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I do seem to encounter more non-contracepting, large, natural families in the Evangelical world than I do among Catholics... why is that?

There is a sizable group of Protestants who appear to me to be ahead of the curve on the fundamental issue of male/female roles, what is sometimes called "complementarianism." Understanding and then living this basic principle is a necessary precursor to having "large, natural families."

Unfortunately, this whole concept has been lost in the Catholic Church for the past 40 years. Catholics have been divided into 2 groups: the liberals who are busy contracepting, fornicating, etc, without qualms; and the "conservatives" who have followed JPII's lead into the quagmire of "mutual submission."

The only Catholics who follow the Biblical mandate for male/female roles are Traditional Catholics who have rejected the modernistic changes that have happened in the last 40 years since Vatican II.

Since Traditional Catholics are a small percentage of the overall Catholic population, what you've observed regarding evangelical Christians versus Catholics is not too surprising. If one attends Mass at a Catholic Church that uses the "New Mass," one is unlikely to see any "large, natural families." If one attends Mass at the traditional Latin rite, in contrast, virtually every family there will be a "large, natural family."

Of the ex-Catholics I know, there is one in particular who stands out. She is currently a born again Evangelical. She church shops fairly regularly. She’s recently divorced she sees that divorce as a sign from God. She’s stated repeatedly that she will never marry again because doing so would jeopardize her financial freedom but it would be okay with God if she just shacked up. She has a grown daughter who has children. She as a mother an a Christian has counseled this daughter to contracept with our with out her husband’s knowledge and to open an account and stash money because she’ll eventually end up divorced anyway. (this is the daughter’s second marriage)

So much for true Christian witness.

Most other ex-Catholics I know are ex-Catholics because they cannot live with the Magisterium and got tired of being cafeteria Catholics.