# Mormon and Catholic doctrines on sexuality pretty much the same? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710 "2006-01-06T05:47:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/41 "2006-01-07T23:21:39Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > Point of clarification: IANAC, but it’s my understanding (and [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_family_planning) seems to back it up) that Catholicism prohibits “artificial” contraception but allows “Natural Family Planning.” Yes, that’s correct. Methods of birth regulation based on self-observation of a woman’s fertile and infertile periods are perfectly OK. The main thing is that when a sexual act does occur, it \*\*must \*\* be open to the chance of procreation. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/42 "2006-01-08T03:19:52Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Yes, that’s correct. Methods of birth regulation based on self-observation of a woman’s fertile and infertile periods are perfectly OK. The main thing is that when a sexual act does occur, it \*\*must \*\* be open to the chance of procreation. That’s perfectly awful. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/43 "2006-01-08T04:59:01Z")
Depends on one’s pont of view. IIUC, the Catholic position is that the purpose of the sex act is procreation. Using the rhythm method may minimize (or not) the chances of successful insemination; however, it does not negate the purpose of the act. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/44 "2006-01-08T12:44:07Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Depends on one’s pont of view. IIUC, the Catholic position is that the purpose of the sex act is procreation. Using the rhythm method may minimize (or not) the chances of successful insemination; however, it does not negate the purpose of the act. It absolutely negates the purpose of the act. If you’re yusing the rhythm method, you’re having sex for personal enjoyment, but don’t \*want \* to make a baby. You’re willfully avoiding procreation. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/45 "2006-01-08T13:23:27Z")
So long as there’s a chance of procreation, then the couple’s not wilfully avoiding it. They’re merely hoping that it won’t happen but are (supposedly) willing to accept the conception if it occurs. This is assuming, of course, that it’s not a good thing to pray for the conception not to occur. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/46 "2006-01-08T13:40:07Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > So long as there’s a chance of procreation, then the couple’s not wilfully avoiding it. They’re merely hoping that it won’t happen but are (supposedly) willing to accept the conception if it occurs. This is assuming, of course, that it’s not a good thing to pray for the conception not to occur. Timing sex to avoid contraception is _willfully_ avoiding. How could it NOT be? Many people successfully avoid conception for YEARS using this method. If they weren’t willfully trying to avoid conception, they wouldn’t bother with using the rhythm method, now would they. They’d just have sex whenever they felt like it. The odds of it working have nothing to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/47 "2006-01-08T19:14:02Z")
Actually, the odds have everything to do with it as that method really isn’t widely known for its efficacy. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/48 "2006-01-08T19:20:47Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Actually, the odds have everything to do with it as that method really isn’t widely known for its efficacy. As I said, it’s worked for millions of people for years. Show me how trying not to get pregnant isn’t willful. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/49 "2006-01-09T01:26:59Z")
I think there’s a difference in perception here: (1) I think that the couple is hoping not to get pregnant and are thus using a method that’s not widely known for working, and (2) you think the couple’s willfully avoiding pregnancy and are using a method that you think works very well. My perception is that the so-called natural method doesn’t work all that well. Your’s, apparently, is that it does. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/50 "2006-01-09T02:19:54Z")
Whether it works well or not, it IS allowed by the church, **Kalhoun**. Also, I THINK NPC and the rythem method are two different things. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/51 "2006-01-09T12:07:01Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I think there’s a difference in perception here: (1) I think that the couple is hoping not to get pregnant and are thus using a method that’s not widely known for working, and (2) you think the couple’s willfully avoiding pregnancy and are using a method that you think works very well. > > My perception is that the so-called natural method doesn’t work all that well. Your’s, apparently, is that it does. Worked for me for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/52 "2006-01-09T12:09:30Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Whether it works well or not, it IS allowed by the church, **Kalhoun**. > > Also, I THINK NPC and the rythem method are two different things. NPC? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710/53 "2006-01-09T15:33:49Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Depends on one’s pont of view. IIUC, the Catholic position is that the purpose of the sex act is procreation. Using the rhythm method may minimize (or not) the chances of successful insemination; however, it does not negate the purpose of the act. In the Catholic Church, the purposes of the sex act are twofold: procreation, and the bonding of the partners in love and unity, aka, fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-and-catholic-doctrines-on-sexuality-pretty-much-the-same/338710.md?page=2)