womens rights Archives

Encouragement for Those New to NFP

From the Family Foundations archives **** Encouragement for those new to NFP…from those who have been there. “Be patient and trusting with it; it can be difficult at times. Know that it is not the magic key to all marital happiness, but it can help.” – Cindy O’Connor “Patience! NFP has been the best thing for our…

Contraception vs. NFP: What’s the Difference?

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Sr. Helena Burns If both contraception and NFP are a means to avoid pregnancy, what’s the difference? To understand the answer, we need to ask a few questions first. What comes first in sex: love or life? Both! Love and life are both equally important purposes of…

Scientists Answer the Call

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Richard J. Fehring, PhD, RN, FAAN Pope Paul VI shocked the world on July 25th, 1968 with the release of the encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (HV), sometimes titled “On the Regulation of Birth.” The reason that this short, 14-page document caused great commotion was that it did…

Humanae Vitae: The Sword and the Stone

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Michael Gagnon It has now been 49 years since Humanae Vitae dropped out of heaven through His Holiness Pope Paul VI and the shockwaves continue to resound throughout the world. Since its release, this blessed document has not failed or slowed in its mission to clearly call…

Pregnant Again…

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * By Janet Sahm Easter One year ago, I wrote a reflection on the message of Humanae Vitae and the birth of my first born. A year later, I sit here again to attempt the task to reflect on the arrival of our second. Yes, in one and a…

Zombie Apocalypse: Spirituality, Sex and the Lay Vocation

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Dr. Greg Popcak On this 49th Anniversary of the publication of Humanae Vitae, one point that continues to be overlooked is that sexuality stands at the center of the lay vocation. Attempting to practice a lay spirituality while ignoring sex is like living a zombie spirituality that divorces…

Will You be the Parent of my Children?

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Janet Smith When John Paul II was a professor of philosophy, he wrote Love and Responsibility, wherein he attempted to give a philosophical justification for his claim that contraception is not compatible with human love. In brief, to say to another that one is willing to be…

“I Am Legend” and Pope Paul VI

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Christopher West In the apocalyptic movie I Am Legend, the “once hailed miracle cure for cancer” turns out to be a virus that very quickly wipes out 90 percent of mankind. Only 1 percent is immune. The other 9 percent morphs into the so-called “dark seekers” –…

What We’ve Learned: It’s About More Than the Kids

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Tommy Tighe My wife and I have been on a crazy journey. From thinking the Church should stay out of our bedroom, to reading and embracing Humanae Vitae, to teaching engaged couples all about NFP in the comfort of our living room; it’s a story I barely…

How Humanae Vitae Inspired a Mission

Humanae Vitae Giving Day * * * by Chris Reynolds In his encyclical Humanae Vitae, Paul VI wrote, “[T]here comes to be included in the vast pattern of the vocation of the laity a new and most noteworthy form of the apostolate of like to like; it is married couples themselves who become apostles and…