Exactly how is NFP (Natural Family Planning) NOT just another form of birth control?

[graceandglory]

In a world of shrinking resources, I’m afraid that I cannot accept that it is a good thing to produce families of that number. Do you believe that God favors a world in which people starve because they cannot actually feed their .

BOTH of you would be enriched by reading what the Church has to say on what Responsible Parenthood is and isn’t.

The Catholic view is NOT to “Have as many children as your house can hold.” It IS be open to life and cooperate with God in the act of creation.

ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2tb116.htm
This has been radically edited from the original in order to fit in this post.

Responsible Parenthood
Pope John Paul II

GENERAL AUDIENCE OF WEDNESDAY, 1 AUGUST [1984]

On Wednesday morning, 1 August, at the general audience in St Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II continued his analysis of Paul VI’s “Humanae Vitae” and the Conciliar document “Gaudium et Spes”, in the context of his theme, responsible parenthood. Following is our translation of the Holy Father’s address.
**

1. For today we have chosen the theme of responsible parenthood in the light of Gaudium et Spes and of Humanae Vitae.**

The Council text reads as follows: “When it is a question of harmonizing married love with the responsible transmission of life, it is not enough to take only the good intention and the evaluation of motives into account; the objective criteria must be used, criteria drawn from the nature of the human person and human action, criteria which respect the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love; all this is possible only if the virtue of married chastity is seriously practiced” (GS 51).

married couples “shall fulfill their role with a sense of human and Christian responsibility, and the formation of correct judgments through docile respect for God.” (GS 50). This involves “common reflection and effort; it also involves a consideration of their own good and the good of their children, already born or yet to come, an ability to read the signs of the times and of their own situation on the material and spiritual level, and finally, an estimation of the good of the family, of society and of the Church.”

(GS 50).

At this point words of particular importance follow, to determine with greater precision the moral character of responsible parenthood. We read: “It is the married couple themselves who must in the last analysis arrive at these judgments before God” (GS 50).

And it continues**: “Married people should realize that in their behaviour they may not simply follow their own fancy but must be ruled by conscience—and conscience ought to be conformed to the law of God i**n the light of the teaching authority of the Church, which is the authentic interpreter of divine law. For the divine law throws light on the meaning of married love, protects it and leads it to truly human fulfilment” (GS 50).

responsible parenthood expresses the domination which reason and will must exert over them" (HV 10).
**
Taking for granted the above-mentioned interpersonal aspects and adding to them the “economic and social conditions,” those are considered “to exercise responsible parenthood who prudently and generously decide to have a large family, or who, for serious reasons and with due respect to the moral law, choose to have no more children for the time being or even for an indeterminate period” (HV 10).**
**
From this it follows that the concept of responsible parenthood contains the disposition not merely to avoid a further birth but also to increase the family in accordance with the criteria of prudence**.
**
6. The commitment to responsible parenthood requires that husband and wife, “keeping a right order of priorities, recognize their own duties toward God, themselves, their families and human society”** (HV 10). One cannot therefore speak of acting arbitrarily. On the contrary the married couple “must act in conformity with God’s creative intention” (HV 10).

 

[mark_a]

Exactly how is NFP (Natural Family Planning) NOT just another form of birth control?

Using NFP is also a great way to get pregnant.

Problem solved.

You are welcome.

 

[LilyM]

Here is something I find interesting…

I just did a little research, so if any of my findings regarding NFP are wrong, please feel free to correct me.

This site seems to pretty well explain the processes/different methods of NFP, and gives it an effectiveness rating of between 91%-98% (depending on the form practiced). This is of course, when the method is used properly (or when a couple is actively trying to avoid pregnancy), so realistically, you’re looking at the true statistics being a little less because most people don’t consistently use any form of birth control or family planning correctly. This stat is meant to represent the couple who follows NFP without wavering.

Condoms have a 98% effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, again, assuming they are used right. This doesn’t account for tears, slips, people who don’t always use condoms, or people who don’t know how to put them on correctly.

Birth control seems to vary a bit. This site lists a 99.7% accuracy rate if used perfectly, and 92% for the “typical” use, ie, how the general public uses it. A lot also depends on the brand of birth control being used - a friend of mine used one, which had a 92% “perfect use” rate, and ended up pregnant.

The point I’m trying to make here is that other methods of birth control, like NFP, are known to be imperfect. So if a couple is having sex using a condom, birth control, etc. and they know there is a chance they could get pregnant, despite their desire not to… how is this any different than NFP?

