One thing I always find BOGGLING is how very orthodox Catholics spend a great deal of time furious and vocally fighting birth control within the Church, touting NFP, and yet, the Church itself seems to not care much?
We spend a lot of time arguing about ABC because it’s everywhere; we feel the need to counter the “everyone’s doing it so it must be OK” mentality. We who are touting NFP are the Church. Where do you think we get it from? Bible quotes, church history on birth control, Castii Connubii, Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI Institute obviously Catholic, Couple to Couple League started by a Catholic Couple, CCL volunteer promoters (I’m one of them) and teaching couples mostly (or all?) Catholics, John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, Christopher West’s explanation of it “down here at our level” Catholic. We are the Church, and we speak up and we teach because we care. Your parish priest is too busy or shy or scared to bring up this controversial subject? Well, yes, it’s frustrating, but we all have different gifts and callings, right?
I say this because how much do most parishes actually spend in time and treasure educating their parishoners about NFP? My parish is very orthodox and traditional and yet never have we had any NFP classes offered or education, nothing spoken of it at all, period? We live in Visalia, CA and, if interested in NFP, the Couple to Couple League will refer you to a couple one hour north up in Fresno who will assist you FOR A $50 fee? It seems like no class, retreat, or experience in our church ever comes without a fee and it’s never easy to find?
CCL teachers are unpaid volunteers. They volunteer countless hours taking the training, teaching, counseling couples in person or over the phone, all for FREE, in spite of busy lives working/ caring for house/ children, etc. because they care. The course fees are necessary because the books and other teaching materials, the charts, basal thermometer, the first year’s bi-monthly education and support magazine COST MONEY. Classes, retreats, experiences in your church cost money because electricity, heat/air conditioning, building mortgage and maintenance, class materials, etc. all COST MONEY. Fact of life, sorry, the money has to come from somewhere. If the cost isn’t borne by the class participants, who else should pay it? I’m sure, however, that in cases of genuine financial need, some arrangement could be worked out, just ask.
Frustrated because the NFP class isn’t in your own neighborhood? Are there enough interested student couples to justify a class in your immediate area? Unfortunately, probably not, so one class has to gather students from all over to have enough students. Are there enough dedicated, knowledgeable volunteers available to teach in your area? Unfortunately, probably not, so students may have to drive a long distance.
Most Catholics hear we’re not supposed to use artificial birth control but they assume it’s a ludicrous teaching because they don’t know about NFP and assume the rythmn method or just nothing at all is the alternative to the pill. The Church puts very little effort into NFP except on EWTN internet and radio (which is all they seem to talk about day in and day out, birth control) so it is no surprise that the parishoners feel the Church is aquiescent or just turning a blind eye to it altogether.
Consider it done. My husband, who was born and raised Catholic thought it was best for us as a family. His entire family, also practicing Catholics, agreed it was the best for us. God gave us plenty. My husband has a good job. But we really couldn’t afford anymore. We prayed about our decision. Talked about it at lengths for months before making a decision. Now two years later all things are still good. I cannot imagine being surprised with another pregnancy.
