Natural Family Planning International is unique with its emphasis on the New Evangelization, ecological breastfeeding as a form of NFP, and a choice-oriented approach to systematic NFP, and Catholic moral teaching.
The New Evangelization. We hear much about this but see little that is concrete. Early on it was defined as the effort to show that Jesus is the Author of the specific teachings of the Church, and that is what guided us in writing our NFP manual, Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach. In chapter 1, we connect the dots between Jesus and Humanae Vitae via the Last Supper and Nicea. One can obtain a printed copy of the teaching manual and/or download it from our website, www.nfpandmore.org, for review.
Systematic natural family planning. We teach all the common fertility signs and relevant rules. Only by knowing about each of the common signs can couples make a well informed choice about which ones to use.
Catholic morality. We transmit standard Catholic teaching about the need to have a sufficiently serious reason to use NFP to avoid or postpone pregnancy. We also teach relevant Catholic morality concerning specific immoralities during the fertile time.
The covenant theology. This theology was originally intended to be an agent of evangelization among our fellow Catholics, but it has also proved to be helpful for others. You may be aware that Scott Hahn credits it with helping to persuade him and his wife to accept Catholic teaching on birth control when they were still Protestant. This is also integrated into Chapter 1 and supports Humanae Vitae.
Ecological breastfeeding. Every year there seems to be some new research revealing a benefit of breastfeeding, and most of these benefits are dose-related and duration-related. Every style of breastfeeding conveys some benefits, but only ecological breastfeeding according to the seven standards has sufficient baby-spacing that it deserves to be taught as a form of natural family planning. Chapter 6 of our manual is devoted to this subject. Extensive research is found at our website.
Ecological breastfeeding should not be a matter of controversy, but some are very resistant to teaching it. As my wife and I see eco-breastfeeding, this is part of God’s plan for mother and baby. It is part of his order of creation. We didn’t invent the ecology. All we have done is to describe it. My wife’s research built upon previous research; her unique contribution was the seven-standards hypothesis. She demonstrated it, and others have done the same. Eco-breastfeeding according to the seven standards IS a form of natural baby spacing.
The big question for dioceses is this: Does the diocese help to inform young people about this ecology or does it ignore it? We believe ecological breastfeeding is simply a God-arranged plan that maximizes all the benefits of breastfeeding AND normally delays the return of menstruation and fertility for an average of 14 to 15 months among American mothers. (In some cultures the duration of breastfeeding infertility is much longer.) It is the natural baby spacing that provides a compelling reason for teaching this as part of NFP instruction–especially when the instruction is required by the archdiocese or diocese. We believe that everyone has a God-given right to know this information so that they can make an informed choice. That means that Catholic educators, especially those preparing couples for marriage, should be teaching this information.
Inquiries by dioceses are welcome.
In His service,
John F. Kippley
www.nfpandmore.org