I just wanted to suggest that the best way to go about helping this man is not just to point to the issue of being selfless and disciplined during their abstinence periods. Gregory Popcak's article was great, but I think it will only anger that man and make it seem like we are calling him selfish. I think the issue with him and his wife is that they are trying to use NFP like birth control. It should be pointed out to him that NFP is only to used in grave circumstances to prevent children, and that marriage is intended to be fruitful. The fact that they have used it for 18 years says they are probably abusing it. NFP can be difficult and is meant to make a couple prayfully consider if the reasons they are using it are

serious enough. It is not natural for somebody to feel like they must take their waking temperature and check internal and external mucus signs every single day their entire marriage, just like it is not normal for somebody who is perfectly healthy to keep track of every gram of sugar or fat they eat. Somebody who has diabetes, on the other hand, has a serious reason to count calories. I'm just wondering if this man and his wife have had a sufficiently serious reason to prevent children for 18 years. Perhaps they have, in which case we must point him to a crucifix to see that love is not easy.