When is it right to avoid a pregnancy?

[@ludmillam.grabetz7649]

Thank you Christopher! So awesome and learning a lot as a single for my future marriage! God bless you!

[@shashikamanoj1160]

God bless you and your family. Viva Christo Rey

[@antoniomoyal]

Viva!

[@citlalyrendon8793]

Love it, thank you for this video !!!!

[@marianelaadell803]

Podría activar subtítulos en español? 🙏

[@amymalo7390]

Wonderfully vague.

[@anomalousviewer3164]

@Christopher West. What was the Churches teaching pre Vatican 2?

[@sitka49]

"Only in 1930 did Pope Pius XI cede that non-procreative sex wasn’t necessarily sinful, - not a full admission ,but I'm sure the thinking was it was a necessary evil. Times were a changing !

[@jessicasmith9599]

Thank you Christopher!

[@gavindmello]

Amen to your prayer!

[@JP2GiannaT]

He said "generous", and I thought, "he's going to say "genitals" isn't he?" Sure enough... Lol.

[@josephjackson1956]

Lol

[@joelfeddersen6136]

Could you possibly get an episode in response to the book 'The Immortality Key' by Brian Muraresku? Or the podcast he did with Jordan Peterson because it shook up my faith

[@smallparticlelinda]

What if contraception is recommended by the medical field under certain circumstances? As an example, certain autoimmune diseases (lupus, for instance) in women are known to flare up during pregnancy or postpartum, so doctors generally recommend couples only plan for pregnancy when the disease is in remission and the woman is in relatively better health. Other times, birth control is recommended. Should the couple always abstain from sex except when they are actively trying to conceive? As another example, some medications are proven to cause deformities in the fetus, such as tretinoin, a drug for severe acne. A lot of other drugs aren't tested and effects on the baby are unknown. Doctors always recommend couples use birth control when the woman is taking those meds, especially if she needs to take them on a long-term basis. Should married couples just avoid those medications at the cost of the woman's health, or simply not have sex at all for years, possibly their whole life? I've taken tretinoin for severe acne before as a young adult woman, and as per standard procedure the clinic made me sign an agreement to absolutely not get pregnant in the duration of the treatment and six months after, because they won't be held accountable for any complications. It didn't matter to me because I was unmarried and had no plans of being sexually active any time soon, but it might be a dilemma for other married couples who are open to children.

[@TheologyoftheBodyInstitute]

Hello @smallparticlelinda and thank you for your question! Maybe a video from this playlist will help with your question: kzbin.info/aero/PLAbqXQaOvkM7_SbeCtscEXExc6_qCemGW&si=so6c7lWDddPZFom4

[@Naomi-bw5qs]

What if you want to be married but don’t want kids. Should we just pray for sterility?

[@annakareninacamara6580]

According to the Catechism you should not get married. In the altar the vows include welcoming any children that may come, so you should marry mentally prepared to be having a baby any time soon, otherwise the vows are invalid and you have a matrimonial nulity. Buut it made me think of a hypotethical situation: if you would marry to someone who you know is sterile. Assuming you marry not mainly because of this, but because you truly want to give yourself fully to the other, and genuily promise to love honor and respect (and all the etcs included in the vows), I guess it's ok.

[@Naomi-bw5qs]

@@annakareninacamara6580 that’s crazy. Okay so someone is ready to marry when they’re ready to have a baby. That’s a VERY different view of marriage than I had as a Protestant in my first marriage. Having kids ruined my first marriage because neither one of us wanted kids. Now as a Catholic I can see that I was never in a marriage to begin with it was like we were dating. Also if I knew we would have to have kids I would have chosen a different man. I would have chosen someone who I wanted to be the father of my children. The Catholic view is so different. Interesting.

[@annakareninacamara6580]

​@@Naomi-bw5qs I'm sorry to hear that, and welcome home! You nailed it, the idea is to find a suitable companion for your entire life and also (andequally important) "father of your children". Maybe I didn't choose my words properly (non-native here). I'm not sure ready is the best term (like, I don't think anyone is ever ready lol). But you have to consider seriously the possibility and face the odds. There are lot of stories of the opposite scenario of yours, couples who marry longing for a child and later find out fertility issues, so we advise to put lots of thoughts and talk to each other about these possibilities before hand. According to the Catholic view, the marriage is the beginning of a new family, and we trust in God the if, when and how many babies will come. We place such things under God's Divine Providence. If you want to read more about the general Doctrine of the Faith, I highly recommend the Cathechism of Saint Pius XI. Though any official Cathechism is always good, the way this one is structured (in questions and answers) makes it an easy to digest and really enlightening reading. It goes through the Sacraments (and lots of other things), and covers issues that are similar to your question :)

[@annakareninacamara6580]

​@@Naomi-bw5qs I'm sorry to hear that, and welcome home! You nailed it, you marry the one you trust to be your companion for life and father/mother of your children. If you want more insights on the Cathechism, I recommend the one from Pope Saint Pius X, its form of questions/answers is really easy to follow but gives real depth in the Doctrine :)

[@dompernickel]

Brilliant!

