The Church’s teaching on artificial birth control is, for many, one of the most challenging and least understood teachings of the Catholic Church.  Although it would seem that artificial birth control is easier, simpler, and more effective, many would be surprised to discover the great advantages to choosing Natural Family Planning. According to the Couple to Couple League’s website, NFP is safe, healthy, and green; it is effective; and it builds joyful marriages. It is an all-natural method of regulating pregnancies that is approved by the Church and endorsed by physicians.

Benefits of NFP

Many people believe that organic gardening is more beneficial and healthier than conventional gardening. Growing a garden organically yields healthier vegetables, is better for the environment, and can be therapeutic because of the time and effort put into it. In a sense, NFP can be compared to growing a garden organically. Natural Family Planning, like organic gardening, is 100% natural. It avoids using artificial chemicals, hormones and devices which can be harmful and risky for women who use them. Contrary to popular belief, NFP is surprisingly more effective, and physicians are increasingly recommending it to their patients. For couples hoping to achieve pregnancy, it can be very beneficial by helping them to more accurately identify fertile times. Just as organic gardening is easier on the environment and yields better soil, healthier marriages are nurtured and cultivated through the practice of NFP. It may seem daunting to take on the task of charting and observing periods of abstinence; however, these practices increase healthy communication, foster respect for one another, and deepen the relationships of the married couples who use it. Following the gardening analogy, the time and effort required are worth it in the long run and definitely yield many benefits for the couple.

Some of these benefits which couples experience from utilizing NFP include:

1. Increased joy and satisfaction in marriage
2. Freedom from guilt
3. Better communication between spouses
4. More respect for one another
5. Stronger family unity
6. Health benefits

NFP is ProlifeThe decision to use NFP involves an openness to life and a readiness to accept a child, should it be God’s will. The marital act was designed by God to be both unitive and procreative. If we are closed to the possibility of a pregnancy and use artificial means of birth control, we are stifling the procreative function of the marital act and failing to use it as God intended.

We recently observed the anniversary of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion in our country, along with the March for Life in Washington D.C. Advocating for the  unborn, the elderly, and the infirm is paramount to protecting the right to life. This issue is the most important one we face. However, we should also introduce the discussion on contraception and chastity to begin to get to the root of the problem of abortion in our country. The Church’s teaching on contraception has always been the same. According to Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, Director of Education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, “Contraception can never be prolife. It regularly serves as a gateway to abortion, with abortion functioning as the “backup” to failed contraception for countless women and their partners. Abortion and contraception are two fruits of the same tree, being anti-child and therefore anti-life at the root.” St. John Paul II stated that, “No personal or social circumstances have ever or can ever justify such an [contraceptive] act.” Natural Family Planning is a safe, healthy, and effective alternative to using artificial birth control.  For more information on NFP, visit the Couple to Couple League’s website here.

Read the source: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thewayofthewildflowers/2020/01/growing-a-healthy-marriage-with-natural-family-planning/

Here-under are some articles about family and marriage for you to read or watch: 

1. Getting to know you, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=284
2. Be Positive, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=288
3. and Marriage, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=292
4. Endless Love – Marriage after all, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=294
5. Say it with love, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=298
6. Quality family moments, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=300
7. Secret of successful marriage, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=302
8. The vocation of marriage, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=1968
9. Marriage as Covenant, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=1974
10. Humility: Foundation for Marital Happiness, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=1986
11. Gratitude: Foundation for marriage, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=1980
12. True Meaning of marriage, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=1972
13. Marriage and incompatibility, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=2112
14. Love is a garden, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=2116
15. Three kinds of love, please click this link: http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/?p=2095

The Silent Marriage Killer That’s More Deadly Than Sex & Money http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/10/22/the-silent-marriage-killer-thats-more-deadly-than-sex-money/

An Exorcist and Psychiatrist Share Suggestions for Marriages http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/11/28/an-exorcist-and-psychiatrist-share-suggestions-for-marriages/

