Question about 'NFP'

[alli124]

I just heard about this, and was curious on the Church’s stance as I’ve been hearing a wide variety of opinions.

To make this more simple, I’ll just break my post into a few questions:

Does the Catholic Church approve of NFP (Natural Family Planning)?

If so…

Are there certain circumstances that it must be under? What would some of these permitted circumstances be (And circumstances that are not permitted)?

I was really confused by the variety of (name removed by moderator)ut all over the internet on this subject and am curious to see what the Church’s true outlook is.

Thank you!

 

[1ke]

Yes, natural family planning (which is, basically, periodic abstinence) is a moral option when one has a just and serious reason to space children.

The Papal Encyclical Humanae Vitae outlines the Church’s teaching. You can google it and read it at the Vatican website.

 

[alli124]

Yes, natural family planning (which is, basically, periodic abstinence) is a moral option when one has a just and serious reason to space children.

The Papal Encyclical Humanae Vitae outlines the Church’s teaching. You can google it and read it at the Vatican website.

Thank you!

How do we know what just reasons are, however?

 

[1ke]

How do we know what just reasons are, however?

Just reasons must be prayerfully discerned by the couple. From Humanae Vitae:

With regard to physical, economic, psychological and social conditions, responsible parenthood is exercised by those who prudently and generously decide to have more children, and by those who, for serious reasons and with due respect to moral precepts, decide not to have additional children for either a certain or an indefinite period of time.

Responsible parenthood, as we use the term here, has one further essential aspect of paramount importance. It concerns the objective moral order which was established by God, and of which a right conscience is the true interpreter. In a word, the exercise of responsible parenthood requires that husband and wife, keeping a right order of priorities, recognize their own duties toward God, themselves, their families and human society.

From this it follows that they are not free to act as they choose in the service of transmitting life, as if it were wholly up to them to decide what is the right course to follow. On the contrary, they are bound to ensure that what they do corresponds to the will of God the Creator. The very nature of marriage and its use makes His will clear, while the constant teaching of the Church spells it out.