…and we’re back (again).

iStockphoto.com (via NPR.org)

I was doing my morning NPR/ Drudge/ Social Media check, and discovered this story on NPR.org that today the Drug Enforcement Administration is encouraging people to dispose of their unused prescription pills in order to 1) get prescription drugs out of black market circulation, and 2) dispose of them in an environmentally safe way.

Flash Back: I posted this story some time back about the same suggestion. Tired of the lameness of your birth control pills? Ditch ‘em in a safe way.

If you’re a regular reader, you know who I am, what my general beliefs are, and that there is a difference between NFP (Natural Family Planning) & FAM (Fertility Awareness Method), namely a religious and moral difference.

Nevertheless, I don’t hesitate to encourage secular folk to check out natural methods of family planning (hence, the Go Organic Brochures & the TIME piece) because I think it’s the best option out there for family planning and infertility diagnosis and treatment out there, and would love to see people off contraception altogether one day.

Via my regular Google Alert, I found this blog which tipped me off to a, shall we say, small business operation called The Red Tent Sisters, who, among their retail offerings, promote a natural method of family planning, which they’ve branded as “eco-contraception.” Called “The Justisse Method,” it appears to be a version of FAM, or secular NFP. I’m curious to know the inspiration behind the name “Justisse.” I’m not sure what their FAM training background is like, but judging from their fees (private 2 hour intro sessions $179 Canadian!), one motivation could be to make money. Group sessions are $65 Canadian, which is slightly more than some NFP classes in the States. I wonder how successful this venture so far is for them?

One thing is for sure, NFP does, in fact, equal pro-woman and pro-sex, so I’m glad it’s catching on!

| Catholic PRWire

My friend Emily, the new Family Planning Coordinator in the Diocese of Madison, just emailed the link to this commentary on the TIME article and a little bit about my work in Madison. It was posted on Catholic.org by Catholic PRWire, which found it through a press release from Chicago CCL (promoting its classes). Thanks Chicago CCL for the mention! While I don’t exclusively endorse CCL, this is a great example of harnessing buzz about NFP to promote classes. Well done, Chi-CCLers.

Time Magazine Notes Another NFP Benefit: It Keeps the Rivers Clean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY
Catholic PRWire

GLENVIEW, IL (November 10, 2009) – Sexual morality isn’t the only attraction to draw couples to Natural Family Planning (NFP) these days. Those concerned with the environment are finding that NFP doesn’t pollute the waterways with synthetic hormones and other chemicals.

A recent Time magazine author related how NFP rates high for such reasons. “Like all good Catholics, my husband and I had to attend church-run marriage prep before we tied the knot last year,” wrote Kathleen Kingsbury in Time’s Oct. 26 issue.

“I was surprised, however, during the hard sell on natural family-planning, that this updated version of the rhythm method was being advertised not only as morally correct but also as ‘organic’ and ‘green.’ I was even more surprised when I found out that some of the most popular instructors of NFP — known in secular circles as the Fertility Awareness Method — are non-Catholics who praise it as a means of avoiding both ingesting chemicals and excreting them into rivers and streams.”

The article, sprinkled with terms such as phthalates and bisphenol, also looks into the use of chemicals in the makeup of sex toys and tracks a trend of earth-friendly production materials in these products.

The article also says that the Catholic Church is catching on to the organic trend. “People pay $32 for eye cream because they’re told it is good for them and the planet,” says Jessica Marie Smith, whom Time says repackaged the NFP program at the diocese of Madison, WI. “We figured we could do the same with NFP.”

Ingest, Poke and Patch

In an article on the Madison diocese’s website, “Green is the New Black: How NFP is good for your soul and the earth,” Smith, the diocese’s [former] family planning coordinator, says, “Doesn’t it seem interesting that we’ll go to great lengths to ensure our meat, dairy and other grocery products are ‘all natural’ and hormone free, but then we’ll turn around and ingest, poke or patch our bodies with all sorts of synthetic hormones, the ramifications of which we’re still discovering?”

Dustin over at Engaged Marriage did a blog entry on the TIME piece, “Green Sex, anyone?”, which has yielded more than a couple comments, most profusely visited upon by commenter named crow who, among his many words, recommends natural abortafacients to his pro-life audience, copies and pastes from 4th-hand source web sites for his evidence and proof, and manages not to address the problem of falling fertility rates that are imploding the world’s economies.

I’d be much more interested in “dialogue” (generous term, Dustin–listening to crow is like trying to drink out of a fire hose spewing rocks) if commenters like crow 1) cited actual scientific sources, 2) addressed the issue of falling fertility rates, and 3) acknowledged that pro-fertility and pro-family people might actually know something about environmental causes and care about them.