Some Notes for Preachers on the Reading of Ephesians Five on Marriage in the Lectionary http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/11/03/some-notes-for-preachers-on-the-reading-of-ephesians-five-on-marriage-in-the-lectionary/

Requirements of Conjugal love: Blueprinting for a Lasting Marriage in Christ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/04/05/requirements-of-conjugal–blueprinting-for-a-lasting-marriage-in-christ/

Divorce is a deadly killer! http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/08/07/divorce-is-a-deadly-killer/

GLOBAL ORGANIZATION PETITIONS TO ‘MAKE THE FAMILY GREAT AGAIN’ – Ruth Institute: A great America depends on great families http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/09/20/global-organization-petitions-to-make-the-family-great-again-ruth-institute-a-great-america-depends-on-great-families/

Parental and Spousal Alienation in Catholic Marriages http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/07/14/parental-and-spousal-alienation-in-catholic-marriages/

FATHER-SON BOND IS ‘CIVILIZATION’S KEYSTONE,’ EXPERT SAYS – Patrick F. Fagan talks about fatherhood and chastity at 2019 Family and Life Conference http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/05/09/father-son-bond-is-civilizations-keystone-expert-says-patrick-f-fagan-talks-about-fatherhood-and-chastity-at-2019-family-and-life-conference/

CATHOLIC HEROES: ST. DOROTHY OF MONTAU – A martyr for the indissolubility of marriage http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2019/01/03/catholic-heroes-st-dorothy-of-montau-a-martyr-for-the-indissolubility-of-marriage/

What #MeToo and hooking up teach us about the meaning of sex? Making war, not  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/07/27/what-metoo-and-hooking-up-teach-us-about-the-meaning-of-sex-making-war-not-/

Why the world needs natural family planning more than ever? It may be the last line of defence for wholesome sex http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/07/27/why-the-world-needs-natural-family-planning-more-than-ever-it-may-be-the-last-line-of-defence-for-wholesome-sex/

Is the Holy Family a Realistic Model for Ordinary Families?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/06/24/is-the-holy-family-a-realistic-model-for-ordinary-families/

Pope Francis says gay couples cannot be considered ‘families’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/06/18/pope-francis-says-gay-couples-cannot-be-considered-families/

Pope Francis’ ‘Amoris Laetitia’ vs. Pope St. John Paul II’s ‘Veritatis Splendor’: You Say You Want a Revolution? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/04/08/pope-francis-amoris-laetitia-vs-pope-st-john-paul-iis-veritatis-splendor-you-say-you-want-a-revolution/

Renewing or Imperiling our Understanding of the Sacrament of Marriage?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/06/10/renewing-or-imperiling-our-understanding-of-the-sacrament-of-marriage/

No ring, no baby: How marriage trends impact fertility? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/03/26/no-ring-no-baby-how-marriage-trends-impact-fertility/

On Coming to the Sacrament of Marriage: A Personal Pilgrimage  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/06/10/on-coming-to-the-sacrament-of-marriage-a-personal-pilgrimage/

On the Truth that Heals the Crisis of Marriage  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/06/24/on-the-truth-that-heals-the-crisis-of-marriage/

Escaping from Motherhood: How it Destroys Society? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/05/15/escaping-from-motherhood-how-it-destroys-society/

Archbishop Bernardito Auza Stresses Benefits of Good Parenting at the United Nations in New York  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/06/03/archbishop-bernardito-auza-stresses-benefits-of-good-parenting-at-the-united-nations-in-new-york/

Lucifer’s Game: The first step is to identify the enemy http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/04/17/lucifers-game-the-first-step-is-to-identify-the-enemy/

Briefly Revisiting Pre-1983 Canonical Practice for a Better Response to Marriage Issues http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/03/16/briefly-revisiting-pre-1983-canonical-practice-for-a-better-response-to-marriage-issues/

Archbishop Charles Chaput: Blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples is not permitted http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/02/08/archbishop-charles-chaput-blessing-ceremonies-for-same-sex-couples-is-not-permitted/

