| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFP vs. FAM | Jonathan | Saturday, January 26, 2008 | ||
Question: Hi Bro - I wanted to bring the FAM (fertility awareness method) method to your attention. I know NFP (natural family planning) is touted as the "Catholic" method of fertility awareness - both in cases of avoiding pregnancy and trying to get pregnant - but I wondered why FAM isn't the more often used method? I've heard it said that FAM promotes birth control during the ovulation cycle, but from what I've read this is untrue. FAM doesn't promote any birth control at all, rather it's just a method to determine a woman's cycles. Also, FAM is a more complex model of NFP. NFP relies on the rhythm method, while FAM focuses on three different signs taken in combination. When attempting to get pregnant, FAM is a superior method because it lets you know the best times to try. My wife and I have used FAM for the last 2 years of our marriage, and with discipline it works 100%. I haven't heard the same for NFP. Curious why the Catholic Church doesn't support FAM? |
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| Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM
Dear Jonathan: Fertility Awareness Method and Natural Family Planning have some similarities. They both seek to discover when the woman ovulates. That is where the similarities ends. One reason that NFP is more popular is that it was developed first. FAM is an off-shoot of NFP. The research has all been done on NFP. FAM has little research to back it up. But, the real reason that FAM cannot be the method of choice for Catholics is that FAM supports the possibility of using artificial birth control during the fertile periods. NFP supports abstinence only with no possibility of artificial birth control. You may want to read the website, Natural Family Planning Works, for a full analysis of the differences between NFP and FAM. The following statement from the Birth Control Comparison website illustrates FAM philosophy:
At the bottom of the page on this site they list resources for woman on the alternatives they can use to avoid pregnancy during their fertile periods. That list include every morally evil method of birth control available. FAM seeks to discover fertile periods so that a woman may make a decision on whether or not to get pregnant. If she does not want to get pregnant then FAM lets her know when she needs to use artificial birth control or to abstain. FAM is also promoted for single women, not just married women. NFP promote morally responsible sexuality that can only be within marriage. Concerning effectiveness of these methods, since FAM promotes artificial birth control its effectiveness is no greater than the birth control method used. Condoms, for example, have around an 86% effectiveness rating. NFP is 99% effective. NFP promotes abstinence only as that is the only morally permissible way to approach this. NFP understands the theology of marriage, the true purpose of sex, and the effects of sexuality upon the soul and spirit. FAM only understands biology and does not care about the soul or moral issues. There is NO way FAM can be recommended and no reason to recommend it anyway when NFP is available and promotes moral responsibility. God Bless, Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum
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