NFP

[AlNg]

Did the Catholic Church always allow NFP? For example, I read that according to the  Council of Trent:
"If any one saith that the Church errs in that she declares that, for many causes, a separation may take place between husband and wife, in regard of bed, or in regard of cohabitation, for a determinate or for an indeterminate period; let him be anathema."
history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct24.html
Would this be a condemnation of spacing births by separating husband and wife in regard of bed?

[Greg]

NFP is timing sexual activity to lower the chance of conception.

Abstinence is not having sex with your spouse.  I am pretty sure that mutually agreed upon abstinence was always permitted.

Once a hard working farmer had 8 children and his 2nd wife was looking after them, (his first had died of TB), then I would expect that they would stop sleeping in the same beds.  I would think a hard day of farming and a hard day of washing clothes by hand would make sleep more attractive than sex.

[Josephine87]

Did the Catholic Church always allow NFP? For example, I read that according to the  Council of Trent:
"If any one saith that the Church errs in that she declares that, for many causes, a separation may take place between husband and wife, in regard of bed, or in regard of cohabitation, for a determinate or for an indeterminate period; let him be anathema."
history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct24.html
Would this be a condemnation of spacing births by separating husband and wife in regard of bed?

It says the opposite. "If anyone says the church is wrong for allowing husband and wife to practice abstinence for any length of time, let him be anathema." I wouldn't say it's about NFP. The first time that was mentioned was in the 1850s, long after Trent.

It does make me curious who the Council Fathers were addressing. There must have been some Protestant heretics going around saying that husband and wife were not allowed to practice abstinence (precursors to our "quiverful" types?). For some reason they say Catholics don't read the Bible yet they would be ignoring St. Paul who specifically said husband and wife could indeed practice abstinence.

[james03]

I don't know, but the word "separation", which is used even today stands out.

Seems like an anathema against those who criticize the Church for using separation during marital difficulties.

So a wife is causing big problems in a marriage (perhaps she is constantly texting and refusing to stop).  The priest can allow the husband not to give her sex until she shapes up.  In really bad cases (maybe she's always taking selfies and even owns a selfie stick) he can allow a temporary physical separation.  However the couple has to continue to work on reconciliation with the involvement of the priest.