The Catholic Position On Birth Control

[marielapin]

[quote name='amarkich' date='May 18 2004, 05:30 PM']Spacing pregnancies is not a valid reason to use Natural Family Planning. Natural Family Planning was approved for very strict cases (I believe there were six that we listed as acceptable). [/quote]
The Pope and the Church say otherwise.


I greatly stress the point where the Pope says that the Church does not or [u]has never [/u]supported an ideology of fertility at all costs - which is basically what you say the Church teaches. To say such a thing is to be ignorant of what NFP is, which is regulated abstinance. How would this be any different if a spouse was sent off to war, or if they simply didn't "feel" like having sex every day? To use NFP [b]is[/b] to be open to God's Will.

John Paul II, 17 July 1994:

[b][u]Unfortunately, Catholic thought is often misunderstood on this point [about "responsible parenthood], as if the Church supported an ideology of fertility at all costs, urging married couples to procreate indiscriminately and without thought for the future.[/u][/b] But one need only study the pronouncements of the Magisterium to know that this is not so (italics in original).

Truly, in begetting life the spouses fulfill one the highest dimensions of their calling: they are God’s co-workers. Precisely for this reason they must have an extremely responsible attitude. [b]In deciding whether or not to have a child, they must not be motivated by selfishness or carelessness, but by a prudent, conscious generosity that weighs the possibilities and circumstances, and especially gives priority to the welfare of the unborn child.[/b]

[b]Therefore when there is a reason not to procreate, this choice is permissible and may even be necessary. However, there remains the duty of carrying it out with criteria and methods that respect the total truth of the marital act in its unitive and procreative dimension, as wisely regulated by nature itself in its biological rhythms. One can comply with them and use them to advantage, but they cannot be "violated" by artificial interference.[/b]