Family Planning Information?!

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I was wondering if someone could tell me everything that the church says on family planning. I would go to other threads but they get rather complicated so I have started my own…!

Thanks!!!😃
 
Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

It is about FAM which is essentially NFP but with protection during the most fertile times. If you ignore her comments about condoms and abstain during those days you’ve got NFP 🙂

You can also take a class through your Church most likely.
 
What kind of info you do want? NFP resources? What the Church actually teaches about family planning? You need to be a bit more specific! 😉
Here’s the Catechism:
scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
Sacrament of marriage: 1601-1658
Family: 2197-2233
Marriage/chastity: 2331-2391

<<The openness to fertility

1652 "By its very nature the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and education of the offspring and it is in them that it finds its crowning glory."162

Children are the supreme gift of marriage and contribute greatly to the good of the parents themselves. God himself said: “It is not good that man should be alone,” and “from the beginning [he] made them male and female”; wishing to associate them in a special way in his own creative work, God blessed man and woman with the words: “Be fruitful and multiply.” Hence, true married love and the whole structure of family life which results from it, without diminishment of the other ends of marriage, are directed to disposing the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and Savior, who through them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.163
1653 The fruitfulness of conjugal love extends to the fruits of the moral, spiritual, and supernatural life that parents hand on to their children by education. Parents are the principal and first educators of their children.164 In this sense the fundamental task of marriage and family is to be at the service of life.165

1654 Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice. >>

<<The fecundity of marriage

2366 Fecundity is a gift, an end of marriage, for conjugal love naturally tends to be fruitful. A child does not come from outside as something added on to the mutual love of the spouses, but springs from the very heart of that mutual giving, as its fruit and fulfillment. So the Church, which is "on the side of life,"151 teaches that "it is necessary that each and every marriage act remain ordered per se to the procreation of human life."152 "This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act."153

2367 Called to give life, spouses share in the creative power and fatherhood of God.154 "Married couples should regard it as their proper mission to transmit human life and to educate their children; they should realize that they are thereby cooperating with the love of God the Creator and are, in a certain sense, its interpreters. They will fulfill this duty with a sense of human and Christian responsibility."155

2368 A particular aspect of this responsibility concerns the regulation of procreation. For just reasons, spouses may wish to space the births of their children. It is their duty to make certain that their desire is not motivated by selfishness but is in conformity with the generosity appropriate to responsible parenthood. Moreover, they should conform their behavior to the objective criteria of morality:

When it is a question of harmonizing married love with the responsible transmission of life, the morality of the behavior does not depend on sincere intention and evaluation of motives alone; but it must be determined by objective criteria, criteria drawn from the nature of the person and his acts criteria that respect the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love; this is possible only if the virtue of married chastity is practiced with sincerity of heart.156
2369 "By safeguarding both these essential aspects, the unitive and the procreative, the conjugal act preserves in its fullness the sense of true mutual love and its orientation toward man’s exalted vocation to parenthood."157

2370 Periodic continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria of morality.158 These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In contrast, “every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible” is intrinsically evil:159

Thus the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. . . . The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle . . . involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.160
2371 "Let all be convinced that human life and the duty of transmitting it are not limited by the horizons of this life only: their true evaluation and full significance can be understood only in reference to man’s eternal destiny."161 >>
 
Helpful sections from the Catechism of the Catholic Church…
Here’s the link to this section…
2367
Called to give life, spouses share in the creative power and fatherhood of God.154 "Married couples should regard it as their proper mission to transmit human life and to educate their children; they should realize that they are thereby cooperating with the love of God the Creator and are, in a certain sense, its interpreters. They will fulfill this duty with a sense of human and Christian responsibility."155
2368
A particular aspect of this responsibility concerns the regulation of procreation. For just reasons, spouses may wish to space the births of their children. It is their duty to make certain that their desire is not motivated by selfishness but is in conformity with the generosity appropriate to responsible parenthood. Moreover, they should conform their behavior to the objective criteria of morality:
Code:
    When it is a question of harmonizing married love with the responsible transmission of life, the morality of the behavior does not depend on sincere intention and evaluation of motives alone; but it must be determined by objective criteria, criteria drawn from the nature of the person and his acts, criteria that respect the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love; this is possible only if the virtue of married chastity is practiced with sincerity of heart.156
2369
"By safeguarding both these essential aspects, the unitive and the procreative, the conjugal act preserves in its fullness the sense of true mutual love and its orientation toward man’s exalted vocation to parenthood."157
2370
Periodic continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria of morality.158 These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In contrast, “every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible” is intrinsically evil:159
Code:
    Thus the innate LANGUAGE that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory LANGUAGE, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. . . . The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle . . . involves in the final analysis two irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.160
 
I was wondering if someone could tell me everything that the church says on family planning. I would go to other threads but they get rather complicated so I have started my own…!

