Contraceptives and Righteous Gentiles

[Director Michael]

The Torah's term for the sin in question is "zera l'vetalah", literally translated as "emitting semen wastefully", which in the Torah Law for Gentiles means emitting semen for no allowable constructive purpose. In G-d's eyes, the act of marital intercourse (as defined in the Torah) between a husband and wife serves a constructive purpose in and of itself, because it strengthens their marital bonding, regardless of whether or not the woman can conceive from the intercourse. (Allowing for the possibility of conception makes their intercourse an even more constructive act.) So when a Gentile couple uses a condom during allowed marital relations, the emission of semen is allowed even though it is blocked, since the arousal is necessary in order for the constructive act to take place. Whereas if licentious emission of semen is committed not during allowed marital intercourse, with or without a condom in place, it is not a constructive act serving a purpose for which it was created, and it is sinful in G-d's eyes.

(Note that use of a semen-blocking condom is forbidden for Jews.)