Poll on contraception

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Does this make sense and is it in line with Church teaching?

In the Churches view the only way to avoid babies is abstinence, either permanent or just at fertile times.
 
Who cares? The point is its not morally wrong to contracept by NFP.

Contraceptions, as in products which prevent conception, are immoral when used to prevent conception.

Choosing fertile or infertile times of the woman, for either attempting to increase or decrease chances of conception is morally fine.
 
That sums it up, unfortunately. I can remember in the 1980s the phrase “abstinence is the only reliable method of birth control” which always struck me as somewhat a silly thing to say.
 
Who cares? The point is its not morally wrong to contracept by NFP.

Contraceptions, as in products which prevent conception, are immoral when used to prevent conception.

Choosing fertile or infertile times of the woman, for either attempting to increase or decrease chances of conception is morally fine.
It’s not morally wrong and no one’s disputing that, but they are the same thing.
 
Yes. It is indeed semantics. I completely agree. But terminology is terminology, and accurate is accurate.

And for the record, I agree with your post.
 
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In my extensive experience, this is usually what it boils down to.

Everyone’s syllogisms and devices are usually pretty sound/vaild - IF you grant their premises.
There be the rub.
 
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It’s semantics to a point, but as I said, accurate is accurate. To say something isn’t what it is - actually isn’t semantics.
 
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This discussion is a good example of why you shouldn’t rely on strangers on the Internet to explain complex theological concepts. It is like going on the internet and asking random people for medical or legal advice. It is better to ask someone who is educated, trained and has experience in the field. In this case, a Priest or Deacon.
 
But use common sense, please!

If i say, “Me and my wife are contracepting”

Would everyone not conclude artificial birth control?

So i would never say that! Id say we are practicing NFP.
 
But use common sense, please!

If i say, “Me and my wife are contracepting”

Would everyone not conclude artificial birth control?

So i would never say that! Id say we are practicing NFP.
Reminds me of a Baptist pastor telling me he never drank in public because he didn’t want people assuming he was on his 6th beer rather than his 1st or 2nd.

I wasn’t super-convinced.
 
That’s correct, and I agree. The problem comes up - and I only get involved - when people say “it’s not X, it’s Y”, and I see others getting mowed over for saying that’s not the case.

I agree 100% with what you’re saying.

What got me dragged in was being asked if I believed contraception is always immoral and wrong. As NFP is by actual definition a method of birth control, I said no - and explained my reasoning, because of that fact. If I said it’s always immoral and wrong, I’d be guilty of lying.
 
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The part of the post you left out.

If you were practicing NFP, would you tell someone you are contracepting? That would lead to the wrong impression.

Does technicality mean anything there?
 
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One can sin by intention. So NFP users that use NFP for contraceptive intentions sin by an evil intention. In that way contraception is the same as NFP.

But strickly speaking properly used NFP is not the same as contraception. NFP is open to life. Contaception is not.
 
This?
If i say, “Me and my wife are contracepting”

Would everyone not conclude artificial birth control?

So i would never say that! Id say we are practicing NFP.
That doesn’t have much to do with me. What I said was this:
It’s semantics to a point, but as I said, accurate is accurate. To say something isn’t what it is - actually isn’t semantics.
I didn’t say “go out and use the word ‘contracepting’”. I was commenting on the concept that NFP is a method of contraception. If I were on the pill I wouldn’t say I was “contracepting” either - because in reality who says that? I’d say, “I’m on the Pill” or “I have an IUD” or “my husband has a vasectomy” or whatever the case was.

The “say” is by definition. Not “saying” in conversation.
 
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