According to a 1995 government survey, only about 3.2% of Catholics who are doing anything about birth control choose NFP. That figure is only slightly higher than NFP use by non-Catholics, which stands at about 2.3%. (1)
An old joke claims that NFP stands for “Not for Protestants,” but, after reviewing the figures above, some may bitterly joke that NFP isn’t for many Catholics, either! However, Catholic couples who do practice NFP report many advantages including satisfaction in following the teachings of the Church, greater celebration of the unitive (giving of oneself wholeheartedly to one’s partner) and procreative (remaining open to the possibility of new life) aspects of marriage, and comfort in following natural law, or the “right order of things” as designed by God. (2) Recent research even suggests that the marital satisfaction rate is higher, and the divorce rate is lower, among couples who practice NFP. (3)
Leo and Veronica are a Catholic couple whose practice of NFP grew out of a Catholic commitment and has yielded many spiritual, marital, and physical benefits. This month, I am pleased to bring you their story, so eloquently expressed in their own words. Names and identifying information have been changed to protect their privacy. Thank you Leo and Veronica for sharing your story with us!
“We became engaged in the fall of 1987 and immediately began making preparations for a summer wedding in 1988. One of the requirements in our diocese was attendance at an NFP presentation for all engaged couples. Our local Catholic hospital did (and still does) offer NFP courses. We signed up for an evening presentation introducing the method.
“Once we were married and had moved to Canada, it wasn’t long before we decided to get more information and further training in the use of NFP. Through the Diocesan Family Life Office, we were able to get contact information for the local training center in a nearby town. We met a very dedicated woman who was one of the primary teachers of the Billings Ovulation method in Canada. She helped us begin to appreciate the many advantages of using NFP. It is a joy to be able to feel confident in achieving or delaying pregnancy without having to rely on artificial means. Observing the presence or absence of cervical mucus is simple to learn, costs nothing and gives the woman total control over her fertility. There are no drugs to take. This provides two important advantages. First, there are no potential long-term side-effects for the woman to consider. Furthermore, we believe that it is important to take seriously the Catholic church’s position on the use of artificial contraception. NFP allows us to celebrate both the procreative and unitive aspects of married love. It also avoids the potentially abortifacient consequences of using oral contraceptives or other mechanical devices. Finally, it is important to remember to that the ovulation method can be helpful to couples who are experiencing difficulty attempting to conceive. The method teaches you to be aware of the most and least fertile periods during the woman’s cycle.
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