Dustin’s more patient than I am. At this point, crow’s just being a combox rioter, throwing his links like rocks over the fence, not really caring what’s happening on the other side or who he’s inflicting with his myopic opinions.  Hey, I’m all about recycling, buying locally grown food, sustainable construction, new fuel technologies, saving water and everything associated with being a good steward, but when you can’t even address what people are saying to you and listen–human beings, like yourself, born of a woman–that’s the end of the conversation and the continuation of prayer and fasting.

Last weekend I attended “Renewing the Face of the Earth,” a conference at the university of St. Thomas. Lots of focus on thinking green, emphasis on thinking–tons of philosophy and theology that was way over my head. Favorites included friend Strat Caldecott, acquaintance Joseph Pearce, Paul Monson, & Paul Gondreau.

I went because there were going to be a series of talks on the family and human ecology, and to network for my family’s non-profit, Ruah. Because of a storm, I ended up spending nine hours at the airport before finally getting into the twin cities early in the morning, which made me late for the conference. Long story short, I missed the family and human ecology talks, but got some great networking done.

The talks, however, will be available either online or published soon, so I’ll let you know/ post when I get them.

Conference Schedule.

I’m off to the “Renewing the Face of the Earth” Conference at the University of St. Thomas today. It’s a conference on stewardship and creation, which will touch a plethora of topics, including procreation and domestic prudence. I’ll keep you posted on the joys to be found in St Paul this weekend (to include Janet Smith).

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?

Los Alamos FertilityCare Blog has jumped on the green-marketing train with a great little summary of green reasons for natural methods of family planning. Well done!

So, you’re making the switch from bc to nfp? Congratulations! But before you toss your little compact of carcinogens, you’ll want to make sure you pack ‘em up safe and sound so that your pills don’t make a reappearance as a hormone-and-drinking-water-cocktail for humans or fish.

I’ve mentioned the Pill-polution dilemma before, but here’s the practical side of things thanks to the Fish & Wildlife Service and the American Pharmacist Association, aptly titled Smart Disposal (with the “r” in smart as the prescriptive “rx”–so clever). Check out the link above for a how to video, as well as posters, pamphlets and web banners. Spread the news!

(H/t to Jeanne for the link.) Read this article. It’s largely editorial, but with a foundation of research.

As Phillip Jenkins has written at length (even publishing a book with the title), anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice. Jenkins isn’t Catholic, by the way. It never ceases to amaze me how vitriolic people can become when a scientist, doctor or otherwise respected professional who is also Catholic and might have the audacity to declare themselves a Catholic professional is automatically a misogynist. Never mind the fact that many of the members of the Catholic Medical Association–including the US CMA President–are women who are strong advocates of women’s wellness, women’s rights and family issues.

This comes from what a sociologist friend calls “tribal liberalism,” people who tout their tolerance with their scepters of slander, which is on the other side of the river from the “cosmopolitan liberals,” people who lean left (even far left), but incorporate social relics like logic, reason, listening and common courtesy into their dialogues, sometimes (GASP!) siding with commonsense coming from more conservative folks.

Any cosmo liberals out there?Or for that matter, cosmo conservatives? Tell me about a positive experience with someone across the aisle, especially on family planning.

There is no doubt that green is “in,” and veteran environmentalists hope that this is one warming trend that continues. But first, what does “Green is the new black” mean? Most ladies and fashion hipsters know the phrase, “______ is the new black.” It means the object of the phrase is the new basic—the black dress, the go-with-everything shoes, jeans, etc.—the thing that is a foundation to fashionable living. The phrase has been co-opted for non-fashion arenas, and I use it here to talk about environmentalism in balance.

While every day is a green day, Earth Day is solemnity in the secular liturgy of environmentalism. There appeared both government and grassroots efforts and celebrations across the globe, with people of all ages from ordinary folks to politicians to A-list celebrities. It was all quiet on the family planning front, though.

While some environmentalists grow caustic over the hip-factor of caring for our planet because it’s something they’ve been at for a long time, I say let’s take advantage of the green fervor to bring to light something many greenies haven’t thought twice about: Natural Family Planning, or NFP.

Doesn’t it seem interesting that we’ll go to great lengths to ensure our meat, dairy and other grocery products are “all natural” and hormone free, but then we’ll turn around and ingest, poke or patch our bodies with all sorts of synthetic hormones, the ramifications of which we’re still discovering?

The National Catholic Register wrote last July about the serious effects we’re seeing in the environment because of the residual effects of drugs, or what biologists call “endocrine disruptors”–particularly chemical contraceptives. Now, if the human side effects of hormonal contraception don’t catch your attention, perhaps non-mating intersex fish will hook you. Colorado biologist John Woodling, speaking to the Denver Post in 2005 said, It’s “the first thing that I’ve seen as a scientist that really scared me.” We’re not talking one freak fish here; it’s a significant problem, a problem so significant that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the American Pharmacists Association have a major public-awareness campaign regarding this contamination called “Smar_xt Disposal.”

