Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Maximilian
How much do you think they will talk about "grave reasons"? Will they really present NFP as something reserved only for emergency situations? Will couples be told that it is a "grave sin against the very nature of married life" to use NFP without a sufficiently grave reason?.

What are some examples of grave reasons? Or emergency situations?

5 posted on 07/16/2004 9:31:59 PM PDT by Lauren BaRecall (Whoopi Goldberg: to the FReepers belong the spoils!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies ]


To: Lauren BaRecall
What are some examples of grave reasons? Or emergency situations?

This is a very good question, and it is unfortunate that the issue has never been resolved. It was 53 years ago when Pope Pius XII granted that NFP could be permitted within certain limited constraints. He mentioned "grave reasons of a medical, economic, social or eugenic nature." But during the past half century we have had Vatican II and Humanae Vitae and then "The Theology of the Body," and no one has ever presented a more definitive explanation of what these terms are supposed to mean.

BTW, besides the grave reasons, there are a couple of other essential conditions for practicing NFP that are usually omitted from these discussions:

1. Both partners must agree. It cannot be unilateral. This is because the marriage right is "permanent, continuous and uninterrupted." That means that one marriage partner can never deny the marriage right to the other partner without committing a grave injustice unless there is some sufficient reason why it is inopportune to fulfill the marriage obligation at this time, but it must be fulfilled as soon as it becomes opportune.

2. Both partners must be able to fulfill the conditions without the temptation of falling into sin. If continence, even periodic continence, were a source of temptation towards masturbations, adultery, etc. for either partner, then NFP could not be attempted. Even if there were proportionally grave reasons, no reason can ever justify mortal sin. Better to die without mortal sin, if that be the alternative, rather than commit mortal sin even to save a life.

7 posted on 07/16/2004 9:58:25 PM PDT by Maximilian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson