Natural Family Planning Awareness Week

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has chosen this week as Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, with this year's theme being "Pro-Woman, Pro-Man, Pro-Child: Natural Family Planning." This annual effort is a chance for Catholics (and all persons) to consider the positive benefits of NFP in comparison to the harmful effects of many contraceptives.

For those unfamiliar, the Catholic Church teaches that couples should plan their families naturally, whether they are seeking to achieve pregnancy or avoid it for the present. Artificial means of family planning, whether contraception or IVF, are morally wrong because they disrupt the natural and essential (and divinely given) bond between sexual intercourse and the possibility of new life. And that's not even to mention the extremely damaging side effects that many chemical and hormonal contraceptives can have on a woman's body and on the environment in general. Many persons from varying religions are finding that NFP is a safe, green, and extremely effective way of achieving or avoiding pregnancy. There are various methods and various groups which teach them, but the point of all of them is to observe and track the natural indicators of a woman's fertility. With advances in modern science, it's far removed from the old "rhythm method" -- and indeed, if practiced correctly, NFP is as effective if not more so than the most effective contraception. And perhaps best of all, many married couples are finding that the increased communication and (short) periods of abstinence that NFP entails strengthen their relationship, increase mutual cooperation, and enhance their own love for each other.

For more information, check out the USCCB's website for the week. There you can find some good articles, testimonials from couples who use NFP and their reasons why, as well as more on the reasons for the Church's teaching on family planning. If you're interested in learning NFP, check out this website. And if you want to learn more about why contraception is harmful, go here and here.