Years before the green trend train got going, Pope John Paul II said in 1990 that we have “a grave responsibility to preserve [the earth's] order for the well-being of future generations.” Pope Benedict, dubbed as “The Green Pope,” further emphasizes the need to “focus on the needs of sustainable development.” However, he reminds us that there must be a balance between the environment and people reminding us that humans are “the only one of all creatures on this earth that can establish a free and conscious relationship with his creator.”

With Pope Benedict, I urge my brothers and sisters in Christ and all people of good will to steward the earth’s treasures, but also to remember that we must value human life above all. “Population control” programs treat the humans as disposable carbon consumers, rather than unrepeatable and irreplaceable gifts from God, not to mention potential problem solvers to the world’s social and climate conundrums.

The contraceptive mentality of today’s culture sees fertility as disease and babies as burdens, but we forget that children are a blessing, and within each child is a God-given mission to be great and to do great things. Al Gore and Davis Guggenheim teamed up to make the 2006 Oscar award winning An Inconvenient Truth, their documentary on the global warming crisis. It was groundbreaking moment for filmmaking as well as the Green movement, but it would not have been possible without their conceptions and births.

NFP is of inestimable value for the world for more than just the environmental credibility. It also fosters fertility appreciation, love of children and has marital and psychological benefits. It is shared system of family planning that fosters communication, builds prudence and self-control and decreases sexual objectification. As I’ve said before, NFP doesn’t just have natural benefits; it has supernatural benefits. Gore and Guggenheim co-created a film that won an Oscar, but couples who cooperate with God’s plan for marriage and sex experience a personal & spiritual vitality that not only nourishes communication and mutual self respect, but it makes them icons of the Most Holy Trinity. That’s not a red carpet line, but a heavenly promise.

(C) 2008 The Catholic Herald, Madison, WI.

Here’s a way to celebrate Earth day that isn’t getting much press: learning Natural Family Planning.

A good friend of mine has this brochure on NFP called, “Go Organic,” which totally plugs my blog–thank you, and it suggests that learning the world’s most underrated method of family planning *might* actually be a super-green thing to do. Here’s an excerpt:

Close your eyes and imagine what makes you feel most in love and the most intimate. If you could step into any love story, any romantic landscape, what would you find yourself surrounded by and who would be there? Ask a hundred women that same question, and the answer would be strikingly similar.
No one ever says “I’d like to be alone,” “I like being an object instead of a person,” or “I’d like to be
depressed, gain weight, more irritable and increase my risk for cancer.” No. They imagine being
with someone, feeling loved and being healthy. They imagine candles, lovely music, genuine embraces, honest words and laughter. The love and need for intimacy without barriers is deeply rooted
in us all.

Our bodies are made beautifully. We are living masterpieces, kaleidoscopic perpetual miracles on our own, without anything extra. That’s the way we were made to live and to love—without barriers, without chemicals, or additives. Imagine a wide open landscape of love. Imagine holding nothing back. Natural Family Planning (NFP) is 100% organic, based in fertility awareness and appreciation. Your fertility is a gift, not a disease, and NFP is the all natural way to embrace it. Best of all, NFP is cooperative. Women don’t bear the burden and the side effects alone. No, the only side effects are increased communication, greater mutual self-knowledge and respect, self resolve and poise, healthy body, more romance and greater intimacy. Welcome to NFP.

Doesn’t it seem interesting that we’ll go to great lengths to ensure our meat, dairy and other grocery products are “all natural” and hormone free, but then we’ll turn around and ingest, poke or patch our bodies with all sorts of synthetic hormones, the ramifications of which we’re still discovering?

Check out these articles, both secular and religious, which talk about the grave effects we’re seeing in the environment because of the residual effects of drugs–particularly chemical contraceptives. Now, if the human side effects don’t trip you out, perhaps libidoless intersex fish will grab your attention. No more fish frys, you Midwesterners! Colorado biologist John Woodling, speaking to the Denver Post in 2005 said, It’s “the first thing that I’ve seen as a scientist that really scared me.” We’re not talking one freak fish here; it’s a significant problem, a problem so significant that in a couple months, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the American Pharmacists Association will begin a major public-awareness campaign regarding contamination that’s resulting from soaps and pharmaceuticals, including birth control. (Reference NC Register article above.)

Am I giving a clarion call to mob the pharmaceutical companies? No, but at least when people jump on the Green Trend Train (and even for those pre-trend greenies), they should consider Natural Family Planning as a way to reduce their environmental impact and increase the intimacy. Give it a try!