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HNA444
Guest
I was wondering, since birth control, etc. Is a mortal sin, what do married people who don’t want to have kids or have anymore than do , do? Do they just not have sex?
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Moscati
Guest
NFP
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Rence
Guest
Your priest is the best person to ask this question.
You’re supposed to use Natural Family Planning to space out having kids and you’re supposed to determine with your spouse, according to your conscience, how far to space out kids and how many you will have, using NFP because of a serious reason why it would not be right for you to continuously spit out children.
Some people say that you should not have sex with your spouse at all if you think you’re done with having children. Some disagree and think NFP is sufficient. I agree that NFP is suffient to space out kids, or to delay having more kids, according to one’s family circumstances and decided as a family. For example, I think it’s immoral to deny your spouse sex for the reason that after a certain amount of children (oh, say 13 kids and counting), you’ve decided that that was enough.
You’re supposed to use Natural Family Planning to space out having kids and you’re supposed to determine with your spouse, according to your conscience, how far to space out kids and how many you will have, using NFP because of a serious reason why it would not be right for you to continuously spit out children.
Some people say that you should not have sex with your spouse at all if you think you’re done with having children. Some disagree and think NFP is sufficient. I agree that NFP is suffient to space out kids, or to delay having more kids, according to one’s family circumstances and decided as a family. For example, I think it’s immoral to deny your spouse sex for the reason that after a certain amount of children (oh, say 13 kids and counting), you’ve decided that that was enough.
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Bookcat
Guest
from the Compendium of the Catechism
2399
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.
Every action - for example, direct sterilization or contraception - is intrinsically immoral which (either in anticipation of the conjugal act, in its accomplishment or in the development of its natural consequences) proposes, as an end or as a means, to hinder procreation.
vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
- When is it moral to regulate births?
2399
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.
- What are immoral means of birth control?
Every action - for example, direct sterilization or contraception - is intrinsically immoral which (either in anticipation of the conjugal act, in its accomplishment or in the development of its natural consequences) proposes, as an end or as a means, to hinder procreation.
vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
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newbetx
Guest
If the couple is properly married, they agree they will accept children. So, there is no marriage if either does not want children. One down.
NFP (Natural Family Planning) includes several methods of periodic abstinence to avoid conception to space or delay children for “serious” reasons. Complete abstinence, if agreed by both, to do so is also acceptable.
Being able to afford nice cars, world travel, fancy home, etc, is not considered an inherently serious reason to avoid having children. Serious health (mental or physical) consequences are. And we are given the duty of prudently caring for our families. That is, we’re not expected to purposely create a burden on others (welfare) by having more than we can take care of with the talents and time God has granted us.
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HNA444
Guest
I’m not talking about married couples not wanting to have kids at all, but what if they just got married and want to wait awhile to have kids. Like what would they need to do in that case? Or, if they already have 3 kids and don’t want anymore. I don’t think it’s selfish to not want more kids than you can handle. If anything, it’s selfish to keep having children and not even raising them right.
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newbetx
Guest
“Waiting a while to get settled” isn’t a bad idea. Getting into the practice of praying about it every month is a good habit to start right away.
NFP methods (there are several) are approved and the sooner they are practiced, the better for the couple.
Why do you ask? Are you planning on getting married soon or have you heard something about the church teachings you wish to understand better?
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Bookcat
Guest
From the Compendium of the Catechism
2399
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.
Every action - for example, direct sterilization or contraception - is intrinsically immoral which (either in anticipation of the conjugal act, in its accomplishment or in the development of its natural consequences) proposes, as an end or as a means, to hinder procreation.
vatican.va/archive/compen…um-ccc_en.html
note that serious reasons do not = life or death…there can be a great variety of such and the couple have to judge the before God with an informed conscience.
- When is it moral to regulate births?
2399
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.
- What are immoral means of birth control?
Every action - for example, direct sterilization or contraception - is intrinsically immoral which (either in anticipation of the conjugal act, in its accomplishment or in the development of its natural consequences) proposes, as an end or as a means, to hinder procreation.
vatican.va/archive/compen…um-ccc_en.html
note that serious reasons do not = life or death…there can be a great variety of such and the couple have to judge the before God with an informed conscience.
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St_Francis
Guest
I have to admit that I think that marriage should be put off until the couple is ready to have children–I don’t know the Church’s official stance on this, but it seems kind of weird to get married only to put off having children.
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St_Francis
Guest
Man, I can just see the sarcasm dripping here:
I don’t think that having children is “spitting them out.” That’s really a rude and judgemental way to put having more children, or more closely spaced, than *you *think acceptable.
Who says that? Source, please.
Good strawman argument there, Rence.
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St_Francis
Guest
You seem to be suggesting that a married couple *must *practice NFP?
“Waiting a while to get settled” isn’t a bad idea. Getting into the practice of praying about it every month is a good habit to start right away.
NFP methods (there are several) are approved and the sooner they are practiced, the better for the couple.
Why do you ask? Are you planning on getting married soon or have you heard something about the church teachings you wish to understand better?
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newbetx
Guest
Actually, yes. Well, ‘must’ is really ‘highly recommended.’ But not necessarily to avoid. NFP can be used three ways. To aviod conception, to enhance the chance of conception and to help the couple be one with the fertility cycle and each other. Awareness of the cycle helps the husband realize what ramifications his actions may or may not have. It also shows his interest in the total process. It helps the wife in understanding the signs of fertility that can affect her health. Many women here can tell you stories where their method of NFP has helped them with health issues. Fertility is not just the “wife’s responsibility” and it is why the husband should be involved in the process from the get go.
Any NFP program will tell you that the woman should start understanding the fertility cycle prior to marriage. Whether or not the couple wishs to use it to space or delay children or not. It’s a good thing to do.
Does this help?
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St_Francis
Guest
Those are some interesting points which I didn’t know about, thank you
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