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       Due to the many inquires regarding why Human Life Foundation, Father Paul Marx, and the Couple to Couple League are listed on the Web page entitled, Anti-Catholic "Catholic" organizations and publications, I have prepared this response. It should be understood that anyone acting in opposition to the creative act and intent of God is not only offensive to God but also against the ultimate good of mankind.

        The following are representative inquires made in regard to the above.

• I just happened upon your site and am wondering what you have against the CCL and NFP. NFP is fully supported by the Catholic Church and the CCL is a Catholic non-profit organization.

• I sit on the board of our local crisis pregnancy center. We are 100 percent pro-life. We teach natural family planning and distribute no contraceptives. Father Marx is a hero to many of us in the pro-life movement because he does not promote the contraceptive mentality.

• At 11:19 AM 10/2/1998 -0400, you wrote: I'm absolutely astounded by your list. Why would you put HLI on the list? I'm open to hearing your answer.--Lorraine

          Fr. Marx promotes the "contraceptive mentality." A grave sin which is equated with sodomy. The "contraceptive mentality" goes directly against the prime commandment, "Be fertile and multiply." — fr. david  (further explained later)

• I urge you to go the HLI web site at http://www.hli.org and check it out carefully. If you find anything that substantiates your beliefs about Fr. Marx I would very much like to know about your findings. We have so few priests who are willing to stand unequivocally with the Church. I beg you to check this further and let me know what you find out. God Bless You, --Lorraine

          I have checked the web sites of both Human Life International and that of the Couple to Couple League. I have found nothing on either site stating that NFP may not be used with the contraceptive mentality. Nor, is there anything on either site referring to the prime commandment of God that commands every married couple (the only moral forum for sexual sensual activity) to be fertile and multiply (Gn. 1:28 and 9:1).

          The omission / absence of truth is often more deceptive and destructive than well thought out lies by experienced liars. Included on the web sites are statements reinforcing the contraceptive mentality of NFP. I found no statement of Fr. Marx's that shows any opposition to the use of NFP unless there is a clear valid moral reason for doing so. — fr. david

• Dear Father – While browsing, I came across your list. I am puzzled by your inclusion of the couple to couple league, which as I understand it promotes and teaches NFP in accordance with the Catholic Church. Please elucidate.

• Please explain how Fr. Paul Marx's HLI and the Couple to Couple League are, in your opinion, evil organizations. — A Doctor and NFP instructor – Johnstown, PA

          Fr. Marx and most CC instructors teach NFP with the contraceptive mentality. Humanae Vitae is explicit that NFP cannot be used except for cases with grievous or serious motivation. It may never be used solely for the purpose of postponing or avoiding pregnancy. — fr. david

• You'll have to add Mother Theresa's Missionaries Of Charity. They teach NFP to poor people all over the world! Truly evil incarnate!!!! — An NFP instructor in Johnstown PA.

          Before her death I did have Mother Teresa on the list as I personally saw a film in which she did, without reservation, teach the contraceptive mentality (she promoted the use of NFP without any reference to restrictions in regard to its use). She is personally responsible for much sin in regard to NFP throughout the world because of her humanistic promotion of a half truth, no matter how well intentioned. The only reason her culpability may be lessened in the sight of God is the great guilt of bishops throughout the world that had and have primary responsibility for the promotion of correct teachings.

          If you will forward me specific information to support your position I will add the Missionaries of Charity to the list.  NOTE: NFP can be taught for the purpose of increasing procreation and to avoid pregnancy if their is serious reason. It can never be taught without these reservations. To do so would be a grievous offense against God. — fr. david  (No response has been made)

•         At 12:28 PM 9/22/1998 -0400, you wrote:

  Fr. Trosch,
          I agree that NFP must be taught with the admonition that if used with the contraceptive mentality constitutes a sin. This is what the Church teaches. Your web page, however, gives the impression that HLI and the CCL are both against life and are similar to those who promote abortion. This is erroneous. You condemn an excellent Catholic organization such as the CCL because of the errors of some CCL instructors.

