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…this blogger at Young Adult Catholics (little bit of a misnomer, since they reject many of the Churches teachings outright) seems to think it’s not.
I like that she puts the words “liberal Catholic” and “conservative Catholic,” thereby questioning the validity of political terms imposed on theological terms (The Church is not liberal or conservative; it’s Catholic–Universal). While she supports a person’s choice to choose natural methods of family planning (I got warm fuzzies), she remains neutral on the moral issues (namely the fact that most contraceptives are abortafacients to begin with, plus contra-love factor). I can deal with people who are against the Church’s teaching or don’t understand it, but someone who’s totally neutral? There’s nothing lamer than lukewarmness.
I appreciate that she’s trying to be loving and to extend an olive leaf, but her amicable branch is a thinly disguised vine of vitriol. There’s nothing more dangerous than indifference. A few words from wiser souls:
Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.–Our Lord Jesus, Gospel according to St. Matthew 10:34
The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that’s the essence of inhumanity.–George Bernard Shaw, Nobel Prize Laureate
Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all — the apathy of human beings.–Hellen Keller, author, political activist, lecturer
Nothing is so fatal to religion as indifference. –Edmund Burke, philosopher & statesman
At the bottom of enmity between strangers lies indifference.–Soren Kirkegaard, philosopher & theologian
The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.–Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, Nobel Laureate & author
It’s worth checking out for a minute. Take the “What’s your method?” pole, and comment away! There’s a nice potpourri of the usual unsubstantiated overpopulation claims, bad theology of marriage & sex (the r who “have no authority on the sex issue”), but there are a few nice counter comments. My favorite is,
As a website that promotes progressive forward thinking for 20-30 year old Catholics, I invite you to think forward to Dr. Janet Smith’s take on contraception and natural family planning…
A recent article in a Denver weekly by Susan E. Wills, Esq. Unfortunately, the print is a little small, but it’s a good piece. The danger of contraception is not news to me, but one of the top search terms to find my blog consistantly is “dangers of birth control,” so I think it’s news to someone.
I would hardly call one quote the big time, but you know, it’s a play on words.
This 700 word piece, “Sex & the Eco-City” on Time’s online addition [spoiler alert/warning to the uber-pious and sensitive souls--reverence for sex is sparse] by Kathleen Kingsbury, 04′ graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and Catholic, is hardly a ringing endorsement for the benefits of natural methods of family planning, but at least it’s on the radar in a fairly positive way instead of the usual condescending and ignorant or halfway correct way.
I’ve read Kingsbury’s other work online at Time and elsewhere, and her work seemed fairly balanced and well written. Objectively, while I’m appreciative for the NFP mention (here’s a solo-feature spot on NFP), I’d hardly say it did NFP any justice. I know there wasn’t space for a full-on explanation, but she described NFP as the sympto-thermal method (fine, but incomplete), never mind that there are several other methods out there, and though the Church strongly endorses it under good circumstances, there are other NFP/FAM users out there. Not to mention the fact that many, many people use NFP to diagnose and treat infertility and women’s wellness issues with a higher success rate than mainstream methods and IVF.
Honestly, when she contacted my old work for an interview after she found the Go Organic brochure online, I received the impression that the piece was on green family planning options, not environmentally friendly sex toys. I probably would have thought twice before doing the interview if the opening pitch had been, “Hey, I’m doing a piece on alternative sex toys. Can I work NFP in, and then I’ll massage the message with unsubstantiated claims endorsing zero population growth?”
My guess is that the editors saw the original piece, and thought “This is too soft–can we sex it up a little, and since I don’t agree with the Catholic Church [never mind that fertility awareness isn't just a Catholic thing] about things, we’ll stick in some stuff on ZPG.”
Did you read the article? What did you think? I’m thinking of writing in (letters@time.com), but I’m not sure if it’ll do any good. Perhaps if they get enough emails. How would have *you* written a “Green Sex” piece?
