NFP Awareness Week Should Have a Different Tone

I'm posting this week because I'm annoyed.

Every year, the USCCB-promoted “NFP Awareness Week” sneaks up on me, and it always annoys me. When will they sponsor a week that promotes large families?

It wouldn’t annoy me if the “awareness” involved teaching couples that they don’t need to use NFP at all; that it is only permitted when the couple has a “grave reason” for doing so; and that if the reason is really serious, maybe complete abstinence for a while is the safer route.

That is not the picture painted by the USCCB and most NFP-promoters, however.

This year, the USCCB’s theme for the week is summed up in this banner and poster from their website:

National NFP Awareness Week - JULY 19 - JULY 25, 2015

2015 theme:
All Natural!
Natural Family Planning
Good for the body. Great for the soul!

"Celebrate and reverence God's vision of human sexuality."
Discover Natural Family Planning

 

I object! What's natural about abstaining from the conjugal act precisely at the time of the woman's cycle when she is most open to that act, and when she is most attractive to her husband?! What's natural is to engage in the conjugal embrace at those times; and doing so results in...babies! THAT is God's plan!

The USCCB promotion makes NFP sound like God’s gift to couples! And that is absolutely NOT what it is. NFP is primarily a concession to our concupiscence. NFP is permitted because couples are not always able to practice abstinence for a long period of time - even if serious reasons make it necessary - because of the weakness we suffer in the face of our passions. “Periodic continence” is permitted so that couples won’t resort to artificial contraception.

But NFP is not a virtue, and it is not a gift. It is not “great for the soul”, and it is not a part of “God’s vision of human sexuality.”

For an explanation of my stance on this issue, feel free to read any of the articles listed under the “NFP” tab at the top of this page.

For a more complete and integrated version of my view of the problem of NFP, consider reading my book, Natural Family Planning: Trojan Horse in the Catholic Bedroom?

Here’s an excerpt from the book; this is additional material to that which is available on this blog. This is my introduction to the chapter (and blog post) called “NFP is Not Required”:

It seems to be generally presumed that NFP is used by only 2-3% of Catholic couples. I’m not sure where this figure comes from, but even the NFP promoters don’t quibble about it too much; I’ve seen some suggest that the figure is too low, but they don’t propose that it’s any higher than 5%.

For some time, there has been a movement afoot in the US to increase the use of NFP among married Catholic couples. The Couple-to-Couple League has promoted it for decades, and there are blogs and networks and various and sundry groups seeking to popularize NFP. Currently, the USCCB’s website sports a whole section on NFP that paints it in glowing terms, and doesn’t give more than lip service (if that) to the notion of “serious reasons”. The USCCB has suggested that every diocese should have an NFP office, and that NFP classes should be required for couples who want to get married in the Church. Many dioceses and parishes currently do so. 

Why is this? There is no Church doctrine or teaching to support the idea that every couple should be schooled in the intricacies of NFP! There is no Church teaching that requires the faithful to limit their family size! In fact, the only time such an idea has been even hinted at has been in the last 50 years – ever since Vatican II and Gaudium et Spes¸ with its notion of “responsible parenthood” and the idea that times have changed, and the Church has to change with them. Prior to that, we were more likely to see generous parenthood praised: large families were seen as a blessing, and as the source of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

But currently, it’s easy to find voices that are clamoring for NFP to be required, and it seems to be the idea of “responsible” parenthood that lies beneath this requirement. Couples are encouraged to consider whether they can “afford” another child, whether their financial, emotional, and psychological resources will bear up under the strain of more children.

But the fact remains: the Church does not require the use of NFP in marriage, and in fact asks that such use be limited. NFP should be used only for “serious” reasons. It’s not required.

Special Announcement: "Preferential Option for the Family" Booklet

Special Announcement!

Recently, three prelates authored a 60-page booklet entitled Preferential Option for the Family, designed to catechize the faithful regarding Church teaching on marriage and the family. Archbishop Aldo de Cillo Pagotto of Paraíba, Brazil, Bishop Robert Vasa of Santa Rosa, CA, and Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary of Astana, Kazakhstan, present 100 questions and answers about the Synod on the Family, providing a welcome defense of Church teaching on marriage and family. 

[The above is the first paragraph of my article at Church Militant; read the rest here. Also, I am writing semi-regularly for CM, and you can see a list of my previous articles here.]

This little booklet is well worth reading. It probably won’t please those who harbor a desire for a change in Church teaching regarding the reception of Holy Communion by the divorced-and-remarried, but it provides a wonderful resource for the defense of the doctrine by faithful Catholics. It also gives some insights into and evaluations of the processes involved in the staging of the Synod on the Family.

These prelates pull no punches! They will prepare you for any “surprises” that might erupt in the Synod this fall, so that you may respond knowledgeably and confidently to any threats to Church doctrine.

Today (Monday, July 13, 2015), Church Militant has aired a Vortex touting this book. Here it is! Go to the Church Militant website to see the transcript.

Church Militant has probably already run out of the copies they are handing out for free, but complimentary copies of the booklet can be obtained by emailing supplicafiliale@gmail.com

A New Children's Book from Russ Voris

Here's another special announcement:


Michael Voris's father, Russ Voris, has written a very sweet children's book! It's illustrated by a young teenager. This episode of the Vortex gives the background and info on ordering. 

