NFP, Avoiding, and "making out"?

[Jennifer132]

So, typically I avoid personal topics like this, but I’m new to Catholicism and want to know the morality of this kind of situation:

Say a married couple has just reasons for avoiding pregnancy and is using NFP to avoid. Is it moral for the couple to “make out” on days they are abstaining from sex? If the couple becomes aroused, must they complete the marital act? I realize that when the couple decides to have sex a man must complete the act through sex so as to allow for openness to life, but what if both parties are aroused but do not climax (or only the woman climaxes)? I’m just wondering what the Catholic perspective is here because this is something I never considered as a Protestant.

Eta: if there’s is a book anyone recommends concerning this topic, please feel free to mention it! Thanks!

 

[1ke]

So, typically I avoid personal topics like this, but I’m new to Catholicism and want to know the morality of this kind of situation:

Say a married couple has just reasons for avoiding pregnancy and is using NFP to avoid. Is it moral for the couple to “make out” on days they are abstaining from sex? If the couple becomes aroused, must they complete the marital act? I realize that when the couple decides to have sex a man must complete the act through sex so as to allow for openness to life, but what if both parties are aroused but do not climax (or only the woman climaxes)? I’m just wondering what the Catholic perspective is here because this is something I never considered as a Protestant.

Eta: if there’s is a book anyone recommends concerning this topic, please feel free to mention it! Thanks!

Yes, they could and no there isn’t anything wrong with a married couple doing so. No they do not have to have intercourse. And, no they should not seek to have one party climax.

 

[pensmama87]

Yes, they could and no there isn’t anything wrong with a married couple doing so. No they do not have to have intercourse. And, no they should not seek to have one party climax.

The main thing, I think, would be avoiding a situation where you’re tempted to “finish” inappropriately. For some people that might mean that they couldn’t just “make out.” For others it would be fine. For some, they might decide to go ahead anyway and throw caution to the wind, and if a baby results then it’s all good.

 

[thewanderer]

Yes, they could and no there isn’t anything wrong with a married couple doing so. No they do not have to have intercourse. And, no they should not seek to have one party climax.

Also, it’s not true that once they decide to to have sex they have to finish it. Sometimes life happens and they get interrupted. Or, they could decide to try and then find out that one party is not actually ready to have sex yet (for example, a wife who tore giving birth may still find sex too painful depending on the severity of the tear etc)

It’s not something you need to be legalistic about. Don’t ever try or intend to finish in an inappropriate way, try to ensure it is comfortable and enjoyable for both people, keep it open to life, and thats about it.