Many of the Protestant churches changed around the time of the feminist movement, I believe. I think there is a connection to that.
Before that there was but one Protestant church that jumped on the contraception wagon and that was around 1910-1920, if I recall correctly.
The RCC is still teaching the same that the ECFs taught (as we saw with my quotes and links and which others provided sources for throughout this thread) and what the Apostles gave them and which they received from Jesus. This tells me that many Christians have become victims to this new man made tradition and adopted the contraceptive mentality.
yes I think there is a "victim" element to this, since contraception is so taken for granted now even among most non-Catholic Christians and many Catholics. (so it seems to me. correct me if I'm wrong)
so many are led into this sin without full knowledge--perhaps nothing close to fully knowledge-- in my opinion
but ultimately I am responsible for discerning whether the Reformation and the early Church were right to so strongly condemn contraception or whether there is nothing wrong with it.
one of the things that comes to mind is how great a gift maritual sexuality is. it seems like one should totally give ones natural gift of sexuality to God and the spouse if they are going to have sex at all
perhaps the 1% divorce rate of NFP users is related to more of a sense of living out God's love by a full gift of self in purity.
Paul says that "impurity" is a sin
I can see how NFP could be abused. But I think it tends to discourage abuse and to encourage better communication, Christian romance, and openness to having children. (see e.g. the Lerner scientific survey)
I"m also concerned about what other deviations contraception might lead to, since the idea becomes one of simply experiencing sexual pleasure with one's spouse, rather than sexuality itself: i.e. fundamental openness to procreation
Paul said to keep the marriage bed undefiled. In my judgment, contraception defiles the marriage bed. although, again, I realize that many may due this in at least relative innocence