Why isn't Natural Family Planning sinful?

[hamburglar]

I have no question that artificial birth control is an intrinsic evil and thus sinful. Why is Natural Family Planning not considered a sin?

From my understanding, the primary end, or purpose of marriage is the procreation of education of children. I would think NFP would be sinful because is frustrates the primary end of marriage and subordinates it to the secondary purposes of marriage, such as mutual aid and mutual love.

Why is NFP considered lawful by the Church?

 

[Seatuck]

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html

NFP itself is not intrinsically evil the way contraception is. However, in general it is possible for NFP to be used in a sinful way. For instance if the spouses never intend to have children or if they are postponing children for selfish reasons or if any dishonesty is intended between the spouses when they discuss their readiness to be open to life.

 

[budgie2]

NFP is also called natural birth control by some authors. There are aspects of NFP which are sinful and initially the Pope only approved of the rhythm method. It’s really worth reading up on NFP as it would surprise you. A lot of NFP revolves around fertility testing these days and there are issues about respect for the dignity of the woman’s body. I personally only approve of calendar based methods and think the Church’s teaching will change on this.

The Standard Days Method is ethically acceptable at the moment. I’ve been doing research for the Church. But it doesn’t fit everyone so some couples have to use certain aspects of symptothermal method used in calculation. I’ve not sorted it out yet but I will devise my own calculation method.

nfpandmore.org/nfphowto.shtml

Chapter 4 contains rules you can use such as 21 day rule/20 day rule and Doering rule, Day 6 rule. These do not require fertility testing and are more ethically acceptable.

irh.org/RTP-SDM.htm Standard Days Method

I’m also writing my own book on prayer based NFP which does not normally involve periodic abstinence but occasionally short periods of total abstinence or for longer periods abstinence with the use of a calendar based method.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

NFP is also called natural birth control by some authors. There are aspects of NFP which are sinful and initially the Pope only approved of the rhythm method. It’s really worth reading up on NFP as it would surprise you. A lot of NFP revolves around fertility testing these days and there are issues about respect for the dignity of the woman’s body. I personally only approve of calendar based methods and think the Church’s teaching will change on this.

The Standard Days Method is ethically acceptable at the moment. I’ve been doing research for the Church. But it doesn’t fit everyone so some couples have to use certain aspects of symptothermal method used in calculation. I’ve not sorted it out yet but I will devise my own calculation method.

nfpandmore.org/nfphowto.shtml

Chapter 4 contains rules you can use such as 21 day rule/20 day rule and Doering rule, Day 6 rule. These do not require fertility testing and are more ethically acceptable.

irh.org/RTP-SDM.htm Standard Days Method

I’m also writing my own book on prayer based NFP which does not normally involve periodic abstinence but occasionally short periods of total abstinence or for longer periods abstinence with the use of a calendar based method.

The rhythm method or the standard days method really only works with women who have regular cycles. Not all women do. There is nothing sinful at all with any of the methods of NFP with regards to a woman checking her fertility…and nothing that goes against her dignity.

 

[BiologyBrain]

I have no question that artificial birth control is an intrinsic evil and thus sinful. Why is Natural Family Planning not considered a sin?

From my understanding, the primary end, or purpose of marriage is the procreation of education of children. I would think NFP would be sinful because is frustrates the primary end of marriage and subordinates it to the secondary purposes of marriage, such as mutual aid and mutual love.

Why is NFP considered lawful by the Church?

God gave us the Church. God also designed our bodies to be fertile at some times & infertile at other times. God gave us intellect as well. The use of NFP puts our intellect and God’s design to work for the betterment of our health and our souls.

NFP does not frustrate the primary purpose of marriage (procreation or the openness to life) b/c it does nothing to alter the natural state of the marital act. Technically, any form or reason of abstaining from relations could be interpreted as NFP and/or frustrating the marital act. We do not have to engage in the marital act daily, weekly, monthly, etc. Instead we are given the free will, intellect, and fertility windows to discern when to engage in the marital act. We also, through God’s design, do not conceive after every marital act. God does not require us to have children constantly. Instead He asks us to be open to life through natural means at all times. Technically, right now I (and I presume you) are open to life through natural means, even though I’m not engaging in relations. In other words, I’m allowing my body to work the way God designed it with no interference from me - however, there is no chance right now of becoming pregnant.