          Given the elevation of Mary to God status by some mistaken Catholics, for example, I am constantly defending my faith to Protestants who are under the impression that we worship her. As Protestants, some of these friends reject the Catholic Church as a result of these mistaken views. Such rejection is also wrong. We should not reject the CCL because of the erroneous views of some of its members. Rather, we should work together to support organizations that conform to the teachings of the Catholic Church in this matter.

          Sincerely yours, David D________

          P.S. I am glad to hear a priest actually speak about birth control, NFP, et al. My wife and I have been living in Columbus, Ohio for the past year and have yet to hear a sermon on any of these important topics. Given this poor instruction, is it any wonder that only 10 - 15% of Catholics practice NFP over contraceptives?

• What criteria are you using to describe Human Life Foundation and the Couple to Couple League as evil or anti-Catholic organizations? The only thing they have in common is supporting the 2000 year old teaching against contraception. They certainly have nothing in common with the other organizations listed on this page.

          I will keep you in my prayers that you will be delivered from this work of Satan and that some day you will see "choice" and contraception for what it really is; the destruction of life and the denial of a gift or blessing from God. — John

          While you did not say you were Catholic it is probable that you are. As a Catholic you may not morally teach NFP without it being clearly understood both in advertising and in classes that NFP may never be used with the contraceptive mentality. To teach otherwise is extremely offensive to God and consequently destructive to your own souls.

          Keep in mind the initial command of God which applies to the entire human race of all time: "Be fertile and multiply." When one becomes as knowledgeable and as wise as God, then and only then may he consider opposing this primal commandment. Also please note that by teaching NFP without clearing stating its limits for usage you are condemning untold numbers of women – and their accomplices – to Hell. 1 Tim. 2:15 in effect states that a (married) woman's salvation is dependent upon the children she is willing to bear and care for.

  "But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women
  persevere in faith and love and holiness,
  with self-control." 1 Tim. 2:15

          I am confident that one should not take short cuts with God. It doesn't pay. Keep in mind that humanism -- being primarily concerned with the humanistic feelings of self or another in preference to the stated and unchangeable will of God -- is a fallacy that is bringing our current age to the brink of destruction.

          Many priests and bishops of today are on their way to doom for their failure to correctly instruct in the teachings of Humanae Vitae. To misinterpret the Word of God and His directed teachings, such as Humanae Vitae, has been the downfall of many. Jesus said, Father, not my will but yours be done. — fr. david

The following are extractions from the book entitled, "Make All Things Right with God."

       Acts that are contrary to procreation includes all acts that are unnatural or by intent are rendered non-procreative except for the use of NFP under very limited circumstances. It is clear from both 1st Corinthians and Humanae Vitae that natural sexual intercourse within marriage is intended to serve both as a natural release from concupiscence and for procreation. There is no intent to infer that natural intercourse may not be engaged in when procreation is seen as not being possible during periods of temporary or permanent naturally occurring sterility that are otherwise unrestricted.

"Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control." [1 Cor. 7:5]

There are "two meanings to the conjugal act: the unitive meaning and the procreative meaning." [H.V. 12]

       God is of unlimited capacity. He is able to provide for trillions of faithful human beings to an unknowable limit. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah practiced unnatural vice, a vice which was contrary to procreation. They were destroyed. Anyone who acts against the prime commandment by participating in unnatural sexual activity is, practically speaking, a sodomite. He or she who practices unnatural vice, an act of sodomy, is breaking the forth commandment.¹ Unrepentant, such a person will be condemned to Hell for all eternity.

"Whoever welcomes one such child  for my sake  welcomes me." [Mt. 18:5]

       "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." [Lv. 20:13]

       "Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural," [Rm. 1:26]

       "As your reward for heeding these decrees and observing them carefully, the LORD, your God, will keep with you the merciful covenant which he promised on oath to your fathers. He will love and bless and multiply you; he will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your soil, your grain and wine and oil, the issue of your herds and the young of your flocks, in the land which he swore to your fathers he would give you. You will be blessed above all peoples; no man or woman among you shall be childless nor shall your livestock be barren. The LORD will remove all sickness from you; he will not afflict you with any of the malignant diseases that you know from Egypt (your period of slavery caused by sin), but will leave them with all your enemies." [Dt. 7:12-15]

Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life), Pope Paul VI, 25 July 1968:

       Humanae Vitae states that each and every act of sexual intercourse must be open to life. When NFP is used with the intention of avoiding pregnancy – through the possession of knowledge of when pregnancy will almost certainly not occur – then the intention precludes the consideration of being open to life against the tenant of Humanae Vitae that sexual acts must be open to pregnancy except under limited circumstances. If one does not know when pregnancy can take place then it can be said that acts of sexual intercourse are open to life. As Jesus well established in the Gospels, sin is in the desires of the mind as well as in the offensive act.

