Works for us...Brought us closer to God as a couple.
I find it curious that you wrote "find a priest who believes in it". When I entered the Church, I really struggled with NFP (and still do, honestly) and went to my RCIA leader, who told me it was okay to use birth control. Then I spoke to my priest, who told me I wouldn't go to hell for using a piece of plastic or a pill. Is this more the norm? Do most priests and church leaders not believe in NFP? I only know of one family that practices NFP (obviously I don't know everyone's business but plenty of people in my church have been happy to share how they got fixed or whatever, not that I asked). I find it so discouraging to only find mention of NFP on websites and blogs!
I find it so discouraging to only find mention of NFP on websites and blogs!Indeed it is frustrating. And I also had big problems with NFP. Well, to put it bluntly, there were problems in my marriage and when the mask of contraception was removed, NFP laid bare those problems (thankfully not too late that they couldn't be fixed). Also, the one time I mentioned the frustrations of NFP in confession, the priest didn't balk and said he couldn't grant permission to use ABC (not that I was asking for it, he just wanted to be clear) God bless him! So there are priests out there who won't fudge on this teaching. Unfortunately, publically there is too much silence from the pulpit on this. While I am sure there are some priests who reject the teaching (one is too many of course), I think most are silent out of fear of confrontation and people walking out. Have no fear.
NFP-still another way for the church to try to get around the issue of birth control. How hypocritical to state that this is natural-calendars, temperature taking etc. Can the church ever get a handle on loving sexuality-not with repression, oppression, and limiting the loving exprssion of individulas one to another.
When you talk to people who practice NFP, and I have talked to a TON of them, they will tell you NFP is the opposite of repression and oppression
Exactly Father. Frankly, people's view of the Church's teaching on sexuality is little better than if someone got their history of Native Americans from watching 50's cowboy TV shows. I'd also point out specifically when people don't recognize the difference between NFP and ABC as A). They don't recognize that the Church is not opposed to birth control (which we often say birth regulation to separate it from the colloquial meaning of articial means) per se, but does object to means and B). People don't understand means and ends because they labor under the error of consequentialism. That is, they look at the ends: ABC = no pregnancy, NFP = no pregnancy, and wrongfully conclude that they are morally equivalent. T'ain't so. Consequentialism is the Matrix. The Church's teaching on sexuality is the Red Pill. :)
How is NFP less natural than the pill or an IUD or a condom??? With NFP, the couple learns to understand the human body in ways most average people don't. When my daughters reach puberty, I'm going to teach them how to chart so they can see how beautifully they are made. I can't see how taking a pill that tricks your body into thinking it's pregnant and comes with a host of side effects is natural. I also don't understand the complaint of the Catholic Church being against sexuality. I think It is the only institution that recognizes just how powerful and awesome sex is and so provides guidance on how to show proper respect and reverence for such an act. And I'm not a cradle Catholic, so this doesn't come from being indoctrinated.
Works for us...Brought us closer to God as a couple.
ReplyDeleteI find it curious that you wrote "find a priest who believes in it". When I entered the Church, I really struggled with NFP (and still do, honestly) and went to my RCIA leader, who told me it was okay to use birth control. Then I spoke to my priest, who told me I wouldn't go to hell for using a piece of plastic or a pill. Is this more the norm? Do most priests and church leaders not believe in NFP? I only know of one family that practices NFP (obviously I don't know everyone's business but plenty of people in my church have been happy to share how they got fixed or whatever, not that I asked). I find it so discouraging to only find mention of NFP on websites and blogs!
ReplyDeleteI find it so discouraging to only find mention of NFP on websites and blogs!
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is frustrating. And I also had big problems with NFP. Well, to put it bluntly, there were problems in my marriage and when the mask of contraception was removed, NFP laid bare those problems (thankfully not too late that they couldn't be fixed). Also, the one time I mentioned the frustrations of NFP in confession, the priest didn't balk and said he couldn't grant permission to use ABC (not that I was asking for it, he just wanted to be clear) God bless him! So there are priests out there who won't fudge on this teaching. Unfortunately, publically there is too much silence from the pulpit on this. While I am sure there are some priests who reject the teaching (one is too many of course), I think most are silent out of fear of confrontation and people walking out. Have no fear.
NFP-still another way for the church to try to get around the issue of birth control. How hypocritical to state that this is natural-calendars, temperature taking etc. Can the church ever get a handle on loving sexuality-not with repression, oppression, and limiting the loving exprssion of individulas one to another.
ReplyDeleteWhen you talk to people who practice NFP, and I have talked to a TON of them, they will tell you NFP is the opposite of repression and oppression
ReplyDeleteExactly Father. Frankly, people's view of the Church's teaching on sexuality is little better than if someone got their history of Native Americans from watching 50's cowboy TV shows. I'd also point out specifically when people don't recognize the difference between NFP and ABC as A). They don't recognize that the Church is not opposed to birth control (which we often say birth regulation to separate it from the colloquial meaning of articial means) per se, but does object to means and B). People don't understand means and ends because they labor under the error of consequentialism. That is, they look at the ends: ABC = no pregnancy, NFP = no pregnancy, and wrongfully conclude that they are morally equivalent. T'ain't so. Consequentialism is the Matrix. The Church's teaching on sexuality is the Red Pill. :)
ReplyDeleteHow is NFP less natural than the pill or an IUD or a condom??? With NFP, the couple learns to understand the human body in ways most average people don't. When my daughters reach puberty, I'm going to teach them how to chart so they can see how beautifully they are made. I can't see how taking a pill that tricks your body into thinking it's pregnant and comes with a host of side effects is natural.
ReplyDeleteI also don't understand the complaint of the Catholic Church being against sexuality. I think It is the only institution that recognizes just how powerful and awesome sex is and so provides guidance on how to show proper respect and reverence for such an act. And I'm not a cradle Catholic, so this doesn't come from being indoctrinated.