For the Large Families

NFP Reply

I posted this over at Steve’s, but I thought it would be a good post on it’s own:

First off, before I get flamed, artificial contraception should not be used under any circumstances.

Now, I lament the fact that NFP is treated like an 8th Sacrament, or that one’s orthodoxy is judged according the one’s use of NFP. When “good” Catholics discover that we do not use NFP, we get the deer-in-headlights stare as the jaw whacks the floor. We might as well have told them that we eat fried kittens for lunch on Tuesdays.

However, I would like to explore the actual feelings and thoughts of MEN in relation to NFP.

The men with whom I have spoken about NFP actually pay lip-service to the “intimacy” that NFP provides. In actuality, peak fertility time is fightin’ time. I have been through several NFP classes in order to learn about the different methods, and so am very familiar with the ins-and-outs of NFP procedures, charting, and intimacy brainwashing. So please, don’t fire off the “You don’t get it” argument. I have an incredible physically and emotionally intimate relationship with my wife. And NFP had nothing to do with it.

In general, NFP is degrading to men. Now, there may be some dude out there that actually does notice the increased intimacy from practicing NFP and discussing the issues calmly and unbiased during the time of peak fertility. However, those men are the minority.

The rest of us feel belittled and insignificant when The Chart is used as a weapon.  As a married person, I have a right to the marriage act, just as I have a duty/debt to perform the marriage act with my spouse. The Church, in Her Wisdom, has coupled both of those terms to marital relations. It is the marriage right and the marriage debt, and both imply a certail level of justice to the marriage.

I do not disregard the “just cause” as detailed by Steve above. However, I am going to talk past it.

NFP has done less for marriage relationships than its proponents think. NFP has turned men into beggars and liars and denied them of the right which they possess by the very nature of the Sacrament of Matrimony. NFP has broken down the levels of intimacy between the spouses by becoming a subject of monthly contention and building a wall to block communication between the spouses.

NFP also places sex in a strained context. Rather than the sexual act being an experience of profound unity, the mere topic of sex becomes a source of division amongst the spouses.

Enough for now. If you want to get your marriage back, burn The Chart and work on building true unity and intimacy in your relationship. (”just causes” excluded, of course).

Oremus Pro Pontifice

Miraculous Lactation of St. Bernard

(h/t to Steve)

p.s. Steve also sent me this.

Transalpine Redemptorists: Undisputed Communion

Deo gratias!

Our community now truly rejoices in undisputed and peaceful posession of Communion with the Holy See because our priests are now in canonical good standing.

…

Believe us, the price to pay is nothing; even all the angry voices that have shouted against us and calumniated us are as nothing when weighed in the scales against undisputed communion with the Vicar of Christ; others have died for it; what are raucous voices?

Read the entire letter here, from Fr. Michael Mary, C.SS.R.

p.s. The Transalpine Redemptorists are also responsible for the Purgatorian Archconfraternity. This service alone is worth its weight in gold.

More on the Colorado Personhood Amendment

In another posting, I lamented the fact that the Catholic Bishops refuse to take a stand publicly on the Colorado Personhood Amendment, which will go before the voters of Colorado on the November 4 ballot as Amendment 48.

The Amendment itself is simple:

Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Article II of the constitution of the state of Colorado is
amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
Section 31. Person defined. As used in sections 3, 6, and 25 of
Article II of the state constitution, the terms “person” or “persons”
shall include any human being from the moment of fertilization.

This Amendment has far-reaching implications, for SCOTUS Justice Harry Blackmun himself stated in Roe v. Wade,

If this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant’s case, of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment.

However, at present, the Colorado Catholic Bishops have refused to support the Amendment publicly. By way of the Respect Life Meeting for the Diocese of Colorado Springs, the general consensus is that the Amendment itself is a huge step, which will be fiercely opposed by the likes of Planned Parenthood. Colorado law only allows an Amendment to be on the ballot every so-many years. And since the Bishops and the Colorado Catholic Conference are not confident that the Amendment can pass, they do not want to give their full support (spiritually and financially). The chance of losing the battle and not having a chance to bring it up again for so-many years was too much for them to support at this time (since we don’t have the money to fight it).

Rather, the Respect Life Office sees the [soon-to-fail] Amendment as an opportunity to educate the public about birth control, how it can act as an abortifacient, and how it damages the female body.

