So a RCC married couple could live their entire married lives using the natural method of birth control with great success and NEVER have a child. This would be completely within the teaching of the catechism and yet defy the very spirit of the law (IMHO). The couple would be continuing to have sex within the confines of marriage while avoiding the God-decreed command to be fruitful and multiply.
I don’t see any Biblical support for this RCC teaching. Where in the Bible has this been practiced by God’s people and encouraged by God?
Granted, there are cases where christian women can have their “wombs closed by God” but infertility is quite a different thing from purposefully avoiding children in marriage through natural means (or any means). When the church condones this behavior, and even encourages such, I must question their theological acuity.
In a word, No. See CCC 1652. The husband and wife are called to be fruitful and multiply. One of the intrinsic and irremovable purposes of marriage is the "procreation and education of offspring" (CCC 1601). Those who seek to enter into a sexual relationship with no intention of having children are not entering into marriage. NFP is for regulation of childbirth, not for avoiding procreation altogether.
-A8
No.
Couples who are capable of having children have a moral obligation to have children.
NFP is intended to provide a respite if necessary in a larger context of having children.
For example, my friend who was advised by her doctor after a couple of miscarriages to take an 18-24 month break between pregnancies in order to reduce the chance of further miscarriages.
That is an appropriate context.