[This presentation in 1979 explains the lack of acceptance of Church teaching on family planning. Interestingly, the problem remains with us today. I do not like long blogs so I will break this material up into a series of 4 blogs. The contributors are John and Cathy Bloodworth, former NFP teachers.]
Concern of the Natural Family Planning Association of Kentucky
Prepared for “Concern 79” Peace and Justice Commission, 1979
Archbishop McDonough, Bishop Maloney, and Members of the Panel,
On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI issued his encyclical, Humanae Vitae, which clarified and reaffirmed the Church’s teaching on birth control. He called for scientists to concentrate their efforts on improving the effectiveness of natural means of spacing children.
In response, the sympto-thermal method of natural family planning evolved and is now generally considered the most reliable means of natural family planning. With proper instruction and motivation, a couple can achieve the same effectiveness as the pill without all the various physical and mental side effects.
However, there is a problem.
A large portion of Catholic couples of child bearing age do not realize or believe that they have a need for a natural means of spacing their children.
The symptom of the problem can be clearly illustrated by the statement that most Catholic couples feel that they have a right to practice whatever means of birth control they feel is best for their family. This attitude is not in accord with the teachings of the Church.
However, it is clear that Catholics have chosen various unapproved methods as evidenced by the two statistical studies attached. These show that as few as 10% of child-bearing Catholic who use a means to avoid having children practice a natural method.
(By John and Cathy Bloodworth in consultation with Rev. Joseph F. Hayden of the Archdiocese of Louisville)