Couple to Couple League updating its
teaching materials, and will pilot a ‘retooled’
method of NFP

Cincinnati, Ohio (Oct. 17, 2005) — The Couple to Couple League is updating its teaching and outreach methods to reflect the theological thought of Pope John Paul II. Based on input from teaching couples all over the world, the Couple to Couple League also will begin piloting a "retooled" version of the Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning beginning early next year.

The 27th anniversary of the election of Karol Wojtyla to the papacy on Oct. 16, 1978, is a particularly appropriate occasion for CCL to announce plans designed to bring fertility awareness education to the iPod generation.

"While we believe the retooled method will be a lot easier for couples to learn, it will seem familiar to couples already using the Sympto-Thermal Method we have been teaching for decades," said Andrew Alderson, CCL executive director. "We have taken the best parts of different sympto-thermal approaches and the result is a very solid, heavily researched method that will be easier to learn and easier to teach." Alderson said the method continues to be 99 percent effective.

The new method is less complex without sacrificing effectiveness, is more user friendly, and is easier to teach, learn and understand. Retraining of teaching volunteers is expected to take place during the summer of 2006, with new program materials becoming available for distribution in October 2006.

The Couple to Couple League is the first international provider of fertility awareness education to embrace and integrate the theological thought of Pope John Paul II into all its activities and programs.

John Paul II, who died in April at the age of 84, spoke effectively to single, engaged and married people about the dignity of the human person using inductive, experiential language. The Couple to Couple League intends to mirror this approach as it continues to promote and teach the virtues of living an NFP lifestyle.

"The Couple to Couple League is approximately six months into a three-year project to completely update its materials and teaching approach," explained Linda Kracht, Chairman of the Couple to Couple League Board of Directors. "Besides incorporating the theological thought of John Paul II, CCL is developing a streamlined Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning; thus its teaching notes and slides are being revised, including its main textbook. CCL is in the process of developing new educational materials in formats that utilize technology such as DVDs and the Internet, attractive to this iPod generation and others."

The Couple to Couple League teaches more than 7,000 couples every year. Since its founding, the organization has instructed more than 166,000 couples. CCL is made up of a network of 950 teaching couples who offer classes in natural family planning throughout the United States and in other parts of the world.

http://ccli.org

Contact: Ann Gundlach
toll-free (800) 745-8252 or local (513) 471-2000