A question for Catholic women..?

Question

This is a serious question and no perverted answers please!I know contraception is against your religon but are you allowed to time not having intercorse when you are ovulating to make sure you dont get pregnant, or are you not even allowed to do that if you dont want any more children?

Answer 1

Great question. Do not mistake the Church's stance against birth control and birth prevention. There are viable and correct ways to utilize a sense of 'birth control' as long as it does not interfere with preventing a pregnancy, okay?

The Church has always condemned methods that render a fertile body infertile or that act as a barrier to conception, but She has done so precisely because those things prevent conception, not because She just doesn't like infertile women. Intercourse during normal periods of infertility is not a problem because were are not obligated to confine the marital act to only fertile periods - same with menopause.

NFP is different though. The whole intent of NFP is to prevent a birth and to schedule the marital act so that it only takes place when conception is nearly impossible. Thus an active participation in in avoiding pregnancy.

It is permissable for married people to agree to observe certain times and to make love, only when conception seems least likely to occur. As long as they do the act properly when they do it, married people do not sin by restricting themselves by mutual consent to whatever days they choose, even if in this choice they are led mainly or exclusively by their desire not to have any more children.

It is the same when, after a number of years of married life, to avoid an untimely increase in the family, couples consent to wait until after the woman has had her menopause, or "change of life", before they resume lovemaking. There is nothing reprehensible in this.

The primary purpose of marriage, the procreation of children, is not interfered with, the other objects of it are being duly pursued. But in the observance of these days or periods, married people must remember, that conception is by no means impossible. Also, Catholics are not required to have as many children as possible - but we are required to trust in Divine Providence.

Couples in should not allow themselves to be set too firmly against having more children, so that in case they are blessed with another one, they accept it readily and with thanksgiving from the hand of God. Neither is it wrong, with due resignation to God's will, to pray that there be no more children; just so nothing sinful is done to prevent their coming.

The problem I have with statements that it always seems to be Natural Family Planning (NFP) that is always mentioned as if no one's ever heard of ABSTAINING. If a couple, the mother in particular; has some sort of physical and/or mental issue after the birth then planning when to have sex or not should not even enter the picture. Abstinance is preferable. This is what I'm thinking: If I am in such a delicate condition that my life, health, or well-being is jeopardized by pregnancy, then someone should be sleeping on the couch (more or less).

The purpose of NFP is to assist the family when there are needs as mentioned above, including AT TIMES financial. All Catholics should believe, know and have faith that God will provide, and He does and has.

NFP is to be used sparingly. This is not 'Catholic' birth control and not to be abused as if it were contraception, some Catholic errenously do that, mostly out of ignorance, and frankly I can't blame them and there are those who abuse it to be more self-serving versus serving God. There is so much misinformation what they best course of action is simply speak to their priests if they have concerns.

Though the ways of preventing pregnancy have changed over the years, our selfish natures have not. Most of us recoil at the idea of more sacrifice. God knows what is best for us.

Parents, mothers especially need to be encouraged that children really are a blessing, and not a burden. They need support, a community of like-minded women, and help from other families if they are going to survive this childbearing thing without feeling so desperate and alone that they think they need to resort to family planning. You CANNOT raise a large family alone.

Answer 2

Actually, that is the basis for Natural Family Planning- a technique so effective, it actually helps 'infertile' couples achieve pregnancy through knowledge of the woman's cycle!

The Lord never said WHEN a married couple should have intercourse- He leaves that up to them....all He asks is that they give each other fully and completey to the other and be open to His gift of life if He chooses to bless them with a child.

So an NFP couple may prayerfully decide for good cause ( medical or economic issues, for example) that now is not a good time to have a child...BUT when using NFP correctly, will joyfully welcome a child if a pregnancy occurs, and trust that the Lord will provide for them.

Answer 3

This is a very good and wise question.

The human body and its design were made by God. Contraception frustrates God's work in the nature of the female body. And it leads to misuse of the faculties which God gave us for producing a family. But there is a way in Catholicism called Natural Family Planning that teaches the couple to wait on childbearing or to plan for childbearing by abstaining from sexual activity during the fertile period, and within the bond of marriage.

The Church offers a course to the couple in this method called Natural Family Planning.

Answer 4

The Catholic Church has Canon laws which state that the final judge is our conscience. If you have studied all of the issues and in your heart believe that birth control is needed, then you may do what your conscience tells you.
Years ago, one of the Popes had a commission established to study birth control. The majority of his advisers suggested to him to allow it. But there was a small conservative group who convinced him to reject allowing birth control.

Answer 5

There are no limits. They just say there are, but none follow them. I use to be a catholic and my parents were and are still very catholic. I got pregnant at age 18 and my mother told me that only nice girls got pregnant and that the easy girls know how to prevent this. After my daughter was born my mother put me on birth control, might I add I was not the only unwed teenage mother in our church and in our family nor was I the only one on birth control.
As a true born again Christian I have learned that all that I learned as a catholic was wrong and that I was deceived. I am only happy I have renounced that religion and am now a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

You're describing the rhythm method of birth control. People who use it are called parents.

Answer 7

Yes, we are allowed to observe our signs of fertility and decide whether or not to engage in the marital act.

And yes, it IS effective: "NFP is 97-99% effective for avoiding pregnancy when used exclusively." -- Six Rivers Planned Parenthood

Answer 8

Ah, the good old rhythm method. Yes, the vatican says it's ok but it is NOT reliable - thus the reason why it's known in some circles as "Vatican Roulette".

Answer 9

in islam contraception allowed by premature ejuculation and condoms

Answer 10

who knows - there are too many rules. i'm a catholic woman and i take birth control pills. i'm going straight to hell.