Fargo Clergy Seminar Helps Prepare Diocese for Premarriage Requirement

Fargo, North Dakota (March 10, 2005) — At the invitation of Bishop Samuel Aquila, the Couple to Couple League (CCL) hosted a one-day seminar today for the clergy of the Diocese of Fargo in anticipation of the new policy for marriage preparation that will require instruction in Natural Family Planning (NFP).

The new official policy for marriage preparation was introduced to the clergy by Rachelle Sauvageau, Fargo ’s diocesan NFP Coordinator. The “Decree” by Bishop Aquila will be formally announced on Saturday, March 19, the Feast Day of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, and will become effective on September 8, 2005, the Feast Day of the Birth of Mary.

Bishop Aquila’s new policy has several highlights, including that all couples attending a marriage preparation weekend will hear a one-hour introduction to the Theology of the Body. In addition, the marriage preparation weekends will include a presentation by an NFP teacher or qualified couple on the moral and practical aspects of NFP. Finally, engaged couples will be required to attend a full course of instruction in a method of NFP. The diocesan NFP office will provide a list of approved diocesan instructors to the couples as well as the priests.

In announcing the new policy, Bishop Aquila wished to provide his clergy the support of a CCL Clergy Seminar in order to help prepare them for their role in implementing the changes. The Bishop’s remarks led off the seminar, and he was followed by Father Richard M. Hogan, author and lecturer, who presented the Theology of the Body. Next, CCL Teaching Couple Richard and Vicki Braun explained the Sympto-Thermal Method as taught by CCL, the moral aspects of NFP, and the role of ecological breastfeeding in family spacing.

The seminar continued following lunch with a strong witness talk by TC Frank and Sally Cassey on what the use of NFP in their marriage has done for them, and how it impacted Sally’s conversion to the Catholic faith. The Casseys spoke of how they used to view birth control, and their former plans for double careers and no children, but that those goals all changed when they started using NFP. They now have three children and are in their sixth year of marriage.

The last presentation was a panel discussion involving the Brauns, Casseys, and Father David Syverson, Chairman of the Presbyteral Council. There were many and varied questions about the requirement of the full course of instruction, and much practical advice was shared. The seminar concluded with a concelebrated Mass.

An optional second day of education for the clergy consisted of lectures by Dr. Tom Hilgers of the Creighton method of NFP, the originator of Natural Procreation Technology (NaPro Technology). Dr. Hilgers is the founder of the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha , Nebraska , where he has assisted many couples who suffer from infertility.

The Couple to Couple League, International located in the Cincinnati, Ohio continues to Build healthy marriages through Natural Family Planning since 1971.

Contact: P.O. Box 111184, Cincinnati, OH 45211, 513-471-2000, www.ccli.org.

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