Part 2 of the Right NFP Course
We think that every NFP program should mention morality, especially in connection with the abortifacient potential of hormonal birth control. We have good reason to think that the idea of rejecting unnatural forms of birth control out of faith in the Spirit-led teaching of the Magisterium is lacking in some programs.
We believe that the NFP course ought to be an agent of evangelization in the Church today. Couples need to be affirmed in the Catholic belief that Jesus keeps his promises and that the Holy Spirit does lead the Magisterium to teach the truth.
Serious reason. The teaching of the Church is clear: NFP is not just a form of “Catholic birth control” to enable couples to fit in with the culture. It calls for generosity in having children and teaches that couples need sufficiently serious reasons for using NFP to postpone and avoid pregnancy. On the other hand, we regularly read criticisms that “NFP” seems to mean “Not For Procreation” to many couples. We listened to a priest representing an NFP organization tell an EWTN audience that he is on a campaign to eliminate the use of the term “serious reason” from the NFP vocabulary, despite that terminology being in section 10 of Humanae Vitae. We view with caution the effort to explain this solely in terms of “just cause” because that can come across in today’s culture in the Church as “just cuz,” totally different from the use of “just cause” to flesh out the need for “serious reason.”
We believe that the NFP course ought to address all these issues, teach the call to generosity, and explain the need for sufficiently serious reasons to use systematic NFP.
John F. Kippley
Sex and the Marriage Covenant
www.NFPandmore.org