Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an effective, proven method of family planning and is the only one approved for couples to plan their families within the teachings of the Catholic Church. Couples trained in NFP teach a holistic approach to family planning, which encourages an awareness of sexuality, marital love, and family.

Sessions are scheduled throughout the year. A couple who uses NFP understands the biology and theology of the body and can promote or postpone pregnancy. While all children are a gift from God, NFP permits a couple to responsibly limit family size, or postpone pregnancy, while fulfilling a couple’s duties to God, each other, their family, and society. NFP is NOT the rhythm method.

In the Diocese of Lake Charles, the Couple to Couple League (www.ccli.org) classes are taught by professionally trained volunteers who are committed to the principles of the League and who have witnessed the benefits of NFP in their own lives. Each full course consists of three sessions spaced one month apart. The registration fee is $135. The fee covers all the materials you need and membership in the Couple to Couple League.

It also includes continuing support and education through CCL’s newsletter, Family Foundations and any CCL member can retake all or part of a course without additional cost. There is also a “home study course” as an option for learning the method: http://ccli.org/learn/homestudy.php.

There is also an on-line option for learning the method. Go to: http://www.nwfs.org/couples.htm and click on Natural Family Planning.