tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post7196154540622743834..comments2024-03-21T00:15:48.886-07:00Comments on Philothea on Phire: NFP: Trojan Horse in the Catholic Bedroom?Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927474235629912604noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-28678184471509500762013-06-20T17:44:08.591-07:002013-06-20T17:44:08.591-07:00Anonymous, I think many of your questions are addr...Anonymous, I think many of your questions are addressed in the book. You could go to the NFP tab and the top of the page to see all the posts on this blog about NFP, and by looking at the titles, you might find some that address your questions. <br /><br />I have not written about the lengths couples "should" go to to conceive children, but my first reaction is that a couple should just love each other and do what comes naturally, and let God have full control. Sure, NFP can be used to increase the chances of conception, and that is not necessarily a bad thing...but it depends on how obsessive-compulsive the couple gets about it. I'm sure it is very difficult to accept that it might not be God's will for a couple to have children, but I also wonder if people don't really give God a chance on this one. <br /><br />How do we discern God's will? Well, by prayer, yes, but sometimes we can lie to ourselves through what we think is "prayer". It needs to be balanced with exploring what the Church teaches, and by perhaps consulting with a holy priest. <br /><br />I encourage you to look through the other posts (or buy the book!) and see if there is more there that helps you. Especially, read the sermon I transcribed on "The Duty of Motherhood".<br />Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09927474235629912604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-82956513017989901912013-06-20T11:11:11.850-07:002013-06-20T11:11:11.850-07:00Dr. Boyd,
I have always been confused about the su...Dr. Boyd,<br />I have always been confused about the subtle difference between NFP and what many Catholics refer to as birth control (hormonal contraception and sterilization). I suspect that your argument will not be very popular in certain Catholic circles, not to mention the majority of Catholics who believe birth control is acceptable.<br />Maybe you wrote about this in your book, but how do couples discern when the fine print applies to their situation? How do they know when they cannot afford to have more children? Also, to what length should they go to conceive more children? For couples who have tried many years to conceive but want a large family, should they seek expensive Catholic-approved surgery (I'm not talking about IVF or anything that goes against church teaching) or treatments to make them more fertile? In short, to what extent should they go about achieving a large family? <br />I think my rambling can be summarized by the question: How do we discern God's will? And I guess I know the answer, which is through prayer, but I would like your thoughts on this.<br />Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-79604324836583773472013-03-07T05:34:23.804-08:002013-03-07T05:34:23.804-08:00God bless you! I will keep you in my prayers as yo...God bless you! I will keep you in my prayers as you discern your path. I have some thoughts I'd like to share more "privately". If you'd like to hear them, please email me at drjayboyd@msn.comJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09927474235629912604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-67445309622788405232013-03-06T22:29:07.606-08:002013-03-06T22:29:07.606-08:00Dr Boyd,
You've hit on a topic that is curren...Dr Boyd, <br />You've hit on a topic that is currently on my conscience. I am an NFP teacher and I consider us faithful Catholics. However, I have been raised in this culture and it has created a struggle in just how open to life I should be. My husband and I already have 4 kids, my oldest is 5. Do I just trust God and be totally vulnerable or do we space? Already we don't look like the best model for NFP? Already I get comments wherever I go about all my children. Yet my pregnancies are not bad and my husband and I have set our lives up to receive children. Also, we have had it on our hearts to have many children long before we ever met. Please pray for us. If its just between the two of us and God, we need to just recieve children as he send them. My problem is my practical side, the battle going on in my head, and approval issues. <br />Fortunately, there are still a few elders in the Church who just recieved the children as they came. Just knowing them helps me know that it will be okay, but there are not many left and in the generations in between I know very few families who did not control their fertility. <br />Thank you for writing on this topic.<br />YukonerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-65508210571823623052013-02-27T11:32:43.692-08:002013-02-27T11:32:43.692-08:00Aged Parent, you are too kind. But let us pray tha...Aged Parent, you are too kind. But let us pray that you are correct and that someone, somewhere will be inspired to have more children!Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09927474235629912604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-4438705728215594742013-02-27T11:08:13.119-08:002013-02-27T11:08:13.119-08:00You will be doing God's work with this book, D...You will be doing God's work with this book, Dr Boyd, and that is not an idle comment. I thank you for doing it. But never mind my thanks. A million children, waiting to be born...they thank you.Aged parenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05217229048176272954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-25150533488350578402013-02-26T07:08:35.605-08:002013-02-26T07:08:35.605-08:00Just in time for the new beginning in Oregon and T...Just in time for the new beginning in Oregon and The Vatican.<br />BillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-70864606852993766012013-02-25T18:25:41.672-08:002013-02-25T18:25:41.672-08:00Thanks, Andrea, and yes, Elizabeth, it's my fi...Thanks, Andrea, and yes, Elizabeth, it's my first book (probably "only"!). I am doing a self-publishing thing; we did the same with my husband's book. Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09927474235629912604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-22611748038607578292013-02-25T18:19:57.589-08:002013-02-25T18:19:57.589-08:00Congratulations, Jay! That's great news. I a...Congratulations, Jay! That's great news. I anticipate good fruits abounding from you publishing a book of your posts on this topic. Is this your first venture into the world of publishing? Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08481730297658525937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531497517644951122.post-70936842746629671582013-02-25T15:32:07.012-08:002013-02-25T15:32:07.012-08:00Well written. It is hard to convey to others unfor...Well written. It is hard to convey to others unfortunately! Especially those who have been poorly catechized on NFP. I can't wait until the Church actually clarifies its position.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13253894471336737960noreply@blogger.com