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As I said in my opening post, I think the spiritual difference between NFPer's and those practicing artificial birth control are very, very minute. The bottom line for me, they both are INTENT on preventing a pregnancy/bringing life into the world at a particular time in their lives. The method by which they accomplish this is, at least to me, simply splitting hairs.

The morality of human acts is judged based first on whether the end is worthy, neutral, or unworthy, and then whether the means used to achieve the end are worthy, neutral, or unworthy. The intent of a married coupld to not have children is a neutral end. It may or may not be acceptable depending upon the circumstances. The means of accomplishing this end must be at least neutral, and preferrably worthy.

The Catholic Church has ruled that it is unworthy to accomplish the end of avoiding a pregnancy by use of artifical methods, since this involves the act of giving in to unbridled lust and the frustration of a natural act.

The Catholic Church has also ruled that it is worthy to accomplish the end of avoiding a pregnancy by abstaining, since this tends to bring the sexual appertite under the control of right reason.

I don't understand why you cannot see this difference.

"The Catholic Church has also ruled that it is worthy to accomplish the end of avoiding a pregnancy by abstaining, since this tends to bring the sexual appertite under the control of right reason."

It's worthy for what, abstaining 48 hours.........sexual appetite under control for what.....48 hours! And then it's carry on your wild passion for the next 28 days. And then, the process is repeated. "Hold the line, honey, we are fertile, we only have to wait another 18 hours and then we're good to go." That is the practical application for the majority of Catholic couples. I suppose I'm just a hard-headed obstinate individual who has problems with NFP. I've heard all the flowery and beautiful Church definitions and explanations for NFP but when it's true applications are used in the bedroom, a couple has engaged in the sex act WITHOUT the probality of conception. And I'd say they make up for the "abstained period" to which the Church addresses. As a matter of fact, I'd say that "appetite" you speak of is mitigated by a couple who engages passionately up to that small window where they can't engage in sex. They know the froth off their sex drives leading up to that window! I'm just trying to get people to think about the practical application of NFP. And you can't tell me the way I've described the NFP application above isn't the way most Catholics go about it.