Quite simply because methods matter, as well as results. If I want to earn money to support my starving children I can do so in several ways. One is to get a legitimate job. The other is by doing something illegal and immoral like drug dealing, prostitution or theft. The method of earning money can be immoral in and of itself, even if the end destination of the money is not an immoral one.

Again, as has been pointed out before, the Church has never said that limiting the number of children you have (as long as it’s not for purely selfish reasons) is bad per se. It’s the complete and utter disdain for God’s natural plan and design for the body and sex that is involved in ABC makes ABC so abhorrent. Basically ABC takes a perfect and healthily functioning reproductive system and messes around with it, by surgery, drugs or devices. NFP doesn’t mess around with the reproductive system at all.

 

[LittleDeb]

I recognize that people disagree, and that’s fine. but I still say that the Church defenders have come up with some fancy footwork to allow for birth control in another form with no decent explanation as to why a “natural”: form is so much more acceptable than a man-made type. It is seldom that two persons are gifted with an equal desire for sexual relations. This having to have sex by the calendar is not helpful it seems to me in marital relations. I don’t speak for any one in particular. But we certainly know that such practices often used to BECOME pregnant, put stress of the relationship, and that is for a short time hopefully. A lifetime of such stuff would be enough for many to just not want to be bothered or, as so many have done in the past, go elsewhere.

You know, I may go off on a tirade for only the second time in my long history posting here at CAF. But I just think your posts misrepresenting NFP are some of the worst I have seen.

I cannot begin to tell you how offensive your words are to those of us who struggle with health problems and especially with infertility. Your solution that contraception is better on a marriage than periodic abstinence is truly something right out of a neutered/Neanderthal/radical feminism mentality that has been force-fed on us since the mid 1800s. Malthus was wrong then and his followers are still wrong today.

Sorry, but with my health struggles, my husband shows his deep abiding love for me by being willing to abstain. Contraception won’t help what ails me, rest does. My two beautiful children would not exist if I had listened to the garbage, yes I repeat GARBAGE, that is the anti-life contraception movement.

I’m so sorry that your experience has led you to believe such incorrect things about the marital union. We find that our sexual desires are right in line with each other. We have asked God to be at the center of our marriage. With that commitment to our Lord comes a knowledge and understanding of His will for our family. I chart my fertility, yes I do. So sue me. I’ve been charting some since before I even met my husband. It helped my health.

Ok. So you don’t like the phrase “open to life?” Try on the phrase “open to its natural end.” That natural end could be fertility or infertility. For some couples those months and years of infertility can be heartbreaking. I don’t think you even realize how hurtful your words are in comparing NFP to contraception. I suggest you try saying those hurtful words that NFP is the same as contraception to an infertile couple’s faces. I further suggest ducking as you do so.

NFP is charting and understanding our fertility. Contraception is an assault on fertility. “Barrier methods?” Is the couple at war? “The Pill?” Is she sick? And what about it “protecting” a woman’s health? There is a woman here on CAF who has a life threatening heart condition. Please do go ahead and say to her that she needs to take her faith out of God through his gift of NFP and put it in a flimsy piece of latex instead. Or better yet, please tell her to have a surgery that might harm her heart to have her perfectly healthy fallopian tubes cut and burnt. Please tell her that since the medicos can’t solve her heart problem that she should use their faulty Pill to instead change her hormones to some artificial imbalance. Yeah, let’s see how healthy that is for her heart.

And while you are at it, please remember to call up the families of all of the women who died, yes died, from the massive amounts of artificial hormones that have given them breast cancer. Please learn about the eugenics movement and what contraception is really all about. Please tell all the blacks at www.blackgenocide.org that those “health clinics” in Harlem were really good for their race. Again, I suggest ducking when you do so.

/end tirade

Please, please, please stop preaching and start learning. You really don’t know what it is you are saying and how many lives you might be harming. Contraception is NOT an answer. Self control and self sacrifice are the answer. Please think hard before you post one of your hurtful posts again. You don’t even seem to realize that the message you are sending to the poor is that they shouldn’t exist in the first place. Is this really what you think? Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood thought so. She wrote extensively about it.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

From what I have read I think you state the Church’s position well. But of course, no contraception can stop God should he wish to infuse life correct? And this would be the same for the NFP couple who hope fervently that God won’t infuse life? So in either case God can. Do you think he does against the wishes of the humans?

