God's command to mankind was to be fruitful and multiply, the one command that mankind has generally not disobeyed.
Now tell me, if this is God's will for us, then why does the Roman Catholic Church demand celibacy from its priests and nuns?
How can it hypocritically condemn mechanical contraception and not Natural Family Planning, which is simply a different way of preventing conception?
And what about celibacy for priests? Is that not preventing conception by the more extreme measure of denying them sex by demanding a vow of celibacy?
“God’s command to mankind was to be fruitful and multiply”
Which is why the Church is the only one who stands up for this teaching in that they reject contraception.
“the one command that mankind has generally not disobeyed.”
Nonsense. It’s probably the least obeyed commandment in western society.
“Now tell me, if this is God’s will for us, then why does the Roman Catholic Church demand celibacy from its priests and nuns?”
As Paul says, “the one who can accept it should accept it”. Each man has his own gifts.
“How can it hypocritically condemn mechanical contraception and not Natural Family Planning”
Have you tried natural family planning?
Natural family planning is very different from contraception, it can be used to increase fertility and help conceive.
All natural family planning provides is information, as to whether your wife is or is not fertile. How you chose to act on that information is up to you.
Two, it does nothing to impair the union between husband and wife. There’s no latex between you. The union is not impaired.
Three, it requires self-discipline, because you have to refrain from sex on fertile periods. You can’t just put on a condom and problem solved.
“which is simply a different way of preventing conception?”
It comes back to the union of husband and wife. Barrier methods of contraception are just that, a barrier between husband and wife.
“And what about celibacy for priests?”
What about it? Not everyone is called to get married and have a family.
“Is that not preventing conception by the more extreme measure of denying them sex by demanding a vow of celibacy?”
At the very least it’s honest. The priests are saying that their calling is not to get married and have children. Rather then lie to themselves and deny their calling, they have embraced it.
What are we to say of couples that insist that they are called to be married, and yet do not want to give up contraception? Are they being true their calling? It’s like Jonah. Jonah fled from his calling, and bore the consequences.
Anyone not familiar with and trained in all the aspects of Natural Family Planning and, as well, with the process and effect of “mechanical” contraception, cannot make a valid assumption about “hypocrisy” in promoting NFP.
There is nothing “hypocritical” about it. It’s quite straightforward.
Also, when a Catholic priest chooses to be ordained, he chooses celibacy. He knows what he is choosing. It is not forced on him. He has choice. This has been hashed and re-hashed so often on this forum that I have to wonder why it’s always being brought up as something “new” to say.