Are you in favor of the Catholic Church' position of natural birth control?

Answer 1

I am in favor of it, as in I agree with the principle. If you have ever looked into natural family planning, it is a big committment, and kind of gross in some aspects. I guess it depends how far you are willing to go to obey. As Christians, aren't we supposed to take it all the way?

Answer 2

It's not "natural birth control" -- it's "natural family planning." And yes, I'm in favor of it. My husband and I use it, and we're very pleased with it.

For one thing, I'm not poisoning my body with artificial hormones that kill a woman's libido and shorten a woman's life by speeding the onset of heart and liver diseases or killing her outright through deadly blood clots. Yes, those are REAL side effects of using the pill or the patch or injectables -- it's on the literature that comes with these products.

For another, we aren't mutilating our healthy bodies. My husband isn't a dog that needs to be "fixed," thank you very much, and I like my ovaries and tubes and uterus just the way they are.

For a third, we believe that sex should be totally unifying, and that means accepting each other's fertility as is. There's no barrier between us made out of latex or silicone, and there's no rejection of either his sperm or my egg. We count it all good. (We have three kids, ages 8, 5 and 3 and haven't used artificial birth control for years and years. We've been Catholic since April 2003.)

To answer the complaints by other respondents:

It doesn't "spread AIDS" because the Catholic teaching is to stay a virgin until marriage, marry a virgin and remain faithful in marriage. Odds of contracting HIV through this arrangement are just about null.

Yes, many of us are parents, but that's because babies are good and parenting is a good thing to do. We *want* babies.

And NO, the Church does NOT make anybody have more kids than they can afford to properly feed and shelter and educate and love. An outsider may think my family is struggling because we shop at thrift stores and grow our own food and don't take fancy vacations, but the truth of the matter is, we'd do all that if we had one kid or sixteen kids because we believe that it's more important to "live lightly" on the planet and reuse/recycle. Anyway, if a couple has as many kids as they can reasonably care for, they simply avoid sex during the woman's ovulatory period and resume relations when it's over. It's the same thing as refraining from sex while your spouse has the flu or is out of town on business or something. It's no big deal and EVERY married couple does it...NFP couples just do it more intentionally.

Somebody above actually supports "the China view" -- really?!?!?!? Forced abortions! Good parents who want and can afford to have more kids being told by the government that they aren't allowed to! Baby girls being left on the sides of mountains to die because the culture wants sons and the people don't have the privilege of having a second child! You really support that? In a nation where people are supposed to be FREE?

I am beyond appalled that anybody would think that was a good idea.

Answer 3

There is no position of the catholic Church about natural birth control, as in 'you have to practice natural birth control'. But there is a discrimination between what is and is not acceptable for those who want to space births. But that is just an application of long-standing moral principles to a question that came up historically. I think it was Dr Billings who introduced it. Not sure.

Answer 4

Natural Family Planning is a fantastic, natural birth control. It doesn't have any of the side effects of pills, and when followed correctly, can have better results than artificial methods.

Also, research shows that couples practicing NFP have better marriages, lower divorce rates.

I'm not Catholic, but I am in favor of their position on birth control.

Answer 5

Yes.

As you said, the Catholic Church allows natural forms of birth control.

Judeo-Christian tradition has taught for thousands of years:
1. Single people should be celibate.
2. Married people should be faithful to each other (adultery is wrong).
3. Married couples should welcome God's gift of children and, therefore, artificial birth control is against the will of God.

Here is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's website on Natural Family Planning: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

I am, as long as it is supplemented with "Safe-Sex" practices!

- see, the church must take this position because of religious doctrine. However, personal decision ultimately governs action. - - - Is the church police in the room while you're having sex to make sure you're not breaking doctrine? You know you're answering to a higher authority... or at least that's what is sounds like when all you hear coming from the room is: Oh God, Oh God, yes, Oh God.

[every woman and man should know the 'rhythm' method - it is just a matter of tracking a woman's cycle to know when the optimum time for pregnancy would be. this can prevent many unwanted pregnancies.]

Answer 7

NO
the church "had" many sins written in the books.. but as science explained the true functions of the body they scoffed the explained Rhythm
It still confronts the Idea "go forth and multiply"
sorry I accept the China view..
in the world today sorry it was not supposed to have happened
god made another mistake
1 + 1 = 2 ... when it is 3 - 4 - ? 12. That was fine 2000 years ago but not today...

Answer 8

I think what you are trying to ask is if we're in favor of their position against artificial birth control. There is no position of natural b/c other than if you are going to practice any, then that's your only option.
Yes.
As to a previous answer, "the pill" -a form of b/c, never stopped VD or anything other than sperm implantation.
Married people who are true to their vows, and those who refrain from premarital sex, never get AIDS. (if they came into the marriage "clean").

Answer 9

MR. HARRY BLACKITT:
Look at them, bloody Catholics, filling the bloody world up with bloody people they can't afford to bloody feed.

MRS. BLACKITT:
What are we dear?

MR. BLACKITT:
Protestant, and fiercely proud of it.

MRS. BLACKITT:
Hmm. Well, why do they have so many children?

MR. BLACKITT:
Because... every time they have sexual intercourse, they have to have a baby.

MRS. BLACKITT:
But it's the same with us, Harry.

MR. BLACKITT:
What do you mean?

MRS. BLACKITT:
Well, I mean, we've got two children, and we've had sexual intercourse twice.

MR. BLACKITT:
That's not the point. We could have it any time we wanted.

MRS. BLACKITT:
Really?

MR. BLACKITT:
Oh, yes, and, what's more, because we don't believe in all that Papist claptrap, we can take precautions.

MRS. BLACKITT:
What, you mean... lock the door?

MR. BLACKITT:
No, no. I mean, because we are members of the Protestant Reformed Church, which successfully challenged the autocratic power of the Papacy in the mid-sixteenth century, we can wear little rubber devices to prevent issue.

MRS. BLACKITT:
What d'you mean?

MR. BLACKITT:
I could, if I wanted, have sexual intercourse with you,...

MRS. BLACKITT:
Oh, yes, Harry.

MR. BLACKITT:
...and, by wearing a rubber sheath over my old feller, I could insure... that, when I came off, you would not be impregnated.

MRS. BLACKITT:
Ooh!

MR. BLACKITT:
That's what being a Protestant's all about. That's why it's the church for me. That's why it's the church for anyone who respects the individual and the individual's right to decide for him or herself. When Martin Luther nailed his protest up to the church door in fifteen-seventeen, he may not have realised the full significance of what he was doing, but four hundred years later, thanks to him, my dear, I can wear whatever I want on my John Thomas,... [sniff] ...and, Protestantism doesn't stop at the simple condom! Oh, no! I can wear French Ticklers if I want.

MRS. BLACKITT:
You what?

MR. BLACKITT:
French Ticklers. Black Mambos. Crocodile Ribs. Sheaths that are designed not only to protect, but also to enhance the stimulation of sexual congress.

MRS. BLACKITT:
Have you got one?

MR. BLACKITT:
Have I got one? Uh, well, no, but I can go down the road any time I want and walk into Harry's and hold my head up high and say in a loud, steady voice, 'Harry, I want you to sell me a condom. In fact, today, I think I'll have a French Tickler, for I am a Protestant.'

Answer 10

Its not difficult if you love God and one another.
Natural family planning is about not having sex before marriage and planning with your husband on the times that are open to fertilization, so I am not sure
what the first answerer about spreading aids was about, that makes no sense at all and for the one that says the Catholic Church does not have that position they can ref to the Catholic Catecism #2368 and #2370 (Part 3 part of the discertation on the 6th commandment)