NFP: What is the contraceptive mentality?
Rachael Killackey Published on May 26, 2025 In my experience, it doesn’t take long for a discussion on natural family planning (NFP) in Catholic circles to veer toward warnings about the ever-ominous “contraceptive mentality.” I heard such warnings throughout my engagement and now into marriage—“NFP can be used with a contraceptive mentality,” “watch out for […]
The How and Why of Natural Family Planning
MARY SHIVANANDAN What is natural family planning, how does it work, and how easy is it to learn and practice? “Natural family planning.” No, it’s not the old calendar “rhythm” method just being peddled under a new name. It ordinarily does not require long periods of sexual abstinence. And it’s not “Vatican Roulette,” the nickname […]
he Difference Between NFP and Contraception and the Huge Difference It Makes
Benedictine College, Atchison, KS, 3 March 2011 Fr. Matthew Habiger OSB PhD Connecting NFP with Social Awareness Week First of all, I want to express my appreciation for the invitation to speak at this year’s Social Awareness Week. In many countries there are what is called Social Weeks, or a week given over to lectures […]
Reasons Clergy Give for Their Silence at the Pulpit on NFP
Fr. Matthew Habiger, OSB “Talking about contraception and sterilization would scandalize the children in the congregation. Thus, I can’t deal with them at the pulpit.” But Jesus didn’t have such reservations. When he was addressing large crowds he talked about sexual sins. Recall the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:27). Children are not offended by a […]
God’s Gift of Life and LoveArchbishop
Leonard Faulkner A Pastoral Letter to Catholics on Family Planning ForewordIt is nearly thirty years since the encyclical “Humanae Vitae” was first published. In that time, a number of marvelous developments have occurred. The work of researchers has refined methods of Natural Family Planning to a high degree of reliability making their practical application a great […]
For Men Only
Charles Balsam My experience of marital sexuality has been a mixture of pain and redemption. The pain comes, in part, from the natural struggle of two lovers to “tune in” to each other’s needs. It also comes from my own immaturity and some unrealistic expectations. When these go unspoken and are not dealt with mutually, […]
Birth Control and NFP: What’s the Difference?
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life. Tom and Jane have three children, and have determined that they cannot adequately provide for any more at the present time. They know that artificial means of birth control are morally wrong, and their priest recommended that they use NFP (Natural Family Planning). Yet they do not […]
Natural Family Planning — Effective and easy
Victor R. Claveau, MJ “Many families of ordinary means place their fecundity at the Lord’s disposal, gratefully and delightedly accepting every precious child he chooses to send them. As long as they also follow his plan for nourishing babies, i.e. “ecological” breastfeeding, they generally enjoy a spacing between children of 1½-2½ years or longer. Because […]