Vocations, Unit 4

Describe what you see in this image.

What are the dual purposes of Marriage?
“[Marriage] aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul; it demands indissolubility and faithfulness in definitive mutual self-giving; and it is open to fertility ”
( CCC , 1643). These dual purposes are called
“unitive” and “procreative” ends of Marriage.

What is natural family planning?
Natural family planning (NFP) recognizes a married couple’s right to regulate the number and spacing of children, and allows them to do so without relying on artificial means. NFP relies on the woman’s body temperature and timing of her reproductive cycle to regulate the conception of children without artificially limiting the procreative purpose of marriage.
By using natural family planning, couples remain open to life, or conception.

Is a Catholic married couple allowed to use in vitro fertilization?
© Shutterstock/ YanLev

Why does the Church prohibit artificial contraception?
Contraception refers to all methods used to artificially prevent conception other than abstinence and the use of natural family planning.
The Church considers all forms of artificial contraception to be gravely wrong because they separate the unitive and procreative purposes of
Marriage. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
• chemicals (“the pill”)
• condoms and diaphragms
• surgical sterilization

Why is abortion always considered to be a grave moral evil?
Abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy by killing the unborn child. Because human life begins at the moment of conception, abortion should never be used as a method of contraception.

Does the Church care about women who have chosen abortion and are profoundly sorry afterward?

Does the father of an unborn child have any responsibility toward that child? What if the father of the child encouraged an abortion?

How has this discussion of natural family planning, conception, artificial means of contraception, and abortion helped you to understand the vocation of marriage?