That is a very good analogy. Its not something you want to a mistake about. You want to keep your will aligned with God. You may not make the perfect decision, but by taking proper steps and consulting a faithful, informed priest, your intentions will be good and your conscience clean.
Mathew 16:18
As a Mother of 4 grown children, I must say that you have explained Catholic parenthood in an EXCELLENT way.
Pure abstinence may be the best choice for some, but not all. It’s a risk one would be willing to take, and they can do that if they wish. It doesn’t have anything to do with being able to avoid mortal sin. Being at high risk due to pregnancy isn’t likely to make one keel over moments after implantation. More than likely they’ll have plenty of time for numerous confessions.
A very good question. Truly total abstinence is not required if the risk is accepted by both, but neither is total abstinence unwarranted. For an interesting statement, see Pope Pius XII:
Address to Midwives, Given by His Holiness Pope Pius XII, 29 October 1951
lifeissues.net/writers/doc/doc_32moralityeugenics.html
That’s not true. They are free to embrace in their marriage because they are not doing anything to affect their fertility, which still makes them open to life. Catholics believe that anything is possible with God. Therefore, if God wants a woman past childbearing age, or one who is infertile, to conceive, she will.
That would definitely make things much easier for those who have to use NFP for spacing out pregnancies or delaying pregnancies. There are many who want children but know they can’t afford to raise one at the time.
Thank you! And God bless you for accepting such a wonderful and challenging vocation.
… because it is the only approved method besides the austere choice of permanent abstinence
Rence, in my opinion, this is one of the biggest problems with today’s modern world and that is “entitlement”. To set the expectation in a child that he is owed a college education by either his parents or the government is a huge mistake. My parents did not provide a college education for me or any of my siblings yet we all went out and made it happen for ourselves by working and paying for our colleges. I have a graduate degree that I paid for myself.
What is in your bedroom is no business of the folks on this board. We are merely discussing the teachings of Holy Mother Church.
I don’t think you understand what I was trying to say. The example was that the couple (that should abstain for grave reason) has sex even tough it is dangerous to avoid mortal sin (eg adultery, masturbation, porn etc.)
I understand you. But it has a lot to do with culture, and as you know, a Catholic can come from anywhere. It is very American to make it happen for yourself. I know, that’s how I got it done too
But for example, my ex-step father, who put all seven of his kids through school, who was Chinese, was taught by his parents, and his parents before him, etc. that it was the parents’ responsiblity to provide education for their kids. Some are adamant that it is their responsiblity to provide for their childrens’ education, some don’t. Remember that financial responsiblities don’t just end with sending children to college, as I said in a previous post. Education includes catholic grammar and high school, which a lot of Catholic parents want for their children. That costs money. Not everyone can send 5+ children to school…Yes, but remember that the majority of Catholics admit to being on artifican birth control.
I agree 100%.
That sounds to me like some random CAFer’s personal opinion.
Couples who are infertile or past child-bearing age are definitely allowed to marry in the Church. And couples are not told to abstain under other circumstances where conception would be impossible, such as when the wife is already pregnant or is taking birth control pills for a medical reason, etc. So the Church does provide for those situations. As I understand it, the couples’ intention to be open to life is what counts.Try Matthew 16:18, as a previous poster already pointed out. Papal infallibility only has to do with teachings on faith and morals. Of course the pope, as a man, is just a regular, imperfect human being. St. Peter was a perfect example of this.
THANK YOU.
I understand what you’re saying, again, because I put myself through college myself. My point was not whether or not parents should pay for, or help, their children get through college.I agree 100%.
Personally, in both my immediate and extended family there was *never *any question of our parents paying for our college education. We were expected to take summer jobs, apply for scholarships and grants, take workstudy jobs on campus and, if necessary, take out loans to pay for our college. My parents helped in any way they could with extra money here and there. But there was NEVER of question of a responsibility to foot the entire bill.
FWIW, I had never even heard of this notion that some parents think they are “expected” to pay for college until a few years ago.
That is why it is important to seek guidance from a priest to assess the gravity of your situation. I’m sure there are parents who feel that if they can’t afford a cell phone and a personal HDTV for each child that this qualifies as “grave”.
So wouldn’t NFP fit the bill…abstinence to avoid pregnancy…and use of non fertile times to “pay the marriage debt?”
Ciao, Giuseppe! (my dear father’s name)