The crux of the matter is that the Amendment is on the ballot. All Catholics in the state of Colorado should actively support this proposition, whether through monetary donations, social activism, or ardent prayer.

The entire nation recognizes that Colorado (along with Minnesota and Georgia, who have similar ballot measures) have a unique opportunity to turn the tide in the current battlegrounds for Life.

On Religious Liberty

From The Liturgical Year, Volume 8, by Abbot Gueranger, O.S.B.

[St. John] teaches us that we should never make a compromise with heresy, nor approve the measures taken by worldly policy for securing what it calls the rights of heresy. If the past ages, aided by the religious indifference of Governments, have introduces the toleration of all religions, or even the principle that ‘all religions are to be treated alike by the state,’ let us, if we will, put up with this latitudinarianism, and be glad to see that the Church, in virtue of it, is guaranteed from legal persecution; but as Catholics, we can never look upon it as an absolute good. Whatever may be the circumstances in which Providence has placed us, we are bound to conform our views to the principles of our holy faith, and to the infallible teaching and practice of the Church — out of which, there is but contradiction, danger and infidelity.

…

O holy Pontiff, teach us to realize what divine truth is, and how error can never create prescription against her rights. Then shall we submit to the unhappy necessities handed down to us by the fatal triumph of heresey, without accepting as a sign of progress, the principle and law that ‘all religions are on an equality.’ In thy prison, brave martyr, thou didst proclaim the rights of the one only Church; preserve us, who are living during that revolt which was foretold by the Apostle (2 Thess. ii 3.), from those cowardly compromises, dangerous prejudices, and culpable want of solid instruction, which are the ruin of so many souls; and may our last words, on leaving this world, be those that were taught us by our Jesus himself: Heavenly Father! Hallowed be thy Name! May thy Kingdom come!

Democracy of the Dead

“Tradition means giving a vote to most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead.”

…

“Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our father.”

G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, Chapter 4, “The Ethics of Elfland.”

Rubber, Meet Road

This is what happens when the rubber meets the road:

Patrick Madrid tells the story of being invited to publicly debate a very anti-Catholic Protestant on the subject of images in worship.

Patrick won the flip and was first up to bat. He began by saying, “My opponent will try to tell you that the Catholic use of images in worship is at worst, idolatry, and at least, meaningless.” He then pulled a large, beautiful crucifix from beneath the podium. “This is a crucifix. Through this image we Catholics follow the example of St Paul and preach Christ crucified. Furthermore, we believe that some images, through long focus of prayer and veneration, soak up some of that holiness, and we revere them more than others. We love these reminders of Our Lord’s death and we venerate these physical things, not for themselves, but because they are vehicles of God’s love and grace in our lives.”

He then put the image on the floor and said, “However, if this image really is an idol, or at least just a worthless carving, I would like to invite my opponent to come forward and act on what he believes. If it is a terrible graven image–if it is an idol, then I invite him to spit on this image and trample it under his feet. If it is an idol, then this is the right thing to do. If it is no more than a meaningless image, then it won’t matter if he does spit on it and trample it under his feet. Sir, will you be the first? Then I will invite everyone in the audience to do the same.”

No one came forward.

Colorado Personhood Amendment

There have been many different strategies over the past 35 years as to how to fight the Culture of Death on a political level. From propositions for a Federal Constitutional Amendment to any other numerous forms of legislation, nothing seems to work.

As we bring this issue of Life closer to the local level, the States have tried the outlaw of abortion, parental notification, and other such tactics. Right now, the state of Colorado is being pushed to adopt a Personhood Amendment “to define a person as including any human being from the moment of fertilization.”

This sounds like a straightforward tactic that has deep implications for abortion in the state of Colorado. And yet, about 1/2 way through the article we read this:

The Catholic Conference of Colorado has said this isn’t the right time to try to pass an outright ban, preferring to chip at Roe v. Wade.

How is this even possible? What “chips” has any legislation in Colorado made against Roe v. Wade? How is Colorado any more Pro-Life than it was 35 years ago?

