Is NFP "normal"

  • Thread starter Thread starter SemperJase
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SemperJase

Guest
In another thread I saw that comment that a couple who practiced NFP where “normal”, inferring that a couple using birth control was not normal.

Now considering that “normal” usually refers to something being typical, it seems NFP practitioners are not normal. Surveys show that more U.S. catholics use birth control than NFP.

I’ve noticed that within the participants on the board NFP seems to be predominent, even to the extent that the idea of divorcing a spouse who can’t participate in intercourse is preferable than participating in other sexual activities.

NFP is not normal. It is a higher standard. For that reason alone NFP is not normal.
 
40.png
SemperJase:
NFP is not normal. It is a higher standard. For that reason alone NFP is not normal.
Click to expand...
It is likely that the poster did not mean “normal” in the sense that you expressed it, but that NFP is the norm for Catholics. In other words, it is the expected form of family planning as opposed to being abnormal.
 
Before the age of contarceptives, the only “normal” way to keep from becoming pregnant was to abstain from marital relations. Artifical contraceptives are “abnormal”- they (especially the pill which changes a woman’s physiology!!) are “unnatural” I think the 2 words are being used interchangebly.
 
40.png
SemperJase:
Yes, but natural is not necessarily normal.
Click to expand...
It only feels and seems “not normal” (unnatural) in that one is resisting natural, normal desires and impulses. However, it is entirely normal and consonant within our human nature in Christ (man being an imbodied spirit), to fore go an immediate good (gratification) in service of a greater good, i.e., responsible family planning that is morally honoring to God.
 
what is normal and what is ‘the norm’ are 2 different things. NFP is normal. it is what was done before artificial birth control came about. it is the same as breastfeeding being normal but not the norm
 
40.png
Siena:
Before the age of contarceptives, the only “normal” way to keep from becoming pregnant was to abstain from marital relations. Artifical contraceptives are “abnormal”- they (especially the pill which changes a woman’s physiology!!) are “unnatural” I think the 2 words are being used interchangebly.
Click to expand...
Since the time of Anciet Egypt people have used substances that had contraceptive properties. They were not always effective but the intent was contraceptive. Then there was also coitus interuptus frequently used throughout history.
 
40.png
spacecadet:
what is normal and what is ‘the norm’ are 2 different things. NFP is normal. it is what was done before artificial birth control came about. it is the same as breastfeeding being normal but not the norm
Click to expand...
Which brings up a good question. Since breastfeeding is “normal” is bottle feeding then sinful?
 
40.png
SemperJase:
Since the time of Anciet Egypt people have used substances that had contraceptive properties. They were not always effective but the intent was contraceptive. Then there was also coitus interuptus frequently used throughout history.
Click to expand...
Your point?
 
40.png
SemperJase:
I’ve noticed that within the participants on the board NFP seems to be predominent, **even to the extent that the idea of divorcing a spouse who can’t participate in intercourse ** is preferable than participating in other sexual activities.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by this?
 
From dictionary.com:
nor·mal ( P ) Pronunciation Key (nôrml)
adj.

Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical: normal room temperature; one’s normal weight; normal diplomatic relations.
Biology. Functioning or occurring in a natural way; lacking observable abnormalities or deficiencies

So yes, it can be considered normal. But lets say that it isn’t. Who cares? Artificial Birth Control is still wrong. Whether 1% or 99% of the population does it, it is still wrong.

BTW, spacing children has to be done for just/serious reasons, so even NFP can be misused. Talk about being in a minority.
(Even if it is misused, it does not compare with ABC, but that’s a whole other thread)

One more thing, most of the world is not Catholic. So, who cares if that doesn’t make us “normal” according to some people’s definition of normal.
 
40.png
JimO:
It is likely that the poster did not mean “normal” in the sense that you expressed it, but that NFP is the norm for Catholics. In other words, it is the expected form of family planning as opposed to being abnormal.
Click to expand...
I read that thread too, and the poster was referring to “normal” for a faithful, practicing Catholic.

Malia
 
40.png
SemperJase:
In another thread I saw that comment that a couple who practiced NFP where “normal”, inferring that a couple using birth control was not normal.

Now considering that “normal” usually refers to something being typical, it seems NFP practitioners are not normal. Surveys show that more U.S. catholics use birth control than NFP.

I’ve noticed that within the participants on the board NFP seems to be predominent, even to the extent that the idea of divorcing a spouse who can’t participate in intercourse is preferable than participating in other sexual activities.

NFP is not normal. It is a higher standard. For that reason alone NFP is not normal.
Click to expand...
The only thing that matters is that contraception is intrinsically disordered and NFP is not.

The rest is all semantics IMHO. It is “normal” as in “normative” for Catholics. Those who practice contraception, while numerically large, are the abberations and are in the wrong.
 
40.png
lifeisbeautiful:
What do you mean by this?
Click to expand...
A poster on this board is considering divorce because his wife is physically unable to have intercourse. He viewed any other sexual activity with his wife as sinful.

Even though they have had intercourse he believes it doesn’t count because they never “finished”. As such he believes he is eligible for an annulment. He would rather divorce his wife and never marry again than remain married and be tempted into actions other than intercourse for marital intimacy.
 
40.png
lifeisbeautiful:
BTW, spacing children has to be done for just/serious reasons, so even NFP can be misused. Talk about being in a minority.
(Even if it is misused, it does not compare with ABC, but that’s a whole other thread).
Click to expand...
So let’s say that a couple uses NFP and contrary to statistics it was 100% effective for them and they do not have children. Are they being sinful?
 
40.png
1ke:
The rest is all semantics IMHO. It is “normal” as in “normative” for Catholics. Those who practice contraception, while numerically large, are the abberations and are in the wrong.
Click to expand...
Yes, the church believes it is wrong. You do know that the majority of Catholics in the U.S use birth control.
 
40.png
SemperJase:
So let’s say that a couple uses NFP and contrary to statistics it was 100% effective for them and they do not have children. Are they being sinful?
Click to expand...
Nope. Misusing NFP and using ABC are two whole different issues.

In NFP the marital embrace is always open to life, regardless of why you are using it. The act is one open to life because the act itself has not been sabotaged to divorce the procreative function from the unitive.

In ABC the marital embrace has been purposely sabotaged to not be open to life. Artificial means have been introduced into the act.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top