5 Reasons Why I Ask for My Husband’s Permission http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/02/05/5-reasons-why-i-ask-for-my-husbands-permission/

POPE FRANCIS: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS A DIABOLICAL ATTACK ON THE FAMILY http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/02/20/pope-francis-same-sex-marriage-is-a-diabolical-attack-on-the-family/

Cardinal Tagle tells parents: Put kids first  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/03/02/cardinal-tagle-tells-parents-put-kids-first/

Have the courage to marry, start a family, Pope Francis tells youths in Assisi http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/05/30/have-the-courage-to-marry-start-a-family-pope-francis-tells-youths-in-assisi/

Pope Francis says marriage can only be between a man and a woman and ‘we cannot change it’  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/07/pope-francis-says-marriage-can-only-be-between-a-man-and-a-woman-and-we-cannot-change-it/

THE DOWNLOAD: CLARIFYING MARRIAGE – A canon lawyer joins the panel  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/05/15/the-download-clarifying-marriage-a-canon-lawyer-joins-the-panel/

The Beauty of Marriage from a Biblical Perspective  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/02/12/the-beauty-of-marriage-from-a-biblical-perspective/

Saint Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body in Video Presentation Saint Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body in Video Presentation

Sophia Sketchpad on Marriage Sophia Sketchpad – Marriage

Sacraments 101: Matrimony (Why make it Catholic)? Sacraments 101: Matrimony (Why make it Catholic?)

Want to change the world? It starts with joy – Archbishop Charles Chaput says http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/07/28/want-to-change-the-world-it-starts-with-joy-archbishop-charles-chaput-says/

How to Fix the “Annulment of Marriage Mentality”?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/07/14/how-to-fix-the-annulment-of-marriage-mentality/

A  that is life long: The marriage God wants for you A  that is life long: The marriage God wants for you

What’s destroying some Catholic marriages? What’s destroying some Catholic marriages?

‘ Love Is ’love or is it? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/10/06/-is–or-is-it/

The worm that is killing married  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/10/06/the-worm-that-is-killing-married-/

‘An act of pure evil’: Are rifles or relationships at the bottom of the madness in Las Vegas?   http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/10/06/an-act-of-pure-evil-are-rifles-or-relationships-at-the-bottom-of-the-madness-in-las-vegas/

The Centrality of  to the Teaching of Humanae Vitae  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/07/21/the-centrality-of–to-the-teaching-of-humanae-vitae/

Historian lays out how we’ve arrived at today’s unprecedented attacks on the family http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/05/20/historian-lays-out-how-weve-arrived-at-todays-unprecedented-attacks-on-the-family/

Divorce’s many victims Divorce’s many victims

FATHERLESSNESS BREEDING SCHOOL GUN VIOLENCE http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/03/16/fatherlessness-breeding-school-gun-violence/

What Catholics need to know about marriage and sex, Part 2 What Catholics need to know about marriage and sex, Part 2

Why happily married women need to talk about sex?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/04/08/why-happily-married-women-need-to-talk-about-sex/

Deficiencies of the Family Code of the Philippines (II): Void and Voidable Marriages? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/12/03/deficiencies-of-the-family-code-of-the-philippines-ii-void-and-voidable-marriages/

Can a Catholic sign a pre-nuptial agreement? Can a Catholic sign a pre-nuptial agreement?

We want Church truth on marriage, young Catholics say We want Church truth on marriage, young Catholics say

Wives, Be Subordinate to Your Husbands? – John Paul II on Ephesians 5:21-33 http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/02/12/wives-be-subordinate-to-your-husbands-john-paul-ii-on-ephesians-521-33/

An Open Letter to the Adulterers outed by the Ashley Madison Hackers An Open Letter to the Adulterers Outed by the Ashley Madison Hackers

Pro-life, Married & Contracepting: Is there a a problem? Pro-life, Married & Contracepting: Is there a problem?

