Part II — Observing NFP Awareness Week
How Does NFP Differ from Contraception?

Last week, this column reflected on our observance of Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week, being celebrated July 20-26.

We recalled the beauty of the Church’s teaching that sees sexuality as a central part of human dignity and of our relation to God. From her earliest days, the Church has understood that respect and reverence for sexuality, reserved for the union of man and woman in the commitment of marriage, is an essential part of being a follower of Jesus.

We need only to read the letters of St. Paul to see how often this issue arose in the early Church. Christian sexual morality is a beautiful teaching that is often contrary to the prevailing attitudes and culture. We see this today in the many objections raised by the culture regarding the Church’s position on contraception and sterilization.

The gift of sexuality, rooted in each of us being male or female, is meant to be used to express a total self-giving of the couple. That totality of the gift of self can only take place in an exclusive and life-long commitment, hence its exclusive use in marriage.

The use of artificial means to limit the totality of giving of self in that relationship, for example the use of contraception or sterilization, whether so intended or not, results in one or both of the couple withholding an element of the complete gift of themselves, that is their God-given fertility.

The question often arises, how does NFP differ from contraception? Why does the Church teach that NFP is permissible but contraception and sterilization are not?

There is in fact a fundamental difference.

Artificial contraception and sterilization amount to putting aside or removing an essential part of our nature as God has made us. NFP is guided by the language of the body that God instilled into our physical richness and complementarity. Thus, husband and wife can cooperate with God in a prayerful and respectful entry into the gift of sexuality.

This profound disposition among spouses maintains openness to the sacredness of the creation of another human person and gives witness to the natural beauty of the family.

This cooperation with our creator has untold benefits, both to our bodies and souls.

We see in the ever growing body of scientific research which supports NFP that living according to God’s design in this way is good for women, men, and marriages. For women, be they single, engaged or married, the knowledge and understanding of her rhythms and nature give a deep insight into the complexity and beauty of her own body and her existence.  This self-knowledge is truly empowering and fosters greater self-respect and confidence.

The use of NFP in marriage naturally fosters deep and continuing communication between spouses, cultivating respect for both husband and wife as equals in dignity. This, perhaps, is why statistics constantly show that marriages utilizing NFP are more satisfying and far less prone to end in separation or divorce.

NFP can also assist couples struggling with infertility. The same scientific principles that are so helpful in determining naturally occurring times of fertility are used to identify and address underlying causes of extended infertility.

Countless couples who have wrestled with the pain and sadness of infertility have been assisted by modern methods of NFP and successfully conceived a child according to God’s plan.

It is important to remember that not all technologies available in the medical field are permissible in addressing the challenge of infertility. Those medical acts which seek to manufacture life outside of the marital embrace move in a manner which supplants God’s providential movement of bestowing life as a gift within the love of spouses.

The Church desires, as every mother would, the health and well-being of her children. I am deeply aware that this topic is challenging.

I encourage you to spread the word regarding the treasury of truth which is Natural Family Planning, and the manifold benefits it offers as a true witness to the  culture of life championed by Pope St. John Paul II.