I do not use charts, thermometers, etc., unless, I am drunk and delirious. :wine-drinking: Seriously, I agree, that NFP, if refined to a precise science is sinful. However, having sex with one's spouse during certain times of the month and not others, sorry, don't see it.
Even if not refined to a precise science with charts and thermometers, it is still sinful if both husband and wife make a deliberate plan, scheme or schedule that they follow, resulting in husband and wife having relations only during the known infertile periods, while avoiding the fertile periods.
You don't want to have children, that's why you deliberately avoids the fertile periods. Also, you couldn't possibly know about your wifes infertile periods unless you both were in on it. Thus, have you and your wife made up a scheme of your own - a science in keeping track of the infertile periods - maybe not with thermometers or charts - but with full consent of your mind; for a deliberate plan is made. When a deliberate plan is made in avoiding children, the mortal sin of contraception occurs. This is a dogma.
Please, now to my question, that you have avoided all along. Why, Jehanne, and everyone else on this thread, do you deny this dogma that condemn the sinful behavior you defend?
Pope Pius XI,
Casti Connubii (#’s 53-56), Dec. 31, 1930:“
But no reason, however grave, may be put forward by which anything intrinsically against nature may become conformable to nature and morally good. Since, therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by nature for the begetting of children,
those who in exercising it deliberately frustrate its natural powers and purpose sin against nature and commit a deed which is shameful and intrinsically vicious.
“Small wonder, therefore, if Holy Writ bears witness that the Divine Majesty regards with greatest detestation this horrible crime and at times has punished it with death. As St. Augustine notes, ‘Intercourse even with one’s legitimate wife is unlawful and wicked where the conception of offspring is prevented.’ Onan, the son of Judah, did this and the Lord killed him for it (Gen. 38:8-10).”
BTW, please provide one Magisterial and/or theological reference that teaches that married couples should abstain during pregnancy.
I never said you must abstain from each other during pregnancy. I said, spouses should abstain during pregnancy. That is the best thing, and that is what perfect couples do, who only does what is necessary, but nothing beyond that. As I have said before, it is lawful, because of human weakness and concupiscence, and to avoid a greater evil.
The church teaches that couples that want to use natural family planning must GET PERMISSION from a priest before doing so.
The reasons are :
Women's health bad or life in jeopardy with another pregnancy
Financial problems
or any reason the priest deems worthy to grant the permission.
Otherwise, natural family planning cannot be practiced
No, you are clearly wrong. The Pope even mentions those instances that you brought forward and condemn people who used these excuses.
Natural Family Planning is contraception. Therefore, it cannot be practiced for any reason. Pope Pius XI condemned contraception for any reason, no matter how grave, specifically mentioning the medical excuse of “difficulties… on the part of the mother” and the economic excuse of “difficulties… on the part of family circuмstances.”
Pope Pius XI,
Casti Connubii: “Others say that they cannot on the one hand remain continent nor on the other can they have children
because of the difficulties, whether
on the part of the mother or on the part of family circuмstances. But, no
reason, however grave, may be put forward by anything intrinsically against nature may become conformable to nature and morally good. Since, therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by nature for the begetting of children, those who in exercising it deliberately frustrate its natural power and purpose, sin against nature, and commit a deed which is shameful and intrinsically vicious.”
Please. Why do you reject dogma all the time? And, where is your faith in God?
GOD FEEDS THE BIRDS WHICH NEITHER REAP NOR SOW“And he will love thee and multiply thee, and will bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy vintage, thy oil, and thy herds, and the flocks of thy sheep upon the land, for which he swore to thy fathers that he would give it thee.” (Deut. 7:13)
The word of God condemns anyone who attempts to excuse the mortal sin of contraception for any reason, one being economic. Those who use the economic excuse faithlessly say that if they have too many children they will not be able to feed or clothe them, or provide their other necessities. These fallen-away Catholics do not really believe in the word and power of God.
“Therefore I say to you: Be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. The life is more than the meat: and the body is more than the raiment. Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much are you more valuable than they? …Consider the lilies, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. Now, if God clothe in this manner the grass that is to-day in the field and to-morrow is cast into the oven: how much more you, O ye of little faith? …seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice: and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Lk. 12:22-24, 27-28, 31)
Dear reader, you will either truly believe in the word of God or not. It does no good to say you believe while your actions prove otherwise. “Let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1Jn. 3:18) Your professed faith is tested when it comes time to put it into action. “Faith without works is dead. (Ja. 2:20) Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (Ja. 1:22) Only those are blessed who hear the word of God and keep it. “Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” (Lk. 11:28) Do you really believe God can feed, clothe, and shelter your family no matter how big it is?
Lactantius, Divine Institutes 6:20 A.D. 307: “[Some] complain of the scantiness of their means, and allege that they have not enough for bringing up more children, as though, in truth, their means were in [their] power . . . .or God did not daily make the rich poor and the poor rich. Wherefore, if any one on any account of poverty shall be unable to bring up children, it is better to abstain from relations with his wife.”
Woe to faithless fallen-away Catholics who say they cannot feed their families due to difficult economic conditions, implying God cannot provide for them. Nothing is impossible with God.
Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii: “We are deeply touched by the sufferings of those parents who, in extreme want, experience great difficulty in rearing their children. However, they should take care lest the calamitous state of their external affairs should be the occasion for a much more calamitous error. No difficulty can arise that justifies putting aside the law of God which prohibits all acts intrinsically evil. There is no possible circuмstance in which husband and wife cannot, strengthened by the Grace of God, fulfill faithfully their duties and preserve in wedlock their chastity unspotted. This truth of Christian faith is expressed by the teaching of the Council of Trent: “Let no one be so rash as to assert that which the Fathers of the Council have placed under anathema, namely that there are precepts of God impossible for the just to observe. God does not ask the impossible, but by His commands, instructs you to do what you are able, to pray for what you are not able that He may help you”.