I guess another way to look at it is this: We aren’t required to run into a burning building to save a stranger. If we do we are reckoned a hero by our neighbors. If we do nothing but call 911, we can still be called a hero. If we do absolutely nothing, but also did not cause the fire, we are not culpable. If we do absolutely nothing, but caused the fire, we are guilty of committing harm.

To put that in NFP terms: We aren’t required to have relations during our fertile (or infertile) times. If we do have relations during our fertile times & conceive, we allow God’s will. If we have relations during our fertile times & do not conceive, we allow God’s will. If we tell our spouse we’re fertile, but we prayerfully decide to abstain, we allow God’s will. If we remove our fertile times (contraception) we do not allow God’s will.

Abstaining from relations during a fertile time can be redemptive if it is a sacrifice you make based on what you feel God is calling you to do at that time. It can be morally wrong if the abstinence is not entered into with regards to God’s will for you & your spouse though. However, in my opinion, that is the minority of couples practicing NFP, not the majority.

 

[BiologyBrain]

NFP is also called natural birth control by some authors. There are aspects of NFP which are sinful and initially the Pope only approved of the rhythm method. It’s really worth reading up on NFP as it would surprise you. A lot of NFP revolves around fertility testing these days and there are issues about respect for the dignity of the woman’s body. I personally only approve of calendar based methods and think the Church’s teaching will change on this.

The Standard Days Method is ethically acceptable at the moment. I’ve been doing research for the Church. But it doesn’t fit everyone so some couples have to use certain aspects of symptothermal method used in calculation. I’ve not sorted it out yet but I will devise my own calculation method.

nfpandmore.org/nfphowto.shtml

Chapter 4 contains rules you can use such as 21 day rule/20 day rule and Doering rule, Day 6 rule. These do not require fertility testing and are more ethically acceptable.

irh.org/RTP-SDM.htm Standard Days Method

I’m also writing my own book on prayer based NFP which does not normally involve periodic abstinence but occasionally short periods of total abstinence or for longer periods abstinence with the use of a calendar based method.

I do not understand how any of the methods of NFP could be held counter to the dignity of women and/or sinful if entered into prayerfully (with regards to conception). Some women (myself included) used NFP prior to marriage to identify and get treatment for ob/gyn problems without harming (in any way) future/present fertility. The Pope Paul VI Institute’s method, Creighton, uses mucus only, but can identify reasons why women suffer from PMS, PCOS, miscarriage, etc. It is much more informative and useful than the calendar or rhythm method - especially for the millions of women out there w/ irregular cycles and/or ob/gyn problems.

Knowing what I know about my own body, learned through Creighton NFP, has given me more dignity IMO. My husband & I now know why and when I am most receptive to his advances. We can also determine based on our prayerful reasons, when to abstain (for the least amount of time) to avoid pregnancy with good accuracy. I also did not have to undergo invasive examinations to identify the cause of my miscarriages. Instead, the hormonal language of my body, as evidenced by my NFP chart, gave insights & let the doctor’s know when to test me for particular hormones. Otherwise, I most likely would have had birth control shoved in my face and/or been told ‘that’s just the way it is for some women.’ Not to mention my beautiful 16 month old son and current 18 week pregnancy would not be alive and well.

Nothing about the symptothermal, mucus, or calendar methods are an affront to a woman’s dignity. Instead they empower her to know more about her own body and the beauty of God’s creation.

 

[Seatuck]

NFP is also called natural birth control by some authors. There are aspects of NFP which are sinful and initially the Pope only approved of the rhythm method. It’s really worth reading up on NFP as it would surprise you. A lot of NFP revolves around fertility testing these days and there are issues about respect for the dignity of the woman’s body. I personally only approve of calendar based methods and think the Church’s teaching will change on this.

The Standard Days Method is ethically acceptable at the moment. I’ve been doing research for the Church. But it doesn’t fit everyone so some couples have to use certain aspects of symptothermal method used in calculation. I’ve not sorted it out yet but I will devise my own calculation method.

nfpandmore.org/nfphowto.shtml

Chapter 4 contains rules you can use such as 21 day rule/20 day rule and Doering rule, Day 6 rule. These do not require fertility testing and are more ethically acceptable.

irh.org/RTP-SDM.htm Standard Days Method

I’m also writing my own book on prayer based NFP which does not normally involve periodic abstinence but occasionally short periods of total abstinence or for longer periods abstinence with the use of a calendar based method.

Are more ethically acceptable in your personal opinion which is not in agreement with the church.

 

[chain]

I believe that the terms used were something like postponing pregnancy for serious reasons can be acceptable. Of course the only acceptable methods for postponing pregnancy are absence and nfp.