Mr. Dal Broi, chemist with courage
If you live anywhere near East Griffith NSW (west of Syndey and north of Melbourne, I think) in Australia, bring your prescription to Trevor Dal Broi, one of many chemists (pharmacists) whose personal and moral beliefs (which happen to be religious) forbid him for prescribing contraception of any kind.
This, of course, makes him the enemy of many whose secular devotion to contraception, sprinkled with a little anti-Christian prejudice, is a kind of tyrrany over a person’s right to exercise their conscience and religion.
According to an Australian blogger from the same town of some 16,000 residents, there are about five pharamacies serving the town, which isn’t exactly depriving the fair citizenry of their compacts of carcinogens.
My favorite quote is from Miss Alison Dance, 18, who believes it’s wrong for someone to exercise their conscience. My guess is that 1) She’s never actually read the pamphlet inside her Pill packet or researched the drawbacks of condom usage; 2) She’s not thought more than 30 seconds about her attitudes and beliefs about sex and contraception, and 3) She feels inconvenienced because someone else has spent more than 30 seconds critically thinking about it, making her ride her bike six more blocks.
According to Freerebulic.com, Mr. Dal Broi will contineu to prescribe contraception that is needed for medical reasons.
The best quote comes from Bob Laird, executive director of another pharmacy, via the Catholic News Agency,
“Birth control is not good health care. Birth control makes healthy reproductive organs sick and prevents the marital act from completion. This is not healthcare. Birth control is a lifestyle choice…”
Amen. Contraception is a lifestyle choice. Some feel it’s more essential than others, but I advocate the ability to make that choice or choose to advocate non-contraceptive family planning, as Mr. Dal Broi does.
Last note: The Catherine of Siena Institute has a great blog post on this story, and ends by encouraging people to support other people who make couragous decisions based on their convictions.
I support Trevor Dal Broi.
This recent article in the New York Times starts by saying that popular contraceptives Yaz and Yasmin are at the top of the sales chart for Bayer Pharmaceuticals. They’re top sellers not just for their pregnancy-defying feats, but from their hyped up marketing which got them in trouble not too long ago.
The good thing about this Times piece is that it brings attention to health concerns over Yaz and Yasmin. This was prompted by some health professionals, but particularly the 74 plaintiffs and their lawyers who currently have filed against Bayer for serious side effects that they claim have a higher percentage than other contraceptives.
Is is true that these risks are higher among Yaz and Yasmin users? Or do they merely have the same side effect risks as other contraceptives? I say merely with my tongue firmly in cheek, as the side effects of contraceptives, though debated in the last 10-15 years, are gaining wider publicity. Simply do an internet search on “birth control” and “lawsuit,” and you may be surprised on what you find.
Thomas Peters over at American Papist cleverly posted his corrections on this ad:
This simple image signals a grave ignorance of recent social science showing the connection between contraception and most major social pathologies of our time. It presents an imperious worldview that treats contraception as a panacea that is universally desired and accepted. It isn’t and it’s not. Look where this leads.
Further, this ad belittles those across the political, socio-economic, and religious spectrum who, for various reasons, choose natural methods of family planning. With one photograph it presumes, offends, and betrays their own ignorance.
I can’t wait to write a book, make a movie and win a Nobel Prize about the connection between contraception and nearly every major social pathology of our time. Yeah–the last two will totally happen. Right.
What are your ideas for replacement text for this ad?
I’ll kick start it:
“What if this was your only answer to Pope Paul VI’s predictions about contraception & social ills?”
“What if this was your only option for public health policy-making?”
“Gosh, I hope this marxist feminism thing works out for me.”
“I hope this objectification of my person and rejection of my fertility works out.”
Developed migraines since starting the Pill? Have you had a pesky blood clot go to your lung or brain? Those darn birth control Pills may have been at it again!
I just found this great web site, a feminist support site devoted to educating people on the dangers of the Pill, aptly named “Ditch the Pill.” About the group whose entire non-sectarian goal is to empower women:
DitchThePill.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to the understanding, research and treatment of women’s health concerns caused by the toxic side effects of birth control pills (BCP’s). It was created in response to what is becoming a growing epidemic of health problems in women over the last 50 years, beginning with the introduction of oral contraceptives.
