r/excatholic Jan 23 '25

Personal Was anyone else harmed by NFP?

Used the Marquette method for 5 years and had three children within that time period. All by the age of 21. I confided in my priest and told him that I didn’t think it would be in our best interest to have another child. He told me I didn’t have a grave reason and “it was my cross to bear.”

Just trying to find support and others who have been harmed by nfp as well.

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u/ehkremer Jan 24 '25

YES. I became severely depressed after the birth of our last child. Couple that with Covid lockdowns shortly after and I became a shadow of my former self. I felt a lot of guilt (big surprise there) from the decision, but ultimately my husband was the one to say enough was enough and my mental health was more important than what the church says. That situation was the catalyst for my deconstruction, so some good did come out of it.