Jun 29, 2026 · 56 min · 11 segments
Questions answered this episode: 1. Suppose a couple marries in the Catholic Church but mutually agrees to **use contraception initially**, intending to have children later. On their wedding night…
Christopher WestHost
Wendy WestHost
"First of all, I would like to say how much your podcast has been helping me grow and deepen my understanding of the Catholic faith.
I'm truly grateful for your work and the way you present the beauty of the theology of the body.
"I have a question and would like to understand the answer in light of Catholic doctrine.
Suppose a couple receives the ca- the sacrament of matrimony in the Catholic Church, but by mutual agreement, they're using contraceptive methods such as an IUD or hormonal implant.
They've always intended to have children someday, but they deliberately chose to post- postpone conception during the first years of their marriage.
After about seven years, they stop using contraception and, and eventually have two children.
In this situation, would their marriage be considered consummated from the wedding night, even though they were not open to life at that time? Or would consummation only occur later when they first become open to having children? Additionally, if after having their second child, they decide to use contraception again and close themselves to life, how would this affect the understanding of their marriage in terms of consummation and its integrity?"
Could you reread the sentence where she says engage-- It was the, "On the wedding night, they're contracepting, but they engaged." How does she say it? Something about marital relations.
"First of all, I would like to say how much your podcast has been helping me grow and deepen my understanding of the Catholic faith.
I'm truly grateful for your work and the way you present the beauty of the theology of the body.
"I have a question and would like to understand the answer in light of Catholic doctrine.
Suppose a couple receives the ca- the sacrament of matrimony in the Catholic Church, but by mutual agreement, they're using contraceptive methods such as an IUD or hormonal implant.
They've always intended to have children someday, but they deliberately chose to post- postpone conception during the first years of their marriage.
After about seven years, they stop using contraception and, and eventually have two children.
In this situation, would their marriage be considered consummated from the wedding night, even though they were not open to life at that time? Or would consummation only occur later when they first become open to having children? Additionally, if after having their second child, they decide to use contraception again and close themselves to life, how would this affect the understanding of their marriage in terms of consummation and its integrity?"
Could you reread the sentence where she says engage-- It was the, "On the wedding night, they're contracepting, but they engaged." How does she say it? Something about marital relations.
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