnaire were administered to randomly selected respondents in five selected local government areas in Tivland of Benue State. These were Makurdi, Gboko, Katsina- Ala, Kwande and Vandeikya. The thesis employed the descriptive, evaluative and comparative methods and analyzed the data collected. It used Natural Law Theory as its theoretical framework. The research found out that the Catholic Magisterium on birth control accepted only the natural family planning methods of birth control as the morally legitimate methods of practicing birth control and rejected all forms of artificial methods of birth control or contraceptives as intrinsically wrong and evil. It also established that in the practice of birth control in Tiv society of Nigeria, couples followed mainly the artificial methods of birth control and only a few followed the natural family planning methods. From the comparison made between the Magisterium of the Catholic Church on birth control and birth control in Tiv society, the research established that only the natural family planning methods could promote human health, the dignity of women and the sanctity of human life which are very important indices of a humane society. The relevance of the research was that it increased understanding of the Catholic teaching on birth control among Catholic Tiv people of Nigeria; thereby providing pastoral resources for leaders and the Church in Tivland. The research recommended that for the Magisterium to be read by many in Tiv society, the corpus of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church on birth control be translated into the Tiv language. For a better understanding, a more effective and safe practice of birth control and the enhancement of Tiv society, it also recommended that the teaching office of the Catholic Church should take a further step by making family planning a catechetical issue in the Catholic Church in Tivland