NFP speaker to present talks in diocese this month

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
July 10, 2008

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the pro-life papal encyclical, Humanae Vitae so it is a fitting time for an expert in the field of natural family planning to speak in the Diocese of Sioux City.

The 7 p.m. Tuesday talk is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about what the Catholic Church teaches about NFP and ways it can be accomplished. The Wednesday 10 a.m. session, while all may attend, is particularly geared toward clergy.

"The first talk will be on the general nature of this morally acceptable and morally desirable form of family planning - both for avoiding pregnancy and achieving pregnancy," noted Lopez. "There are other benefits to women's health and for the health of married couples - looking at not only what is good for the body but also what is good for the person."

At the clergy session, he expects the speaker to present concepts relating to the theological foundation of NFP, tying into the encyclical Humanae Vitae. The clergy should also gain insight on how to preach well about the topic.

"Anyone may attend either of the talks, but their target audiences are different," said Lopez, who added that if clergy can only attend one session it should be the Wednesday morning presentation.

He pointed out that Sister Renee is being brought to the diocese thanks to Mercy Medical Center. She will give an address to the medical community at Mercy and it was possible to arrange additional presentations to diocesan groups. The diocesan talks were scheduled in Sioux City and not a more central location in the diocese to accommodate the schedule of the speaker.

"As Catholics, we have to hold ourselves up in the face of the Lord and say, 'We are committed to life'," said Lopez.

For some forms of artificial birth control the fact that they are abortifacient (preventing fertilized egg from implanting) is clear reason for immorality. Lopez explained that other forms of birth control that utilize mechanical means of conception prevention are morally problematic because they promote a culture of selfishness and idolatry.

"We are taking into our own hands, the process that God intends to be regulated by natural means. We are playing the role of God," he explained. "God provides us with the natural means to regulate our fertility."

Lopez pointed out that in today's society the average number of children per Anglo couple is about 1.6 and that signals a culture of selfishness.

Natural family planning is not about having more children, he said, it is about discerning God's will for my family including the size of my family, the spacing of my children and so forth.

"That discernment must be done in a moral fashion. You cannot hear God's will clearly if you are practicing something that is contrary to God's will," he said.

The family size, he stressed, must be discerned by the couple.

"The world should not tell you how many children to have," Lopez said. "Today, in practice, the church does not tell you how many children to have, but the world does." When couples have more than two or three children, he added, they are often ridiculed for not conforming to the standards of the world.

The purity of Christian love must be practiced within marriages if they are going to live it out in the world.

There is no cost to attend either of the session. No registration is required for the July 22 presentation; however, the diocese would like to have RSVPs for the July 23 session as they plan to serve a light breakfast. If you plan to attend the Wednesday morning talk call (712) 255-7933 or e-mail Lopez at davidl@scdiocese.org.