Divorce Rate Comparisons Between Couples Using NFP & Artificial Birth Control

Divorce Rate Comparisons Between Couples Using Natural Family Planning & Artificial Birth Control

Posted By Megan Morris On July 19, 2010 @ 2:37 pm In News & Commentary | Comments Disabled

Introduction

Everyone would agree that divorce is the greatest tragedy that can befall a family. Wouldn’t it be providential if the practice of natural family planning proves to be the authentic means to a successful marriage? Family of the Americas Foundation has just received the completed data collection of a study correlating marital happiness with the practice of Natural Family Planning (NFP). Since the early seventies, [Family of the Americas Foundation] has been conducting programs for couples that provide knowledge on the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s cycle…

For years we have witnessed the benefits our programs have provided to families, not only in Christian countries, but also Moslem and even communist nations. Even though numerous scientific evaluations and statistical studies have confirmed its effectiveness, even superior to artificial birth control, we have never been able to validate the incredible benefits to the family that our teachers have been observing for many years.

Last year a scientific survey was conducted under the direction of a reputable independent statistician, Dr. Robert Lerner. He is a Sociologist from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics. The protocol stipulated that he would not only evaluate the findings, but also compare them to two of the largest U.S. government funded surveys that asked similar questions of the respondents.

Summary Of Findings

The results presented from the three surveys analyzed revealed that compared to other women in general and to Catholic women of similar age, NFP users:

The Natural Family Planning group studied consists of the typical middle class families of the United States of America, primarily Catholic, with small minority of Protestant and Evangelical. From this first study, however, (others need to be conducted to confirm our findings), we can ascertain that Natural Family Planning may become the major vindicator…of respecting the natural laws. It promises to be the best safeguard for the family against divorce. Divorce… fractures the family and creating conflict among its members…the consequences of violating the natural laws through the use of artificial birth control, sterilization and abortion…usually lead to promiscuity, cohabitation and ultimately divorce.

The report confirms the practice of a natural method of conception regulation (Natural Family Planning).

This study presents results from a survey of 505 couples that have been practicing Natural Family Planning, primarily the Ovulation Method, through the teachers of Family of the Americas Foundation. They are based on the first-ever survey of its kind. It examined the types of persons and the impact learning Natural Family Planning has made in their family life, as well as sexual and moral attitudes.

More studies are appearing from around the world regarding the estrogen pollution of waterways from chemical birth control, and its adverse effects, at least on various fish populations.

Most people oppose environmental pollution, but seldom think about the chemical pollution they inflict on their own bodies.

It is well documented that long-term exposure to estrogen may have a carcinogenic effect on the human body. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists most estrogens as carcinogenic substances.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an all-natural, body-friendly method of avoiding – or causing – pregnancy through a 98% effective 3-pronged plan of fertility awareness.

For many women, being aware of the power of their fertility is a very “freeing” sensation, as opposed to the “bondage” of chemical birth control methods that suppress normal body functions

I often think about what the loss of a child would do to a family unit as a whole.

I have 3 children, and cringe at the thought of losing any of them, naturally. I would think that it would definitely leave a deep wound and that a scar would remain on the family even after the wound healed. The loss of that child would always be felt, even if the pain is in the background.

However, divorce is the family killer! I have seen that within my own family. The repercussions are endless to all family members, including the extended family. It's worse than a rock being thrown in a pound that causes a ripple effect. I equate it to a fault line under the water that moves constantly causing tsunamis. Some of the tsunamis aren't major, but there is always a huge tsunami threatening on the horizon. The pain just does not end.

I am glad to here about the “positive” results of NFP, but I do not think that I understand the concept. Is the goal to not have a child? I have read through some of the posts in this thread and it appears that a child is equated to a failure, this does not appear to line up with “children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward”. Why work against God’s reward?

Like I said, I may not understand the concept...My wife and I were told we would not have children by three different doctors and after leaving it in God’s hands we now have seven, and will accept more if it is God’s will.

If my children would literally starve if my wife were to get pregnant, it is morally licit to space children until I could afford to feed them.

NFP would be a morally licit way to achieve this necessity.

But artificial birth control is intrinsically evil. It can never be morally licit to have recourse to artificial contraception.

So to answer your question, the INTENTION in having recourse to EITHER artificial family planning OR "natural" family planning could be illicit or licit. One may be sinful, one may not.

However, the method itself, in the case of artificial birth control, is intrinsically illicit, i.e. regardless of intent is it gravely sinful.

However, NFP itself is morally neutral. It becomes morally illicit when the intention itself is illicit.

4 main reasons for having recourse to NFP.

1--Physical/ mental health---a pregnancy could kill you or so physically impair you as to prevent your fulfillment of your duties in your state in life---NOT because of a widening waste-line or drooping skin! Or psychological health, i.e., mom would literally have a nervous breakdown if she became pregnant---not because she "just couldn't stand being home with the little kids all day without the personal fulfillment of her professional job..."

2--Financial constraints---your child will starve if you have another. Wanting a bigger house or designer SUV just does not cut it!

3--work on the mission fields by one or both spouses that would preclude having children temporarily

4--active persecution or war---i.e., you or your child likely to die by coercive abortion, in concentration camp, in acts of war, etc.

Clearly we say these reasons must be SERIOUS, not trivial. Only the couple and their confessor can truly decide what truly constitutes grave reason.

We've had couples sit through my talk on this subject and literally say, "Gee, we thought we were being good Catholics just for deciding to use NFP. Now we realize we don't even have grounds for recourse to NFP," then tell us a month or two later they're pregnant.

NFP vs Contraception

Spacing children may be a desirable goal that does not violate God's laws in certain serious situations such as those outlined above. But the means of achieving the goal differ.

One is intrinsically evil (abortion, abortifacient contraception, barrier methods, sterilization) while one is morally neutral (Natural Family Planning.

In one, an act is performed (sex) but its natural outcome is artificially foiled.

In the other, no act is performed (simple abstinence during fertile times) so there IS no act, therefore the practice is morally neutral.

It is then the intention of using NFP that constitutes its relative moral licitness or illicitness.

If NFP is used in a selfish manner, it too can be sinful.

If it is used only in grave circumstances, it is not sinful.

The difference is real.

Dieting (decreasing caloric intake, the "act" of NOT eating) is a moral and responsible means of losing weight to maintain the body's health.

Bulimia (the ACT of eating, them vomiting) is rightly called an eating DISORDER.

An ACT is performed (eating in this case) and its natural outcome (nutrition) is foiled by expelling the food from the body.

Likewise contraception is a disorder. An ACT is performed (sex) and its natural outcome (procreation) is foiled by expelling the sperm or egg or both (abortifacient contraceptives) from the body.

Contraception is to NFP what Bulimia is to dieting.

But just as dieting can be misused (anorexia) so too can NFP be misused in a sinful manner

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