I agree with him on the pain and suffering, but I love and support your organization 150% and I know that you are not spreading lies about NFP. NFP has given us innumerable spiritual benefits and much of what this man is describing is the pain of the cross living in a world that is steeped in lies and perversion of the sexual act.

I must admit however, that while I look forward to reading your magazine each month, many of your contributors either don't suffer from the abstinence, or have different relationships with their spouses than my wife and I have. Please don't deny the difficulty of NFP. Many times I read your magazine and feel that I am the only one who is having a hard time with NFP.

My wife and I feel that our plates are full and can't handle any more children physically or emotionally at this time. Going back to my analysis of the cross, if we were to have another child now, it would involved a great deal of pain and suffering, and if we abstain from relations when we want, it also involves pain and suffering. My wife and I both want and need to share more intimate time together, but have been reduced to about once a month, which puts additional pressure on because of the infrequency of it.

I once heard a great priest say that regarding spiritual matters, it is similar to an electrical outlet. If we only hear, or have the positive charge, there is no power. If we only hear, or have the negative charge, there is no power. BUT, when we have a combination of both the positive and negative, that's when we have power!

Thank you for publishing his letter, it was a relief to hear of another who doesn't find a rosy path.

Having said all of this, my wife and I, like Jesus Himself, will continue to carry our cross, and persevere in NFP, and suffer the pain of the cross. We both know full well, that as Scripture says, "Your cross will turn to joy," John 16: 20.

Also, as Padre Pio said, if we knew the value of our suffering, we would want to suffer ten times more than what we have ...