Pope Francis’ General Audience: The Family is an irreplaceable source of stability for children Pope Francis’ General Audience: The Family is an irreplaceable source of stability for children

The 4 most important parts of marriage The 4 most important parts of marriage

Pre-Cana with St. John Chrysostom: 7 Tips to a successful marriage Pre-Cana with St. John Chrysostom: 7 Tips to a successful marriage

Reflections on the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Trinity http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/02/12/reflections-on-the-indissolubility-of-marriage-and-the-trinity/

Why Is Marriage Indissoluble? “The first natural tie of human society is man and wife.” St. Augustine http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/04/14/why-is-marriage-indissoluble-the-first-natural-tie-of-human-society-is-man-and-wife-st-augustine/

Sins Against the sacrament of marriage 44 Sins against the sacrament of marriage

Live-in: Research facts and analysis on cohabitation Live-in: Research facts and analysis on cohabitation

Bishop Olmsted Calls Men Into the Breach http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/02/05/bishop-olmsted-calls-men-into-the-breach/

Pope Francis: When families teach forgiveness, they strengthen society Pope Francis: When families teach forgiveness, they strengthen society

THIS EUROPEAN NATION JUST FOUGHT THE GAY AGENDA AND WON – Pope Francis lent a hand http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2015/12/23/this-european-nation-just-fought-the-gay-agenda-and-won-pope-francis-lent-a-hand/

Never Date a Feminist: 12 Warning Signs for Young Men http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/04/07/never-date-a-feminist-12-warning-signs-for-young-men/

Keeping sex for marriage helps marriages last the distance http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/06/15/keeping-sex-for-marriage-helps-marriages-last-the-distance/

Pope Francis: Most Catholic marriages are null, some ‘cohabitations’ are ‘real marriage’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/06/19/pope-francis-most-catholic-marriages-are-null-some-cohabitations-are-real-marriage/

Why Christ Will Never Let His Bride Redefine Marriage? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/08/19/why-christ-will-never-let-his-bride-redefine-marriage/

Gay ‘marriage’: It’s not gay, and it’s not marriage – G.K. Chesterton  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/09/14/gay-marriage-its-not-gay-and-its-not-marriage-g-k-chesterton/

Church’s Teaching on Marriage Comes From Author of Creation, Say Bishops  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/09/16/churchs-teaching-on-marriage-comes-from-author-of-creation-say-bishops/

The family in the era of soulmate marriage http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/09/29/the-family-in-the-era-of-soulmate-marriage/

Why millenials don’t want kids… Are their reasons good enough? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/09/29/why-millenials-dont-want-kids-are-their-reasons-good-enough/

Real insights about porn and marriage  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/10/28/real-insights-about-porn-and-marriage/

10 Issues You Should Discuss Before You Get Married (otherwise your marriage could be invalid!) http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/11/12/10-issues-you-should-discuss-before-you-get-married-otherwise-your-marriage-could-be-invalid/

Engaged Couple’s Spiritual Checklist http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/11/13/engaged-couples-spiritual-checklist/

Should You Get Married in the Church? 7 Couples Share Their Experience  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/11/13/should-you-get-married-in-the-church-7-couples-share-their-experience/

Must Catholics Marry in a Church? Must Catholics Have Their Wedding in a Church? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/11/13/must-catholics-marry-in-a-church-must-catholics-have-their-wedding-in-a-church/

Last Video Released in Series on Marriage http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2016/12/21/last-video-released-in-series-on-marriage/

For Catholics A Woman’s Place is in the Home http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/01/20/for-catholics-a-womans-place-is-in-the-home/

Real Women- The Catholic View Marriage and Family http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/01/20/real-women-the-catholic-view-marriage-and-family/

Real Women- Feminine Virtue and the Moral Life  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/01/20/real-women-feminine-virtue-and-the-moral-life/

The Human Person Is a Bioethical Word http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/01/20/the-human-person-is-a-bioethical-word/

