A highly contested and widely disputed debate that splits people in opinion is the debate over contraception. The Catholic Church definitively and completely states that contraception is wrong. But, in the encyclical by Pope Paul VI, an alternative option is offered: Natural Family Planning (NFP). This method teaches to utilize the infertile parts of a woman’s cycle to prevent a pregnancy. In the Encyclical Humane Vitae , Pope Paul VI argues that this method is within the precepts of the church and is not wrong, because it observes the natural law, it allows for union and procreation, and is faithful to God’s design. This opinion can be disputed, but it is first necessary to understand Paul IV’s argument for this method.
Paul IV initially …show more content…
Performing the conjugal act during an infertile time, renders no procreation. This fails to comply with his first explanation that the marriage act has certain “inherent” needs. It must be unitive and procreative. As Paul IV said, “the unitive significance and the procreative significance…are both inherent to the marriage act.” This statement from Paul IV shows that the purposeful avoidance of procreation during a fertile period is wrong and contrary to God’s laws of nature. One should not chart their cycle, rather they should follow natural urges and accept whatever children procreated. Could not one, with the intention of not getting pregnant, have a contraceptive mentality while practicing …show more content…
Paul IV would likely answer that Natural Family Planning is not contraceptive because although the practicing couple avoids fertile periods, it is not completely effective. Any time a couple performs the martial act, while practicing NFP, without the use of any contraceptives, there is a chance of conception. In Humane Vitae, it directly states, “they use their married intimacy to express their mutual love and safeguard their fidelity toward one another.” This shows the idea that side of the marital act that is unitive. Although the couple may not procreate, the openness to this option through not artificially preventing conception shows their openness to procreation while allowing them to express their love to one another. This would mean that NFP is not contraceptive, and practicing it is within the teaching of the
Paul IV initially …show more content…
Performing the conjugal act during an infertile time, renders no procreation. This fails to comply with his first explanation that the marriage act has certain “inherent” needs. It must be unitive and procreative. As Paul IV said, “the unitive significance and the procreative significance…are both inherent to the marriage act.” This statement from Paul IV shows that the purposeful avoidance of procreation during a fertile period is wrong and contrary to God’s laws of nature. One should not chart their cycle, rather they should follow natural urges and accept whatever children procreated. Could not one, with the intention of not getting pregnant, have a contraceptive mentality while practicing …show more content…
Paul IV would likely answer that Natural Family Planning is not contraceptive because although the practicing couple avoids fertile periods, it is not completely effective. Any time a couple performs the martial act, while practicing NFP, without the use of any contraceptives, there is a chance of conception. In Humane Vitae, it directly states, “they use their married intimacy to express their mutual love and safeguard their fidelity toward one another.” This shows the idea that side of the marital act that is unitive. Although the couple may not procreate, the openness to this option through not artificially preventing conception shows their openness to procreation while allowing them to express their love to one another. This would mean that NFP is not contraceptive, and practicing it is within the teaching of the