[@xiaohanjiang4960]

China has 3 child policy and what do you do

[@xiaohanjiang4960]

God please stop this inhumane policy.

[@veronicabiselli857]

Christopher just married at 21 with a non catholic. We are still not financially ready and definitely still adapting to marriage, a kid coming now definitely wouldn’t have the best life. We are so young and honestly I don’t think we are ready for kids, should we use condoms ?

[@vaderkurt7848]

No using contraception is a sin.

[@amask99]

No, artificial contraception is a mortal sin

[@louis-vd3ur]

Matrimony means becoming a mother. One cannot reasonably marry and not be "ready" for children. It is literally what you signed up for.

[@dianneraimondi8382]

No! Its immoral! Talk to a priest and see if you can use NFP until you are in a better situation.

[@pelayocampeador3896]

The word "planning" has already a contraceptive connotation. There are a few days in the month when the woman looks better, the skin is smoother, the belly is flatter and she sees her husband more attractive than the rest of the days, it seems that everything has inteligentelly designed for them to join in an act of love, why should I say no? And instead have sex when we both don't have that craving or desire?

[@pelayocampeador3896]

@PF King They would have sex just for pleasure, without being 100% open to life. And I insist, when woman's desire is higher and when her body is more prepared for sex is actually when she is more "fertile", that looks that God knew what He was doing and sending us a message, but still some avoid having sex these days and forcing themselves to have then when they don't actually want that much. NF PLANNING is better than artificial contraceptive, but still implies having a contraceptive mentality.

[@pelayocampeador3896]

@PF King aren't you rashly judging and trying to educate me too? People are abusing the NFP and THEY DECIDE how many children they want to have. Is that open to life? Periodic abstinence, ok. But when? When woman has more desire, looks better and her body is more prepared to have sex? Why would God expect the couple not to have sex when everything is on point to have sex? Whatever you say, try to sell it as a moral method, but you know that using NFP you are not open to children as we should be. It is only OK, when you have serious reason for not having more kids, but having less money to go on vacation is not a serious reason. And normally that is the reason for people to stop having children: money.

[@sitka49]

Or more sexually interested / responsive and the sex seemed better - my wife had a lower libido, unless she was ovulating ,and at times cared less for sex when not.

[@sitka49]

@@pelayocampeador3896 And I wanted to be able to retire someday ( I had a job- road construction - that was something I /and most couldn't do up until you where 85 years old ) and also having the money to do the somethings with the kids family I already had. That's why !

[@dianneraimondi8382]

@@pelayocampeador3896 Wrong!!!!!!People need to be psychologically in tuned to amt of children, the church approves of many situations to wait or not have more. Age is a big factor. Money is also a big factor.Food is enormously expensive now. People spent thousands on food monthly . Housesare not equip for even 5 children. You're not logical because you ignore important circumstances.

[@leekshikapinnamneni4835]

This Hass to be spread far and wide.

[@sitka49]

when is the best time to avoid pregnancy ? The short answer most your marriage . lets face it the reality is that's what you will be doing most of your marriage, avoiding pregnancy. you'll have 3 - 4 kids in your 20's early 30's and the rest of your marriage will be avoiding pregnancy's Then in your later years of your marriage when you don't have the fear of getting pregnant - you/wife goes through menopause ( loss of all libido ) or the husband develops E.D , and the sex ends also and just isn't worth the effort anymore .

[@veddermn8]

It's a personal choice, not a moral one. And NFP and abstinence both are forms of contraception. Both utilize scientific interventions, and neither are "open to life" in any way that is greater than "artificial" contraception.

[@dianneraimondi8382]

NFP is not contraception. It is open to life.

[@veddermn8]

@@dianneraimondi8382 "open" by actively trying to avoid it? lol

[@dianneraimondi8382]

@@veddermn8 lol!!!NFP is open to like and in. the natural orders says the church thru the ordinary magisterium yrs. You have no authority.

