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Mrchatsworth
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Yes. Ten characters
Do you or have you used NFP
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We used NFP for 13 years. For reasons I choose not to go into here, at the outset of our marriage, it would not have been prudent to have a child. This morphed into having a comfortable lifestyle, reasonably good jobs, saving tons of money through frugal living, taking nice vacations every year, and coming to the tacit agreement that we would exclude a child indefinitely. I cannot speak for my wife (we are now divorced) but I always felt vaguely uncomfortable with not having children, and finally came under the self-conviction that we did not have sufficient reason — just, grave, serious, call it what you will — and told the priest in confession that, for my part, I could no longer make excuses.
Out of consideration to the mother of our son, I am going to omit the rest of the story.
I realize there is a school of thought among some contemporary faithful, orthodox Catholics, that any use of NFP is legitimate — because it’s not contraception, and possibly because the sacrifices involved are sufficient to prove any couple’s bona fides — but I do not share that view. I have said everything a person could ever possibly say about this, in previous threads, so I am not going to re-hash it here. If my views are of interest to anyone here, you may search my past comments.
Out of consideration to the mother of our son, I am going to omit the rest of the story.
I realize there is a school of thought among some contemporary faithful, orthodox Catholics, that any use of NFP is legitimate — because it’s not contraception, and possibly because the sacrifices involved are sufficient to prove any couple’s bona fides — but I do not share that view. I have said everything a person could ever possibly say about this, in previous threads, so I am not going to re-hash it here. If my views are of interest to anyone here, you may search my past comments.
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Married 8 years, 2 kids. NFP Marquette Method has worked for us since after our first was born seven years ago. So far no surprises.
Definitely a spontaneity killer. But it does make us appreciate the time we do get to be together. It hasn’t substantially impacted our marriage negatively or positively.
Definitely a spontaneity killer. But it does make us appreciate the time we do get to be together. It hasn’t substantially impacted our marriage negatively or positively.
Yeah, before I started learning NFP when I was engaged, I’d respond to my doctor’s routine question of “How long between your periods?” with a deer-in-the-headlights face. Once I started charting I loved how I’d know exactly when my period was coming and how I was so in sync with what was going on in my body. Now I’ve gotten to the point when I know my PMS mood swings are going to start and give myself a pep talk to ward off the snappiness.
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ZemD
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My husband and I use NFP. I appreciate the information it gives me about my health. I don’t like that it limits the times we can be together even further than our kids, home repairs, and his job already do.
We will keep using it as long as I can still have children because it is the only moral option besides abstaining. My preist and NFP instructor are very supportive.
But I don’t know any other Catholics, besides my instructor, who use it. All of my girlfriends take the pill, or the ring, or the implant. My best friend has a serious medical condition and another pregnancy could end her life, she told me they planned to have a vasectomy, even though she knew the church was against it. I think the church needs to somehow be more firm on the topic of NFP and discuss it more. From my personal experience a lot of Catholics treat it as optional at best, a joke at worst.
We will keep using it as long as I can still have children because it is the only moral option besides abstaining. My preist and NFP instructor are very supportive.
But I don’t know any other Catholics, besides my instructor, who use it. All of my girlfriends take the pill, or the ring, or the implant. My best friend has a serious medical condition and another pregnancy could end her life, she told me they planned to have a vasectomy, even though she knew the church was against it. I think the church needs to somehow be more firm on the topic of NFP and discuss it more. From my personal experience a lot of Catholics treat it as optional at best, a joke at worst.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
Priests need to reiterate it from the pulpit, time and again, that contraception is mortally sinful, and if you care anything about your immortal soul, you will avoid it like the plague, and use NFP if you must. No, you may not receive communion, yes, you must mention it in confession, and until and unless you are willing to give it up, you can’t be absolved, and you can’t receive the sacraments. People aren’t aware, you say, they don’t comprehend, they’re not fully responsible? Then tell them. Then they can’t say they haven’t been told and that they didn’t know, they can’t plead ignorance.
Except for (pardon me) coitus interruptus, contraception is a sin that cannot be committed in a fit of passion. It takes deliberation, to go to the doctor, to go to the pharmacy, to purchase your method of choice. That cold, calculated deliberation makes it all the more malicious.
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Mrchatsworth
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Very very good post
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Jen7
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Sadly this is the case in many places. But just because the Shepherds aren’t standing up for NFP-users like they should, it’s not reason to set it aside!
NFP user here!
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Rau
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What form of support did you feel the Church failed to provide?
By “it” I assume you mean contraception? I am not sure I understand the “hypocrisy” charge. What was hypocritical?
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Rau
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Abstaining from sex at relevant times is surely a form of birth control. All forms of birth control are not bad! The church tells you that it (periodic abstinence) is not inherently immoral as is contraception.
The “awareness” element is only fulfilled if one knows about the signs etc. The broad overview of the cycle won’t contribute much to anyone being aware of their current fertility.
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