I'm very emotionally invested in this little book, as I helped with the editing and formatting and getting it all set up on CreateSpace for sale.

Please click on the link and watch the video! And if you have young children in your life, order them a copy!

The Vortex—Rainbow Fairies


Here are two photos of the interior:

:

New Church Militant Website!

Another random update...

Have you seen the new Church Militant website? It's no longer ChurchMilitant.TV, but ChurchMilitant.com! It's really a class act, and packed with news and information. Don't forget to sign up for a premium account ($10 per month).

Go now! Check it out: ChurchMilitant.com.  You'll find the Vortex, of course, as well as news headlines, and lots more. When you view the Vortex, you now see the script printed out right below the video, so you can read along, or read alone if you prefer.

On the latest "Mic'd Up", Voris and crew gave an overview of the website - you can watch it here. 

And...I am pleased to announce that I am listed as one of the "Contributing Writers"! I consider this quite an honor. I have an article there now, entitled "God Loves Sex" (not - read the article!). I hope to have other articles there in the future.

Also, there's currently an update on Fr. Matthew Despard, about whom I've written before - he's the Scottish priest who blew the whistle on the homosexual priest scandal there in his e-book Priesthood in Crisis. (The Kindle book was removed from Amazon in the UK, but is still available in the US.)

Sanctuary Renovation Project in Santa Rosa Diocese

Just another brief interruption of my blog-silence to bring you a fund-raising message!

St. Eugene’s, the Cathedral parish in the Diocese of Santa Rosa, is trying to raise funds for a renovation of the sanctuary of the cathedral. A “go-fund-me” page has been set up for that purpose. Go here for more information and/or to make a donation. The Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa is Bishop Robert F. Vasa, who seems to be making some strides into the tradition-minded sphere. (I am happy about that!) The contact who gave me this information also informs me that Santa Rosa has at least one solidly tradition-minded seminarian. 

Apparently, a high altar, baldachino, and altar rail have been purchased from a church that was scheduled for demolition in Philadelphia, PA. The pieces have been brought to Santa Rosa and await installation. They are perfect for offering the Traditional Latin Mass - which is offered each Sunday at St. Eugene’s in addition to Mass in the Ordinary Form.

Here are a couple of photos from the “Go Fund Me” site:

The Rector of St. Eugene's parish with the high altar

that has been purchased and is ready for installation.

The altar awaits re-assembly!

This seems like a project worthy of support by those who wish to see an increase of awe and reverence in the Mass, inspired in part by the beauty of the sanctuary where the liturgy is celebrated.  The fund-raising site has these concluding paragraphs:

Would you like to be a part of this ongoing effort to recover this “mystical element” within the liturgy and architecture? The Church has been returning to such venerable practices as the use of Latin, chant and incense during the Holy Mass. Establishing a sense of awe through such tangible means has also helped to restore a sense of the sacred within our church.

We want to give our best to God. We want to uplift the minds and hearts of those who worship here; for this is where heaven touches earth. Please help us make this a reality!  Thank you and may the Lord bless you for your prayers and generosity. 

Visit  http://www.gofundme.com/mbnqv0 for more photos and information.

Read. This. Book.

I’m “breaking silence” again to make a suggestion for the new year: If there is only one book you read in 2015, let it be this one.

Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis:
Sacred Liturgy, the Traditional Latin Mass,
and Renewal in the Church

It's available at Amazon, here. It is not available on Kindle.  Now it IS available on Kindle!

If I thought I could write a review of this book that would do it justice, I would. But I cannot. I will say a few words, though: 

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski is eloquent, articulate, and knowledgeable in his defense and promotion of the Traditional Latin Mass. He calmly and logically outlines the deficiencies of the Novus Ordo Mass as it is commonly experienced, with its multitude of “institutionalized abuses” – and his passionate love for the Mass is evident throughout the book. An added bonus is that in many places, Dr. Kwasniewski’s thoughtful commentary lends itself quite easily to topics for meditation.

If you already love the TLM, you should read this book. It will help you understand at an even deeper level why you love it.

If you already detest the Novus Ordo, you should read this book. It will help you understand at an even deeper level the problems inherent in that liturgy.

If you are averse to the TLM, you should read this book. It will help you understand why the TLM is, in fact, superior to the Novus Ordo.

If you are perfectly happy with the Novus Ordo, you should read this book. It will help you understand that, as I have written elsewhere, “We’ve been robbed!”

I sincerely wish that every priest and bishop and lay person would read this book...as well as the Holy Father.

Here's the back cover:

RIP, Richard Collins

I am interrupting this blog's silence to request prayers for the repose of the soul of Richard Collins, the author of Linen on the Hedgerow blog.

He had been suffering with cancer for some time now, and he passed away this morning. He was a man who knew his faith, who knew the importance of praying for the dead, and who would, I am sure, appreciate your prayers.

 The following was posted on his blog:

It is with great personal sadness that we, the Collins Family, must inform the loyal followers of Linen on the Hedgerow, that our beautiful father, husband and grandfather, Richard Collins, has died peacefully at home this morning surrounded by those who loved him most.  He was blessed to receive the Last Rites and Holy Mass was celebrated in the Extraordinary Form at his bedside.  Please pray for the repose of his soul.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May he rest in peace. Amen.