That said, there is still the issue of “serious reasons”. Many postpone for selfish reasons - they are not open to life or the Catholic view of marriage - regardless of the method to postpone pregnancy they use…

 

[Spiritoftruth]

…I really do not see the rocket science here. If you plead the symantics game, then even abstinence could be ruled as sinful since you are going against your inborn, God-given desire to reproduce and refusing to do the married thing with your spouse.

Natural family planning is exactly that. You are doing a natural thing (or not doing it, I always get confused here) to space your children. You are not introducing drugs, or obstacles between you and God’s gift of life. His plan you know is LIFE.

Peace

 

[BiologyBrain]

I believe that the terms used were something like postponing pregnancy for serious reasons can be acceptable. Of course the only acceptable methods for postponing pregnancy are absence and nfp.

That said, there is still the issue of “serious reasons”. Many postpone for selfish reasons - they are not open to life or the Catholic view of marriage - regardless of the method to postpone pregnancy they use…

While it is possible for some to use NFP for selfish reasons, a very integral part of NFP is sacrifice. It is difficult to sacrifice your own pleasure while still being selfish. My opinion (I don’t know of statistics to back it up, but I do know from my experience) is that the sacrificial aspect of NFP weeds out selfish practicers fairly quickly. Many either abandon/supplement NFP b/c they’d rather use ‘fail safe’ methods (actually, they’d rather have relations when & as often as they like w/o regards for God’s plan) or they change their minds about avoiding pregnancy.

 

[rpp]

The “primary purpose” of marriage is not to have enough children to field both sides of a baseball game, complete with relief pitchers and pinch hitters.

The idea that the “primary purpose of marriage is procreation” is flawed because the statement is incomplete. While that is certainly am important part of why God created marriage, the other part, which is inseparable from the first, is that the couple is to be a help to each other.

Carelessly flouting fecundity is very serious. Carelessly bringing children into the world is also very serious. There are grave reasons to space the birth of children and to ignore these imperils the entire family, physically, psychologically and practically. Hence, NFP is legitimate because of these grave reasons and because it relies on self-control not self-indulgence.

It is also important to note that not all people are as fertile as other and NFP can used as easily to help space births as it can be to find the best time when the couple desires a child.

 

[rpp]

…I really do not see the rocket science here. If you plead the symantics game, then even abstinence could be ruled as sinful since you are going against your inborn, God-given desire to reproduce and refusing to do the married thing with your spouse.

Natural family planning is exactly that. You are doing a natural thing (or not doing it, I always get confused here) to space your children. You are not introducing drugs, or obstacles between you and God’s gift of life. His plan you know is LIFE.

Peace

As for as “doing” or “not doing”, that would depend on how you are using NFP, trying to get pregnant or spacing children. NFP works for both.

 

[hamburglar]

I see no other reason of using NFP other than control births. Using NFP is to intentionally avoid the gift of life.

In its essence, it seems to me that NFP is a refusal to submit to His will.

 

[chain]

fwiw - one other method of natural planning that is rarely mentioned is Lactational Amenorrhea Method. It is simply full breast feeding of the infant.

It is God’s plan, and we have circumvented it by using technology for convenience (formulas, pumps, forcing infants to baby food early) - so that we could do things on our schedule rather than how we were naturally designed by God. The funny thing is God’s plan is so much simpler than carrying around baby bottles.

It is not 100%, but can usually increase spacing by more than 1 year.

 

[Brendan]

I see no other reason of using NFP other than control births. Using NFP is to intentionally avoid the gift of life.

Really? 4 of our 5 children were concieved using NFP to p(name removed by moderator)oint my wife’s most fertile times.

In its essence, it seems to me that NFP is a refusal to submit to His will.

It is His Will that not all acts of marital union will result in conception, that is how He designed the human female reproductive system to be. If you disagree with how He designed it, take it up with Him, not us.

 

[whm]

NFP is clearly allowed by the Church, however I think many people ignore some the requirements. Namely that there be a good reason for delaying or avoiding pregnancy. A lot of people do abuse it as a way of avoiding pregnancy indefinitely for more or less selfish reasons. I believe it is something that should be discussed with your priest during marriage prep or before starting the NFP process. I believe when abused it leads to a birth control mindset and an unhealthy understanding of marital relations. Personally I sometimes think it is a Catholic compromise.