Actually, I think the Church has gotten stuck in this position because She alway strives to be internally consistent. I think both methods are used for the same purpose. Niceties of “being fully open to life” and loving fully, are just logical exericizes to justify the doctrine. I can’t imagine the misery of having to use this method and being in no financial/emotional condition to have more children. This I believe places a terrible burden on the marriage bond. Of course it is born more fully by women than men often, especially when there are physical reason why a pregnancy is ill advised. I’ve heard too many stories posted here of people literally taking their health in their hands determined to follow the Church even if it means ruined health or destroyed marriage.

If you’re trying to get a better understanding of why NFP is different from artificial contraception, I recommend Christopher West’s talks about John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. I just finished watching the video series and it helped me appreciate more this and other Church teachings about sexuality.

I’m tempted to try to summarize what he said, but I doubt I could do that well enough to do it justice.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

SpiritMeadow,

I will not be sucked into another “shrinking resources” debate. I disagree entirely with the premises. I have said all I need to on this thread. Except,

Happy Fathers Day to all you faithful, loving, self-giving, NFP-practicing Dads. God bless you for your adherence to the truth in the face of the lies and hatred of the world. Great is your reward!!!

In Christ,

mary

I have no desire to suck you into anything. That resources are finite is a simple geologic fact. No one disagrees. Some believe that we will find other means and other places to inhabit to solve those issues, and that may occur. But that does not excuse assuming that such will be the case. It’s a sad manner for us as custodians to treat the planet and a miserable legacy to leave to our descendents.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

BOTH of you would be enriched by reading what the Church has to say on what Responsible Parenthood is and isn’t.

The Catholic view is NOT to “Have as many children as your house can hold.” It IS be open to life and cooperate with God in the act of creation.

ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2tb116.htm
This has been radically edited from the original in order to fit in this post.

Thanks, but why would you assume that I have not read this document? I can assure you I have.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

I cannot begin to tell you how offensive your words are to those of us who struggle with health problems and especially with infertility. Your solution that contraception is better on a marriage than periodic abstinence is truly something right out of a neutered/Neanderthal/radical feminism mentality that has been force-fed on us since the mid 1800s.

I’m so sorry that your experience has led you to believe such incorrect things about the marital union. We find that our sexual desires are right in line with each other. We have asked God to be at the center of our marriage. With that commitment to our Lord comes a knowledge and understanding of His will for our family. I chart my fertility, yes I do. So sue me. I’ve been charting some since before I even met my husband. It helped my health.

Ok. So you don’t like the phrase “open to life?” Try on the phrase “open to its natural end.” That natural end could be fertility or infertility. For some couples those months and years of infertility can be heartbreaking. I don’t think you even realize how hurtful your words are in comparing NFP to contraception. I suggest you try saying those hurtful words that NFP is the same as contraception to an infertile couple’s faces. I further suggest ducking as you do so.

NFP is charting and understanding our fertility. Contraception is an assault on fertility. “Barrier methods?” Is the couple at war? “The Pill?” Is she sick? And what about it “protecting” a woman’s health? There is a woman here on CAF who has a life threatening heart condition. Please do go ahead and say to her that she needs to take her faith out of God through his gift of NFP and put it in a flimsy piece of latex instead. Or better yet, please tell her to have a surgery that might harm her heart to have her perfectly healthy fallopian tubes cut and burnt. Please tell her that since the medicos can’t solve her heart problem that she should use their faulty Pill to instead change her hormones to some artificial imbalance. Yeah, let’s see how healthy that is for her heart.

And while you are at it, please remember to call up the families of all of the women who died, yes died, from the massive amounts of artificial hormones that have given them breast cancer. Please learn about the eugenics movement and what contraception is really all about. Please tell all the blacks at www.blackgenocide.org that those “health clinics” in Harlem were really good for their race. Again, I suggest ducking when you do so.

Please, please, please stop preaching and start learning. You really don’t know what it is you are saying and how many lives you might be harming. Contraception is NOT an answer. Self control and self sacrifice are the answer. Please think hard before you post one of your hurtful posts again. You don’t even seem to realize that the message you are sending to the poor is that they shouldn’t exist in the first place. Is this really what you think? Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood thought so. She wrote extensively about it.