Just in case you do not know, the Bishops of Colorado are:

• Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. – Archbishop of Denver
• Most Reverend Arthur N. Tafoya, D.D. – Bishop of Pueblo
• Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan, S.T.D – Bishop of Colorado Springs

Back prior to the 2004 presidential election, many Catholics hailed Bishop Sheridan for his defense of the Holy Eucharist by publicly stating he would forbid Holy Communion to pro-abortion Catholic politicians, elected officials and judges.

But according to another article, now is not the right time:

The bishops, however, are not rejecting the amendment. “We commend the goal of this effort to end abortion.  Individual Catholics may certainly choose to work for its passage,” they said.
The reason the Catholic leaders gave for their choice not to back the amendment was that other pro-lifers had raised “serious questions” about the timing and content of the amendment.

Why is timing an issue? How many more babies must die before the timing is “right”?

And what about the “content” of the amendment? Please, Your Excellencies, explain to us what questions pro-lifers have raised about this amendment. Your flocks may not be well educated, but we are not stupid. Show us why the content of the amendment would actually do harm.

Otherwise, you seem to be caving-in to unknown political and economic pressures at the cost of countless human lives.

Today’s Ecumenism

There is no greater enemy of the Immaculata and her Knighthood than today’s ecumenism, which every Knight must not only fight against, but also neutralize through diametrically opposed action and ultimately destroy. We must realize the goal of the Militia Immaculata as quickly as possible: that is, to conquer the whole world, and every individual soul which exists today or will exist until the end of the world, for the Immaculata, and through her for the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

-St. Maximillian Kolbe; from “The Immaculata Our Ideal”, p. 37

Diocesan Regulations

I have to gripe a bit about some of the “Protect Our Children” regulations that go on in many of the diocese’s in the Unites States. In the Diocese of Colorado Springs, an independent auditor found that the diocese was in compliance with the Bishops’ protection charter. Yay! Good for the diocese.

The diocese conducts a criminal background investigation (CBI) on anyone who has “high-risk contact” with children and youth, and each undergoes the two-hour safe environment training

Just to be on the safe side, priests are making sure that anyone who has contact with children goes through the training. I participate in the Gregorian Chant choir at my local parish. Therefore, I had to fill out a form, submit it to the diocese, and schedule a time to view the two-hour video. This was all because my own daughters were going to sing in the choir also.

The video itself is some touchy-feely, corporate Human Resources malarky that focuses on incidents of scandalized children. I learned nothing from the film and was increasingly frustrated by the tenor that parents were not as vigilant as they should be. Any mention of the Scandals having to do with amoral homosexual priests was quickly dismissed by the Facilitators.

Until the Bishops figure out what the real problems are, we volunteers are going to be subject to increased bureaucracy.

The Gavin Group was awarded the audit contract because of its qualifications; more than 90 percent of the auditors trained for the bishops’ charter audit are former FBI agents.

For how much money is the Gavin Group shearing the USCCB? There is always money involved. Even within the Church Herself, my money goes to that which I do not approve.

Other How-Tos

How To Go To Confession

How To Make An Act of Contrition

How To Pray the Rosary

Artificial Nutrition and Hydration

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
RESPONSES TO CERTAIN QUESTIONS
OF THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
CONCERNING ARTIFICIAL NUTRITION AND HYDRATION

First question: Is the administration of food and water (whether by natural or artificial means) to a patient in a “vegetative state” morally obligatory except when they cannot be assimilated by the patient’s body or cannot be administered to the patient without causing significant physical discomfort?

Response: Yes. The administration of food and water even by artificial means is, in principle, an ordinary and proportionate means of preserving life. It is therefore obligatory to the extent to which, and for as long as, it is shown to accomplish its proper finality, which is the hydration and nourishment of the patient. In this way suffering and death by starvation and dehydration are prevented.

Second question: When nutrition and hydration are being supplied by artificial means to a patient in a “permanent vegetative state”, may they be discontinued when competent physicians judge with moral certainty that the patient will never recover consciousness?

Response: No. A patient in a “permanent vegetative state” is a person with fundamental human dignity and must, therefore, receive ordinary and proportionate care which includes, in principle, the administration of water and food even by artificial means.

* * *

The Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, at the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved these Responses, adopted in the Ordinary Session of the Congregation, and ordered their publication.

Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, August 1, 2007.

William Cardinal Levada
Prefect
Angelo Amato, S.D.B.
Titular Archbishop of Sila
Secretary