[@veddermn8]

@@dianneraimondi8382 Its purpose is to prevent life. Your logic means that birth control is also open to life as none really is 100% lol.

[@veddermn8]

@@dianneraimondi8382 my authority is basic logic and biology

[@melissac8232]

Any intention to avoid pregnancy is having a contraceptive mindset. If God does not will for you to have a child at this time, then you won't. God's will before ours. His will is perfect. My grandmother grew up as one of 17. They did not have much. Anyone right now would say "no we don't have enough money" "I need a break". Maybe it's not about what we want. God provides, you have to trust Him.

[@accidentalbreakfast1605]

Don't separate faith from reason, nor reason from faith.

[@andelaroztocilova8367]

Yeah and what about the health of the woman? When your grandma was a kid, women like me were dead after their first birth. I am not and I have to be careful.

[@AandM8]

God does not want women to risk their lives and the well being of their children. God is not anti-woman like that. Women need at least a year to heal from childbirth and that’s just internal healing. It takes several years to heal mentally and to adjust. I’m one of 11 kids. I now have a 1 year old and not having more kids right now is not a want. It’s a need. I’d love more kids. Just not right now. God takes our desires AND our needs into consideration and would never force a pregnancy without consent.

[@juanis8219]

God does not will any of us to sin, that doesn’t mean that every time someone is about to commit a sin he stops them. He could, but he doesn’t. Our actions have natural consequences and unless he chooses to intervene those consequences will happen.

[@dianneraimondi8382]

No! there are serious reasons.Age, Financial! You're not reasonable. The church is!!

[@branislavjeriga6762]

It is not only "just reasons"... It has to be serious, grave... Most of the people do not satisfy this condition. Ising language of just reasons is not understandable to many people... Bringing children is primary purpose of marriage. "Especially in the modern world".... This is so relativistic... You should go and change the world not appropriate your actions... Vatican II must be understood with tradition. Some of reasons tou mention are whacky... Sorry but I disagree. This is creeping progresivism. I am sorry for strong language, but it is just to close to heart. Unwanted pregnancy is already something wrong...

[@McRingil]

Is it wrong for married people to avoid pregnancy anytime?

[@dianneraimondi8382]

Your wrong! The church is reasonable! Your not!!! This day and age FinacialAlso psycholigicall is a serious reason.

[@branislavjeriga6762]

@@dianneraimondi8382 I just think unwanted pregnancy is already a sign contraceptive mentality which is not Catholic. other things follow.

[@dianneraimondi8382]

How do you know the circumstances of all people?

[@branislavjeriga6762]

@@dianneraimondi8382 because catholic mentality id to want children even if one has so serious reasons to do NFP to avoid pregnancy, I believe it must be dreadful, because you want the kids, but for the serious reason you know you are not having them now. although I think you are ready to be married when you are ready to have kids (in that regard). not that you are saying yes to the question about the kids in the wedding but you are thinking, but not right now. I believe that is wrong. As a general non very serious(even extreme) reasons/situation I would think NFP is unusable from moral standpoint.

[@blaineunderwood4390]

Wanting a break is not a legitimate reason, it is motivated by selfishness.

[@nitamunevar9863]

i’d argue otherwise. in some cases a couple may be too overwhelmed in work and raising a lot of other kids. They may feel having another at such a time would be detrimental to their ability to properly handle everything they have on their plate. even just emotional exhaustion can lead one to make more poor decisions in parenting. they may need a break to reorganize their lives to make sure they have enough time, energy, money, space, and resources to then be able to have another, particularly for the well being of their existing children, and well being of those to come.

[@andelaroztocilova8367]

How many kids do you have? Are you their full-time caregiver? There is nothing selfish in decision to be more relaxed parent...

[@simonafristykova4135]

​​​​@@nitamunevar9863 absolutely agree with you, it's something me and my husband are dealing with right now...emotional and physical exhaustion, we even lost interest in sex, sadly...having another child right now would be a bad idea...more than we could bear right now, but everybody's different. having a big family is beautiful and i really admire people who have many children, but it's not for us. and speaking about women's health, as a health care pro i can tell you it's not good for a woman's body to get pregnant sooner than 2 years after previous birth. it's something science knows now...every woman who loves and respects her own body should consider this fact. we have to use our brain, that's why God gave it to us and have to be responsible

[@dianneraimondi8382]

No. ! Just like a man. Pregnancy is rough on woman. It s up tom them not you!!

[@dianneraimondi8382]

@@simonafristykova4135 Your are right. Many Rigid people with no discerning intellect here!