Thanks!!!😃
I think you need to be a little more specific regarding what you want to know. “Everything” the Church says on the matter is quite a lot.

Is there something specific you want to know?
 
Well my situation is a bit difficult and I am on my mothers account at the moment.

(Please do not judge because nothing is written in stone) But curious, If I were to get married when I turn 18 but am not completely sure if we could raise a child because we are both in school (college) then I was wondering exactly what the church teaches on Family Planning. What steps have to be taken, what would the church say, because from what I have heard you have to begin the Family Planning process months earlier and I would only be 17.

I want to do everything absolutely everything through the Church and Her Teachings. But I know nothing about how to begin to ask a Priest or what Family Planning essentially is (like what occurs) I am completely new on the subject. However I am fully open to bringing a child into this world, I would love to be able to do that, it’s just that I’m not sure if we will be in a stable place and I cannot fully depend upon my family to help out as much as I may need help. I also know though that if we go without the Family Planning then if God allows me to conceive then God will be with us through all the circumstances. I just think that it is also very important to have the information on the Family Planning just incase.

Thanks so much for all of your responses, I would love to hear more!!!
 
Ahh… I get your question now… you’re asking for Natural Family Planning resources… on how to learn the techniques of delaying conception within the teachings of the Church, right?

Okay… so there are lots of options out there… several techniques including the sympto-thermal method, crieghton, marquette, etc…
I’m most familiar with the sympto-thermal (it’s one of the more popular techniques)… here are some great references…

nfpandmore.com/nfphowto.shtml - has a free how-to manual online
tcoyf.com/ - great medically-based book on the sympto-thermal method… not written from the church’s perspective, so ignore the parts where they mention using barrier protection during the fertile phase… but still a wonderful book!
ccli.org/ - has a take-home course and lots of information there

Also, consider contacting your diocese… often they’ll provide local classes that you can attend.

HTH! 🙂
 
Well my situation is a bit difficult and I am on my mothers account at the moment.

(Please do not judge because nothing is written in stone) But curious, If I were to get married when I turn 18 but am not completely sure if we could raise a child because we are both in school (college) then I was wondering exactly what the church teaches on Family Planning. What steps have to be taken, what would the church say, because from what I have heard you have to begin the Family Planning process months earlier and I would only be 17.
The Church teaches that if you have a just reason to postpone a pregnancy, you may do so by periodic abstinence. Learning to read your fertility signs through a method of Natural Family Planning would allow you to do this. You can learn a method whether you are 18 or not. It will take a couple of months to learn.

You should contact your parish to learn of any NFP classes in your area and also to discuss marriage preparation with your priest. Marriage preparation will take about 6 months, and includes NFP. I would suspect your priest would want you and your boyfriend to be *at least *18 before he would start preparing you for marriage.

So, first step is to go talk to your priest.
 
These things are all great information!! I have a question though (BTW I am now on my account) If I am just engaged is it going to take physical interaction between me and my fiance’ to go through the family planning courses?!?!:confused:
 
These things are all great information!! I have a question though (BTW I am now on my account) If I am just engaged is it going to take physical interaction between me and my fiance’ to go through the family planning courses?!?!:confused:
No. NFP reads YOUR fertility. It’s based on vaginal mucous, cervix position, and basal temps (if using the symptothermal method…mucous only methods–Creighton and Billings–only use mucous). You should really take a course in one of the methods and then you will understand a bit more.
 
Thank You Very Much Jennifer. I will not be taking the course for some months but I think that I should definitely try and talk to a Priest about it. But I don’t want to have to go through all of the Well are you sure this is what you want and the You are very young

I understand that I’m young, but hey, true love is true love and if Christ is always our center then where is the harm?
 
