P
peregrinator_it
Guest
(Chiltepin, above, great post!)
If I remember correctly, in that novel, Nikolay Rostov, before he becomes a soldier himself (or possibly just before he sees combat) is disgusted with the soldiers who sit around in taverns and tell these “greatly exaggerated” (to his mind) war stories. After he sees his first action and is very minorly wounded, he finds himself telling just the same sorts of stories without even meaning to.
To be a faithful Catholic is to be in a war-- a desperate, dangerous war. This is true for married people and parents as well. However, we are not all in the same type of unit (infantry, artillery, navy, calvary) and we do not all fight on the same front. We do not all face the same foes.
The Church tells us what sort of weaponry we are allowed to use in this war (or issues us our weapons, if you like.) Some weapons every soldier must have, but as in the military, weapons get more and more specialized to deal with specific conditions of battle. **
The regulation of births (**one of the troubles in this thread has been that the term “NFP” is being used differently by different posters) is a weapon that Church has said married people may use and has given guidelines for its use. However, its appropriateness to any given fight is best determined by the soldiers in the particular unit (in consultation with their sergeant.)
Now, young men often do sit around and theorize as to what sort of weapon is best used in any battle situation, but a seasoned soldier would tell you that one’s opinions may legitimately change in the heat of battle.
And certainly, any young man who tells a five year or even twenty year veteran that he and all his unit are using the wrong weapons (or using their weapons incorrectly) and that their particular commanders are erroneously encouraging the use of these weapons, might expect some correction from the soldier.
So, as an unmarried young man, still in the pre-recruitment phase of married life, you may certainly sit around and say you will never, ever use as suspect and dangerous a “weapon” as NFP. But you should expect that your opinions may change (possibly even in the basic training phase of married life) and you should certainly expect a range of reactions if you voice your theorizing among those who have been in the trenches.
Now, you are not the only poster to complain about the way NFP is “marketed” (although I have never experienced what you and other posters relate.) Perhaps that means you have a calling to be involved in teaching NFP in the proper manner (a career as a drill sergeant.)
(One footnote-- I have to say, as a woman, I am so so grateful that the Church promotes NFP as a licit practice for married people. Because she promotes NFP, she also promotes legitimate science and legitimate concern and genuine advances in the science women’s (and pre-natal children’s) health. The knowledge that observing her own body gives a woman is the best defense against the ravening wolves in the current pro-death medical establishment. And every woman has to face those wolves at some point. I have to tell you, when I meet a Catholic man who bashes the teaching of NFP, I wonder if he really has a care for the welfare of Catholic women…)
OP, I have read through this whole painful thread as well as having followed the NFP thread in the Traditional Catholicism forum from the beginning. I understand your aim, articulated above, and it’s not a bad one, although I do not share your perspective. And I’m now going to give you the most out-of-left-field advice you will receive on this thread: read War and Peace.
If I remember correctly, in that novel, Nikolay Rostov, before he becomes a soldier himself (or possibly just before he sees combat) is disgusted with the soldiers who sit around in taverns and tell these “greatly exaggerated” (to his mind) war stories. After he sees his first action and is very minorly wounded, he finds himself telling just the same sorts of stories without even meaning to.
To be a faithful Catholic is to be in a war-- a desperate, dangerous war. This is true for married people and parents as well. However, we are not all in the same type of unit (infantry, artillery, navy, calvary) and we do not all fight on the same front. We do not all face the same foes.
The Church tells us what sort of weaponry we are allowed to use in this war (or issues us our weapons, if you like.) Some weapons every soldier must have, but as in the military, weapons get more and more specialized to deal with specific conditions of battle. **
The regulation of births (**one of the troubles in this thread has been that the term “NFP” is being used differently by different posters) is a weapon that Church has said married people may use and has given guidelines for its use. However, its appropriateness to any given fight is best determined by the soldiers in the particular unit (in consultation with their sergeant.)
Now, young men often do sit around and theorize as to what sort of weapon is best used in any battle situation, but a seasoned soldier would tell you that one’s opinions may legitimately change in the heat of battle.
And certainly, any young man who tells a five year or even twenty year veteran that he and all his unit are using the wrong weapons (or using their weapons incorrectly) and that their particular commanders are erroneously encouraging the use of these weapons, might expect some correction from the soldier.
So, as an unmarried young man, still in the pre-recruitment phase of married life, you may certainly sit around and say you will never, ever use as suspect and dangerous a “weapon” as NFP. But you should expect that your opinions may change (possibly even in the basic training phase of married life) and you should certainly expect a range of reactions if you voice your theorizing among those who have been in the trenches.
Now, you are not the only poster to complain about the way NFP is “marketed” (although I have never experienced what you and other posters relate.) Perhaps that means you have a calling to be involved in teaching NFP in the proper manner (a career as a drill sergeant.)
(One footnote-- I have to say, as a woman, I am so so grateful that the Church promotes NFP as a licit practice for married people. Because she promotes NFP, she also promotes legitimate science and legitimate concern and genuine advances in the science women’s (and pre-natal children’s) health. The knowledge that observing her own body gives a woman is the best defense against the ravening wolves in the current pro-death medical establishment. And every woman has to face those wolves at some point. I have to tell you, when I meet a Catholic man who bashes the teaching of NFP, I wonder if he really has a care for the welfare of Catholic women…)
! But you know Jennifer_J, I can’t take credit for the analogy. A young man I dated back in my long-lost youth used it on me once, (I think we were arguing at the time, too) to great effect.
Young people like Alex give me a lot of hope.
The reason we doubt NFP is actually being abused is because it is NOT easy to do, someone who is intent on being selfish and not wanting children is simply going to find an easier method.