DitchThePill.org strongly feels that women should have a vital part in managing medical decisions regarding their own health. Prescription medications, particularly in the form of oral contraceptives, have unknowingly caused an epidemic of health problems in women since the advent of the Pill in the 1960’s.
Have you been told that taking BCP’s are the only way to prevent your family history of ovarian cancer? Oops, that’s not entirely supported anymore.
What’s the alternative, to a hormone-free, pro-fertility, pro-woman approach?
Shockingly (!), I’m going to suggest natural methods of family planning. You’re going to have to go elsewhere from this site to find information on Natural Family Planning (NFP), because, strangely enough, they don’t know all that much about modern NFP. Guess who’s going to give them a call today? Maybe you should too (281-962-4264).
NFP/ Fertility Awareness Resources:
- Secular NFP, or Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)–this is a great book and educationally amazing for women, although it advocates the option of using barrier methods during a woman’s fertile time, which some readers may be opposed to.
- NFP Background info–religious base (same science)
Paul VI was right. To the decently well read and open-minded individual, it’s no surprise when people suggest that Pope Paul VI was right. In 1968 he made 4 predictions in section 17 of his letter to the world, Humanae Vitae, and Phil Lawler summarizes how recent infringements on human rights in China, Peru and beyond confirm one of the late Holy Father’s four predictions regarding the effects of widespread contraception on society.
For a more thorough (think names and stats), fabulously well-written, article on the same subject, check Mary Eberstadt’s “The Vindication of Humanae Vitae.”
(Newly Updated 5/8/09)
ABC’s Nightline did a piece tonight on Christopher West and Theology of the Body tonight, and I tuned in to see how badly the media would mess it up.
But guess what? It was brilliant. Zero trace of anti-Catholicism, and several money moments for telling the Good News of Sex and Marriage, complete with married couples’ testimonies, the bulimia-contraception analogy, and the mutual climax quote from John Paul II (You’ve got to see the clip or read the books to know what I’m talking about).
A downside in trying to pack in so much in ten minutes is that you leave out all of the dimensions of the Theology of the Body, like the beauty of vocation, celibacy and consecrated life, its implications for art, liturgy and beyond. As I said recently to a friend, sometimes people get the idea (as it would be easy to) that TOB is “Theology of the Genitals,” when, in fact, it’s Theology of the Body, Soul and entire person.
Another critique I have, which is probably a critique that many have of Christopher West, is that if you didn’t know Christopher West, Theology of the Body, and the context, he might come off a little like a sex maniac. However, if you know how far he’s come in his personal and professional development, you get it. West is really good at what he does–communicating and getting one’s attention so that he can share Theology of the Body. This is a message people need to hear, and one that has affected the lives of so many already.
Did you see it? What did you think?
Things you can do:
- Read Theology of the Body for Beginners, or buy it for someone who’s not read it
- Pray for hearts and minds of those who saw this tonight to be opened
- Thank ABC (see link above) for doing a piece on TOB
Update: Read CNA’s Interview with West regarding the “sensationalism” of the interview content.
Update 2: CNA’s Interview with Dr. Alice Von Hildebrand, Mary Shivanandan, and Fr. Jose Granados.
Update 3: Facebook conversation on Natural Family Planning discussion board.
His Excellency Robert Carlson
The world won’t understand this, but I’ve just upgraded my opinion of Archbishop Robert Carlson, the newly appointed AB of St. Louis, Missouri. With this audio clip (fast-forward to 3:10), I’ve got from fan to uber fan to super duper fan.
I’m on a roll today on the link between good families and vocations–which seems like an obvious link, right?–and will hopefully write a more in-depth article on the connection between fruitful family life, NFP and vocations.
Congratulations, St. Louis! Keep on rockin’ in the free, total, faithful and fruitful world, Archbishop Carlson!