Thank You Very Much Jennifer. I will not be taking the course for some months but I think that I should definitely try and talk to a Priest about it. But I don’t want to have to go through all of the Well are you sure this is what you want and the You are very young

I understand that I’m young, but hey, true love is true love and if Christ is always our center then where is the harm?
I’m recently married–my husband and I are 22 and finishing up our last semester at college. We got engaged during our sophomore year, when we were both 20, and believe me, I know what you mean with the “you are very young” remarks. But I still would really suggest speaking with your priest. It is so important to seek out good spiritual advice–we found it really helpful when we were thinking about marriage and getting engaged.

Marriage is about love, and about keeping Christ at the center, but it’s important to realize that we don’t know all there is to know about love, or about the sacrifices it requires. Try to open yourself up to what others can teach you about “true love” as you continue to discern with your boyfriend what God might be calling you to.
 
This is Cherie, on my own account. Thank you for the information on my daughter. I do believe, though, that she is also asking if anyone would know right off the bat what the circumstances for abstaining for the purpose of not concieving are? I am concerned that many people will say things that the CHURCH doesn’t teach as being reason enough to attempt to prevent conception by abstaining. I want her information to be exact. I haven’t had the time as of today to sift through the Catechism. Although, if she is old enough and mature enough to be thinking about marriage at the age of 18…she really needs to take responsibility for this on her own.

I love you, my Nikki.
 
This is Cherie, on my own account. Thank you for the information on my daughter. I do believe, though, that she is also asking if anyone would know right off the bat what the circumstances for abstaining for the purpose of not concieving are? I am concerned that many people will say things that the CHURCH doesn’t teach as being reason enough to attempt to prevent conception by abstaining. I want her information to be exact. I haven’t had the time as of today to sift through the Catechism. Although, if she is old enough and mature enough to be thinking about marriage at the age of 18…she really needs to take responsibility for this on her own.

I love you, my Nikki.
How wonderful that mother and daughter are discussing these important issues! God bless both of you.

In addition to the articles of the Catechism cited above, the following from the Compendium of the Catechism may be helpful (bold emphasis added):
  1. When is it moral to regulate births?
The regulation of births, which is an aspect of responsible fatherhood and motherhood, is objectively morally acceptable when it is pursued by the spouses without external pressure; **when it is practiced not out of selfishness but for serious reasons; **and with methods that conform to the objective criteria of morality, that is, periodic continence and use of the infertile periods.
I think the key here is “not out of selfishness.” The couple should share an openness to God’s gift of life.

The Church’s document Gaudium et Spes has this to say:
Let them thoughtfully take into account both their own welfare and that of their children, those already born and those which the future may bring. For this accounting they need to reckon with both the material and the spiritual conditions of the times as well as of their state in life … The parents themselves and no one else should ultimately make this judgment in the sight of God.
Note the words “in the sight of God.” These decisions should always be made in prayer — the couple praying together each month, asking God what His will is for them.

Christopher West in his book Good News About Sex and Marriage cautions against using even Natural Family Planning with a contraceptive mentality, where “couples often enter marriage with an approach to children that assumes they won’t have them unless or until they want them.” He likens it to entering into marriage but not inviting God to the wedding. He further says that “the general disposition should be one of receiving children as they come, unless a couple has a good reason not to.”

Reasons for postponing a pregnancy can be medical (if a pregnancy would endanger the mother’s health), financial (we have prayerfully considered this and know that we would not be able to support another child at this time), etc. With regard to finances, the decision should be made generously, i.e., not postponing children so the couple can first achieve a very comfortable lifestyle.

However, when a couple is just entering into marriage and already making the decision to avoid pregnancy, they should seriously ask themselves, each other, and God (and perhaps seek the counsel of a wise priest) whether they are ready to get married.
 
As the poster above recommended, get the Taking Charge of Your Fertility Book. It is a life changing book.

I am not Catholic, and spect two years on the pill, and both my husband and I noticed a change in me, basically I never felt like myself. Now that I am off of the pill, my husband and my friends have all noticed a change in me and I feel so much better.

Basically the book teaches you in a very direct and non religious way to read you own bodies signals on fertility. I have a friend who has used the techniques and nothing else for five years, and no pregnancy yet. You will also learn alot about your own body that you never knew before.

I really wish that this method was taught more often. However the minute you mention Natural Family Planning everyone assumes you are hyper religous and using the rhythm method. It’s sad because hormone based birth control is really not good for you.

I would take the classes and read the book so you are really informed, and be glad your mom is supporting you on this, mine just makes fun of me.
 
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