As you may not have realized I was not preaching for anything but stating my opinion. My marriage is wonderful. I am past menopause and don’t use contraceptives. I’m thoroughly overjoyed that your marriage is so sound. Many however are not. I do not think that contraception is anything horrid. Most Catholics do not either, and most use them. If you find the sacrifice to be worthwhile, then by all means continue. It sickens me however when I see people posting here who are risking their health and lives hoping that the NFP works and they don’t become pregnant. That is of course their choice, as it is yours. I have no issue with you or your choice, I simply disagree that artificial contraception is any different than “natural” attempts at contraception. I see no reason for you to be meanspirited about it or to be rude. But of course, if you find it necessary, by all means do so, I can take, and don’t worry I won’t turn you in for being uncharitable.

I have no clue what your claim is that I am telling the poor they have no right to exist. Such a claim is beneath you and has no basis in fact whatsoever. Your attempts to tie me to some genocide of the poor, African Americans and probably the Iraq war are unfounded simply because I don’t see a difference between artificial and natural contraception a stretch not even a contortionist would attempt.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

If you’re trying to get a better understanding of why NFP is different from artificial contraception, I recommend Christopher West’s talks about John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. I just finished watching the video series and it helped me appreciate more this and other Church teachings about sexuality.

I’m tempted to try to summarize what he said, but I doubt I could do that well enough to do it justice.

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll look into it. I generally tend to read everything I can, Can this be found on the web?

 

[bugz2007]

Simple difference, found in the means to the same end.

Abstinence is virtuous. NFP involves abstinence.

All that ABC does differently from NFP is allow a couple to do what they want, when they want it, with the same level of assurance that abstaining and using NFP would give. Greed and self-indulgence are not virtuous.

Why wouldn’t you be willing to sacrifice for the greater glory of God and for your relationship?

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll look into it. I generally tend to read everything I can, Can this be found on the web?

Here’s a link where you can buy it:

christopherwest.com/item.asp?CategoryID=11

A parish in my city showed the videos. Maybe you can find a local parish that will be showing them, so you don’t have to buy the DVDs. It’s supposed to be quite popular.

John Paul II’s Theology of the Body is online, but it’s very deep. Christopher West talks about it in an interesting way in 8 hours. Here’s Theology of the Body if you want to read all 129 sermons

ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2TBIND.HTM

(#118 deals most closely with the topic at hand, but the background of the whole series is important)

 

[LittleDeb]

As you may not have realized I was not preaching for anything but stating my opinion. My marriage is wonderful. I am past menopause and don’t use contraceptives. I’m thoroughly overjoyed that your marriage is so sound. Many however are not. I do not think that contraception is anything horrid. Most Catholics do not either, and most use them. If you find the sacrifice to be worthwhile, then by all means continue. It sickens me however when I see people posting here who are risking their health and lives hoping that the NFP works and they don’t become pregnant. That is of course their choice, as it is yours. I have no issue with you or your choice, I simply disagree that artificial contraception is any different than “natural” attempts at contraception. I see no reason for you to be meanspirited about it or to be rude. But of course, if you find it necessary, by all means do so, I can take, and don’t worry I won’t turn you in for being uncharitable.

I have no clue what your claim is that I am telling the poor they have no right to exist. Such a claim is beneath you and has no basis in fact whatsoever. Your attempts to tie me to some genocide of the poor, African Americans and probably the Iraq war are unfounded simply because I don’t see a difference between artificial and natural contraception a stretch not even a contortionist would attempt.

Mean-spirited and uncharitable? Ok. I called it a tirade, you called it uncharitable. We disagree yet again. Once again you have stated your opinion, as you call it. The Church disagrees with your opinion on contraception. What I stated was that in thread after thread I have watched you misrepresent NFP. You do and you have. Until now I have remained silent. If you find what I said uncharitable please specify.

The Church has said that contraception is intrinsically evil. I provided a link from a non-Catholic source who agrees and finds that contraception, the precursor to abortion, has attempted to wipe out an entire race. There is no denying the links between contraception and eugenics.

I am willing to patiently explain to people that NFP is not contraception. I can see their confusion there, because of the misnomer “birth control.” What is unacceptable is people, while claiming to be Catholic, continuing to proclaim that contraception is not intrinsically evil and keep trying to promote it as a greater good. Contraception isn’t working. It is targeted on the poor as was the vision of the founder of Planned Parenthood. It is intrinsically evil and brings only destruction in its wake.

 

[hasikelee]

Hormonal replacement therapies have a psychological crutch for those who are emotionally or mentally unable to accept responsibility for their actions.

This was something I would have never thought of until a nonCatholic, unmarried friend who uses birth control talked to me about it.

