Bump! I couldn't find this thread in Google or CathInfo search. Very annoying.

I had some issues with the CathInfo search as well finding old stuff.  I persisted and tried different search terms and then in a different order, and I finally found what I was looking for.

I know, and I am extremely critical of such poor excuses for Trads. Some Trads need to learn how to MYOB (Mind Your Own Business).

Being open to life, avoiding birth control and NFP, and having 9+ children are NOT synonymous.

In fact, being open to life and having as many children as physically possible are also not synonymous. The Duggars are an example of the latter. Mrs. Duggar didn't do much breastfeeding, since that negatively affects a woman's fertility. Some women are completely infertile while they full-time breastfeed. And yet, breastfeeding is natural, designed by God, and therefore what's best for the baby. I would even say that breastfeeding your baby is God's will in most cases.

Anyhow, these Pharisaical Trads also need to learn basic manners and what is socially acceptable behavior: because, frankly, some atheists and pagans have them beat.
The phrase "socially retarded" comes to mind.

Some Trads embrace the Trad package because it means being contrarian, so they can rub it in the world's face. They actually enjoy being a sign of contradiction to the Modern World. That can be a good starting point for spiritual growth, but it can also be a starting point for narcissism and pride. Hint: when you compare the size of your family to others, as though it's a contest, you're not on the right path.

Just found this thread too and I'd have to say I agree with Matthew on this matter. I've seen such 'competition' myself and it's absolutely disgusting to see such things happening in Trad chapels.

Just found this thread too and I'd have to say I agree with Matthew on this matter. I've seen such 'competition' myself and it's absolutely disgusting to see such things happening in Trad chapels.

Yes, I knew some Trads who were definitely of this mindset, where they deliberately avoided breastfeeding so they could knock out a baby every 9 months.  Breastfeeding causes various hormonal changes that tends to space out children every 2 years or so, so to do much better than one child every 2 years requires short-circuiting that cycle.  That's not what God intended either.  I have 6 children and am undoubtedly looked down upon by many of these "contest" types.  We have to be careful not to judge couples who don't have a lot of children.  As I have been emphasizing, we must give every benefit of the doubt to people.  I've known couples who had repeated miscarriages, and some undoubtedly have fertility issues, etc.  Many undoubtedly space them out with NFP for their convenience, but unless we have specific and positive information to that effect for any particular couple, we are required by charity to give them every benefit of the doubt.  We "only" had 6 children mostly because we did not get married until I was 32 and my wife 29, and my wife did have a couple of miscarriages in there as well.  But we're in a strange spot.  Most worldlings of course think that 6 is an outrageously high number, and I've gotten the old "you do know how that happens, right?" comment.  But then when we go to Mass, the 9-12 children couple look down on us there for having too few .  Way I look at it is, if I have 0 or 1 or 15, that's up to God and not me.