No mental contortions needed! Other than semantically, what is the difference in preventing conception by closely monitoring fertile times and having sex outside of those times and the use of barrier methods or withdrawal that basically do the same thing? The result is the same - the sex act that avoids, or tries to avoid, conceiving a child. If your church allows one way that permits a married couple to enjoy sexual intimacy while avoiding conception, then how can it/you disallow any other method that basically does the same thing? I'm certainly not advocating for those contraceptive methods that use abortifacient back-ups or which primary function is to abort embryonic life nor do I condone abortion for any reason with the ONLY exception being when BOTH the mother and child will die without medical intervention to stop the pregnancy (truly rare).
What I object to is threads such as these that have the main reason of condemning all "Protestants" with a broad brush and the not-so-subtle conclusion that Roman Catholicism must be right about everything else based on this one subject. It is dishonest as well as hypocritical for the Catholics here to piously assert a superior religion while at the same time ignoring or discounting the actual evidence that shows non-Catholic Christians demonstrate a more consistent pro-life view that translates through their voting records than Catholics. Y'all like to assert that pro-abortion Catholics aren't "real" Catholics but they are STILL counted in population totals, surveys and other ways while nothing is done to actively bring about repentance. Catholics - especially well known ones, are embraced, never forbidden from observance of the sacraments and treated with respect in life as well as in death. Can you imagine St. Peter or St. Paul putting up with members like these who refuse to be corrected or brought to repentance?
You and others in your "club" appear to use every opportunity to take shots at the Catholic Church.
I don't have a "club". When I read threads that I sense God's leading to respond, I do and I pray about what I should say. I have the feeling that those in your vocal "club" would like nothing more than to never hear from anyone who isn't Catholic on threads like these again, you know, the ones that take shots at "Protestants". That anyone should be allowed to slam "Protestants" (or all non-Catholic Christians) with impunity is NOT the intent of OPEN Religion Forum threads and I am grateful to JR and those who give all of us this voice. I'm sure you would feel the exact same way if the shoe was on the other foot. Besides, there are PLENTY of threads (seeing as Catholics like to dominate the RF) that I don't even read much less give comments to. So, your "every opportunity" is just so much hyperbole.
I for one would like you to publically say just one nice thing about either Catholics or the Catholic Church.
Why do you presume I haven't? There are plenty of times when I have but I don't expect you to keep track since it doesn't seem to register anyway. How many times have you publicly said one nice thing about non-Catholic Christians? Why not see these threads for the value they provide rather than getting personally offended anytime someone dares criticize? When it's relevant to say something "nice", I will do so. It certainly won't be at your command.
I will continue to pray that Jesus comes into your heart.