The process of monitoring your body requires a basic level of education in anatomy and physiology. It requires the discipline of understanding and observing bodily functions. This is completely contrary to our current culture, where the immediate response is to change the body, stop the body or otherwise alter normal bodily functions.

Although this friend stopped taking birth control for several months (and thank goodness as she was then able to discover several fertility problems that could have proved even fatal) she is once again taking them. The psychological comfort of swallowing a pill and believing the magic pill will prevent pregnancy is easier to her than consciously thinking about it every day.

Of course, if people did have to stop and think about their actions daily, they might not be doing 1/2 the stuff they do. Hmm. Imagine that.

As for those who always complain they can’t figure out why abstaining from sex is not the same as taking synthetic hormones, mutilating sexual organs or wearing a barrier, I often wonder if they have problems with other actions. I mean, I worry for them deeply. They must believe stealing is the same as an honest day’s work. Starving an old person is the same as waiting for them to die. Anyway that gets what you want, is game I suppose.

And spiritmeadows, are you currently seeking professional assistance for the issues you are grappling with? I notice you post a lot on this and similar topics, but in your posts, you allude to a lot of health and marital problems. No one should have to rely on an anonymous online forum for assistance.

 

[SpiritMeadow]

Mean-spirited and uncharitable? Ok. I called it a tirade, you called it uncharitable. We disagree yet again. Once again you have stated your opinion, as you call it. The Church disagrees with your opinion on contraception. What I stated was that in thread after thread I have watched you misrepresent NFP. You do and you have. Until now I have remained silent. If you find what I said uncharitable please specify.

Perhaps you have mistaken me for someone else. I’ve barely commented on this subject. Perhaps on two other threads, and usually just once. I was intrigued by this particular thread and the way the subject was posed.

It is my opinion. If you wish to call it something else, please say so. Am I inadvertently stating someone else and not knowing it? If not, it must be my opinion correct? I cannot misrepresent NFP. I have posted on this thread that I thought someone else very accurately stated exactly what the Church teaches. Look back on page 1 I believe. I cannot misrepresent what the Church teaches, I simply don’t buy the explanation. There is a difference. I have stated my opinion, that is not mispresenting anything.

The Church has said that contraception is intrinsically evil. I provided a link from a non-Catholic source who agrees and finds that contraception, the precursor to abortion, has attempted to wipe out an entire race. There is no denying the links between contraception and eugenics.

You will have to provide quite a few more links before you will convince very many folks that there is any linkage between contraception and eugenics. Obviously the vast majority of the world does not agree. Most Catholics do not agree.

I am willing to patiently explain to people that NFP is not contraception. I can see their confusion there, because of the misnomer “birth control.” What is unacceptable is people, while claiming to be Catholic, continuing to proclaim that contraception is not intrinsically evil and keep trying to promote it as a greater good. Contraception isn’t working. It is targeted on the poor as was the vision of the founder of Planned Parenthood. It is intrinsically evil and brings only destruction in its wake.

Contraception works just fine and is used by the vast vast majority of people in this Country and most others. Furthermore, it contributes more to the saving of unwanted children than does all the rhetoric of the right to life forces ever have and that is factual. I don’t know what exactly you see as wrong as concepts that are designed to reduce the number of the poor. I should think we all want the number of poor people to decrease. In any case, if I get the tenor of your belief, apparently the vast majority again do not agree that PPH has this nefarious goal which I assume you liken to some type of killing off of a segment of society. But then again, I thought we all want to reduce poverty. You have not even begun to show any destruction. All studies show that abstinence does not work and that full sex education does much more to reduce the rates of teen pregnancy and thus abortion. You may not like it, but thems the facts ma’am.

In any case, I am in no way disparaging anyone who wishes to practice NFP. It’s fine with me. I just seen no basis for condeming others who don’t. I don’t see why it is necessary since they are not stopping you from what you wish to do. I have no idea your motivations and have no basis for asking, since it’s not my business. I wish others would see that it is not their province either to judge (oh sorry, admonish) others.

 

[newbetx]

From what I have read I think you state the Church’s position well. But of course, no contraception can stop God should he wish to infuse life correct? And this would be the same for the NFP couple who hope fervently that God won’t infuse life? So in either case God can. Do you think he does against the wishes of the humans?

This argument I find humorous. God created sex (not only) for procreation. Only ONCE did he create a child without a man and woman having sex. And only once will it ever be done that way. So to say all things are possible if God wants something is true, but every other “miracle birth” required uncontracepted sex by the faithful couple. Every one!

