The Roman Catholic Church has always been opposed to the use of artificial methods of contraception. Only the so called Natural Methods of Family Planning (also called the Fertility Awareness Methods) are allowed. The author argues that these natural methods are satisfying and effective under ideal circumstances and when practiced by educated and dedicated couples. However under less than ideal circumstances, especially in developing countries and for those people living under dismal and dangerous conditions, the natural methods have a high and unacceptable failure rate. There are many effective methods of contraception available but they are banned by the Catholic Church. The author is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist with broad cross cultural experience. He argues not from a theological perspective but from his practical viewpoint and experience that the time is overdue for the Catholic Church to change its teaching and allow the use of artifice methods family planning.