My wife and I used it early (without proper discussion with our priest). We "avoided’ pregnancy for 2 years then had 2 babies in 18 months. She feared that she was pregnant less than a year later and that was it. We definitely had a birth control mindset, we ended up using the most effective form of birth prevention (ie nada). Which led to a distancing and remoteness, a lack of marital grace. 8 years latter we have been through all sorts of problems (that were at least remotely related) and just started to put the pieces back together over the last year (and things are really great now).

If and when we do resume relations, it will only be if we are open to children even though it may be difficult, we have to give God a chance to bless us. I know now that every act between physically capable spouses should be open to the possibility of children. Even if using NFP, we should be aware that children are still possible and are to be accepted as a blessing.

That is my word of warning, don’t just hear what you want from the Church’s teaching on NFP, read and obey the entire teaching.

PS, I really should be discussing this with my wife and not you guys!

 

[kage_ar]

NFP is also called natural birth control by some authors. There are aspects of NFP which are sinful and initially the Pope only approved of the rhythm method. .

Cite your sources, provide authorititave documents that state there were methods of NFP that were not approved by any Pope.

 

[rpp]

I see no other reason of using NFP other than control births. Using NFP is to intentionally avoid the gift of life.

Because NFP identifies when a woman is most likely to be fertile, those who are trying to get pregnant can also use it for that purpose. Knowledge of when a woman is most likely to concieve works both way, either for apscing cirths or or attempting to get pregnant.

In its essence, it seems to me that NFP is a refusal to submit to His will.

This is a very strong statement. In making this statement, you are making a determination as to a person’s relationship with God, in essence, you are judging the state a person’s soul and that is a very grave sin.

Like anything NFP can be abused. But since the Church says that using ii prudently is morally permissible, then using it prudently is, well, morally permissible.

If you choose not to use and abandon the idea of periodic continence and just want to have sex with your wife anytime anyplace without regard to what may happen, you are free to do so. Me, I think self discipline is good and the self discipline required to use NFP is good.

 

[budgie2]

I do not understand how any of the methods of NFP could be held counter to the dignity of women and/or sinful if entered into prayerfully (with regards to conception). Some women (myself included) used NFP prior to marriage to identify and get treatment for ob/gyn problems without harming (in any way) future/present fertility. The Pope Paul VI Institute’s method, Creighton, uses mucus only, but can identify reasons why women suffer from PMS, PCOS, miscarriage, etc. It is much more informative and useful than the calendar or rhythm method - especially for the millions of women out there w/ irregular cycles and/or ob/gyn problems.

Knowing what I know about my own body, learned through Creighton NFP, has given me more dignity IMO. My husband & I now know why and when I am most receptive to his advances. We can also determine based on our prayerful reasons, when to abstain (for the least amount of time) to avoid pregnancy with good accuracy. I also did not have to undergo invasive examinations to identify the cause of my miscarriages. Instead, the hormonal language of my body, as evidenced by my NFP chart, gave insights & let the doctor’s know when to test me for particular hormones. Otherwise, I most likely would have had birth control shoved in my face and/or been told ‘that’s just the way it is for some women.’ Not to mention my beautiful 16 month old son and current 18 week pregnancy would not be alive and well.

Nothing about the symptothermal, mucus, or calendar methods are an affront to a woman’s dignity. Instead they empower her to know more about her own body and the beauty of God’s creation.

I think your example of using NFP to overcome prolonged infertility is one of the few reasons that fertility testing is ethically acceptable. I know I’m not in line with the Church here but I have used prayer throughout my marriage and I would avoid fertility testing first off as I see conception as a minor miracle. It’s a bit like the transubstantiation, we wouldn’t scientifically test and analyse every aspect. Testing can make conception purely biological except if the aims are pro-life. The soul is also given at conception so it’s also sacred.

I would choose Calendar based methods first off and then if it really doesn’t work and there is serious reason a fertility monitor such as Ovacue or Persona/Clearblue.

 

[Luke_K]

I have no question that artificial birth control is an intrinsic evil and thus sinful. Why is Natural Family Planning not considered a sin?

From my understanding, the primary end, or purpose of marriage is the procreation of education of children. I would think NFP would be sinful because is frustrates the primary end of marriage and subordinates it to the secondary purposes of marriage, such as mutual aid and mutual love.

Why is NFP considered lawful by the Church?

It seems simple to me. With NFP, the couple simply does not have sex for a time, so how are they disgracing the holiness of it? They build their self-control and non-physical appreciation for each other.

“Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another…” 1 Corinthians 7:5