Why would anyone think themselves worthy of such a miracle if they are not being faithful to God in the first place?

When one accepts the “risks” of sex, naturally, one is being faithful to God. If one has no faith in God, then one does what one wants. When one does only as one wants, one is selfish. Sex, today, can be very selfish. Selfish acts create hateful situations and so it goes in today’s culture.

Selfless sex is non-contraceptive, no barriers, an act of love. For both the couple and for their God. Until one can understand the love of God, one can not understand the trouble contraception can cause.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

All studies show that abstinence does not work and that full sex education does much more to reduce the rates of teen pregnancy and thus abortion.

Contrary to what we’ve been told, contraception was not invented to avoid pregnancy. We already had a way to avoid pregnancy: abstinence. Contraception was invented so that we could avoid abstinence.

Contraception was supposed to give us sexual freedom, but what it really gave us was sexual addiction and in fact took away our freedom to abstain. It created generations of people who no longer are capable of being chaste. Being able to say no to sex is important not just for single people but for married people as well, so they can be faithful to each other.

Contraception created the attitude in society that people had a right to sex without pregnancy. This attitude is what lead to a demand for abortions. It also led to people being unable to be chaste, which has caused the increase in the divorce rate and the STD rate.

Of course what you say is true, that birth control will reduce pregnancy rates for teens who are already sexually active and aren’t going to stop being sexually active. But you have to also consider how much you increase the levels of sexual activity and dangerous sexual activity by promoting contraception.

 

[mark_a]

Contrary to what we’ve been told, contraception was not invented to avoid pregnancy. We already had a way to avoid pregnancy: abstinence. Contraception was invented so that we could avoid abstinence.

Like the Guiness guys like to say, “Brilliant.”

 

[graceandglory]

I do not think that contraception is anything horrid. Most Catholics do not either, and most use them.

That doesn’t make it right.
They are being disobedient and have to confess it before receiving Communion.

It sickens me however when I see people posting here who are risking their health and lives hoping that the NFP works and they don’t become pregnant.

That would bother me too. If a wife would be injured or killed with a possible pregnancy then they should abstain from intercourse when she is fertile. They should not take morality and life into their own hands and play God with their fertility. Sex isn’t supposed to be selfish. It is supposed to be other-centered and a “gift of self.” It isn’t very loving if a husband demands sex from a woman who is fertile, and would risk his wife’s life by having intercourse with her.

God cares about our willingness to trust Him in all things. He entrusts the gift of life to husbands and wives as they participate with Him in creating a new life.

Free CD Contraception: Why Not?
onemoresoul.com/catalog/index.php?target=products&product_id=531

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Like the Guiness guys like to say, “Brilliant.”

Thanks! Actually I borrowed most of that post from Christopher West’s talk on theology of the body Wish I could take credit for it, but I can’t

 

[gardenswithkids]

I certainly see the Church’s subtle distinctions, as have so ably been stated here by several posters, however I fail to conclude that God cannot see it for what it is. I simply cannot understand why God cares whether its natural or not. It may work to keep the Church in logical consistency, but of course the Pharisees were often guilty of form over substance as Jesus often pointed out.

Jesus said of the Pharisees, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice…” Matthew 23: 2-3

The Pharisees understood the laws correctly–it was not their laws but their hearts that were the problem. The high priest Caiaphus’s words were correct yet his heart wrong when he prophesized while planning the death of Jesus, " *‘Better for you that one man die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish’ *" John 11:50.

God judges the heart. He knows the reasons people desire to avoid pregnancy or children. He knows why couples use contraception or NFP. The Church asks couples to examine their own hearts when using NFP because the Church is once again consistent. Children are blessing. The Bible and the Church are clear on that, and if a couple does not desire the blessing of children, they should have significant reasons. It is not always acceptable to use NFP to avoid pregnancy. Learning that part of the Church teachings was the gut wrencher that forced me to confront my own use of contraception. I went on to follow the Church teachings, but I used NFP with the attitude of “Thank goodness we have a good reason to use NFP!” God knew my heart then, just at He knew my heart when I used contraception. He also changed my heart.

Yes, NFP is a form of birth control. God sees NFP for what it is: a method of birth control approved by His Church if there is significant reason for a couple to avoid pregnancy or childbirth. If you see no other distinction between NFP and artificial methods, you at least recognize that NFP is approved by the Church while artificial methods are not. Jesus told His disciples to do and observe all that the Pharisees told them, just not imitate their bad example. God loves obedience.