Millennials stall the gender revolution in the home  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/04/08/millennials-stall-the-gender-revolution-in-the-home/

‘Don’t Judge’ — How to Respond When Your Relativistic Friend Quotes Jesus  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/04/22/dont-judge-how-to-respond-when-your-relativistic-friend-quotes-jesus/

Don’t divorce: Powerful arguments for saving and revitalizing your marriage http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/04/22/dont-divorce-powerful-arguments-for-saving-and-revitalizing-your-marriage/

Procreation: Still the Primary End of Marriage  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/04/25/procreation-still-the-primary-end-of-marriage/

Archbishop Charles Chaput: ‘The future belongs to people with children, not with things’ http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/08/02/archbishop-charles-chaput-the-future-belongs-to-people-with-children-not-with-things/

The Church teaches contracepted sex leads to hell. So, why is a priest promoting it in Rome? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/01/12/the-church-teaches-contracepted-sex-leads-to-hell-so-why-is-a-priest-promoting-it-in-rome/

Birth Control and NFP: What’s the Difference?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/07/14/birth-control-and-nfp-whats-the-difference/

Divorce, Remarriage, and “Discerning the Body” http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/05/17/divorce-remarriage-and-discerning-the-body/

Annulments of Marriage: A Concession to Human Weakness  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/07/05/annulments-of-marriage-a-concession-to-human-weakness/

PSYCHOLOGIST VICKI THORN: FREE  HAS CREATED CHAOS  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/07/27/psychologist-vicki-thorn-free–has-created-chaos/

Bishop Thomas Paprocki under fire for denying funerals for people in same-sex ‘marriages’ refuses to back down http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/07/30/bishop-thomas-paprocki-under-fire-for-denying-funerals-for-people-in-same-sex-marriages-refuses-to-back-down/

But What About Abusive Marriages?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/08/04/but-what-about-abusive-marriages/

Sex, Sanity, and Beliefs that ‘Live Loudly’ Within Us – Archbishop Charles Chaput http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/13/sex-sanity-and-beliefs-that-live-loudly-within-us-archbishop-charles-chaput/

What Makes a Marriage Valid?  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/08/09/what-makes-a-marriage-valid/

What’s changed in Britain since same-sex marriage? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/13/whats-changed-in-britain-since-same-sex-marriage/

Subversion, liberty, and ‘marriage equality’  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/14/subversion-liberty-and-marriage-equality/

AUSTRALIAN BISHOP VINCENT LONG WON’T FIGHT GAY MARRIAGE VOTE  http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/14/australian-bishop-vincent-long-wont-fight-gay-marriage-vote/

Alternative truths: A wife’s view of a gay coming out http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/09/15/alternative-truths-a-wifes-view-of-a-gay-coming-out/

Is There Marriage In Heaven? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/11/02/is-there-marriage-in-heaven/

Be a Man – Get Married http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/11/15/be-a-man-get-married/

There is No More Important Job Than Being a Good Mother http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/11/19/there-is-no-more-important-job-than-being-a-good-mother/

Our Current Youth Culture and its Upcoming Impact on Successful Marriages http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2017/11/27/our-current-youth-culture-and-its-upcoming-impact-on-successful-marriages/

The Church Needs Honesty About Sexuality http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/01/21/the-church-needs-honesty-about-sexuality/

Being Open to Life—Abstract Norm, or Embodied Word? http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/01/23/being-open-to-life-abstract-norm-or-embodied-word/

Portland Archbishop Alexander Sample celebrates marriage Mass after call for new family initiatives http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/02/05/portland-archbishop-alexander-sample-celebrates-marriage-mass-after-call-for-new-family-initiatives/

Children of Divorce Aren’t “Resilient”; They Just Suffer in Secret http://www.pagadiandiocese.org/2018/03/16/children-of-divorce-arent-resilient-they-just-suffer-in-secret/

“God himself is the author of marriage” (GS 48:1). The vocation of marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures, and spiritual attitudes (CCC:1603)