Legal statements in a Church document of the highest order are
guaranteed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The intent of the writer(s) concerning what was said is irrelevant ..

       There is a difference between openness to fertilization and transmission of sperm. Open to fertilization infers that the ovum (egg) may be present or that copulative acts are not restricted to periods of infertility. If it is known or believed that the ovum is not present then one cannot be said to be morally open to fertilization. The intent or usage of the copulative act must be open to fertilization.

H.V.  §10.4  In relation to physical, economic, psychological and social conditions, responsible parenthood is exercised, either by the deliberate and generous decision to raise a numerous family, or by the decision, made for grave motives and with due respect for the moral law, to avoid for the time being, or even for an indeterminate period, a new birth.

§10.5        Responsible parenthood also and above all implies a more profound relationship to the objective moral order established by God, of which a right conscience is the faithful interpreter. The responsible exercise of parenthood implies, therefore, that husband and wife recognize fully their own duties towards God, towards themselves, towards the family and towards society, in a correct hierarchy of values.

§10.6        In the task of transmitting life, therefore, they are not free to proceed completely at will, as if they could determine in a wholly autonomous way the honest path to follow; but they must conform their activity to the creative intention of God, expressed in the very nature of marriage and of its acts, and manifested by the constant teaching of the Church.

Respect for the Nature and Purpose of the Marriage Act

H.V. §11. These acts, by which husband and wife are united in chaste intimacy, and by means of which human life is transmitted, are, as the council recalled, "noble and worthy,"¹¹ and they do not cease to be lawful if, for causes independent of the will of husband and wife, they are foreseen to be infecund, since they always remain ordained towards expressing and consolidating their union. In fact, as experience bears witness, not every conjugal act is followed by a new life. God has wisely disposed natural laws and rhythms of fecundity which, of themselves, cause a separation in the succession of births. Nonetheless the Church, calling men back to the observance of the norms of the natural law, as interpreted by its constant doctrine, teaches that each and every marriage act (quilibet matrimonii usus) must remain open to the transmission of life.

Two Inseparable Aspects: Union and Procreation

H.V. §12. That teaching, often set forth by the magisterium, is founded upon the inseparable connection, willed by God and unable to be broken by man on his own initiative, between the two meanings of the conjugal act: the unitive meaning and the procreative meaning. Indeed, by its intimate structure, the conjugal act, while most closely uniting husband and wife, capacitates them for the generation of new lives, according to laws inscribed in the very being of man and of woman. By safeguarding both these essential aspects, the unitive and the procreative, the conjugal act preserves in its fullness the sense of true mutual love and its ordination towards man's most high calling to parenthood. We believe that the men of our day are particularly capable of seizing the deeply reasonable and human character of this fundamental principle.

Faithfulness to God's Design

H.V. §13 It is in fact justly observed that a conjugal act imposed upon one's partner without regard for his or her condition and lawful desires is not a true act of love, and therefore denies an exigency of right moral order in the relationships between husband and wife. Hence, one who reflects well must also recognize that a reciprocal act of love, which jeopardizes the responsibility to transmit life which God the Creator, according to particular laws, inserted therein, is in contradiction with the design constitutive of marriage, and with the will of the Author of life. To use this divine gift destroying, even if only partially, its meaning and its purpose is to contradict the nature both of man and of woman and of their most intimate relationship, and therefore it is to contradict also the plan of God and His will. On the other hand, to make use of the gift of conjugal love while respecting the laws of the generative process means to acknowledge oneself not to be the arbiter of the sources of human life, but rather the minister of the design established by the Creator. In fact, just as man does not have unlimited dominion over his body in general, so also, with particular reason, he has no such dominion over his generative faculties as such, because of their intrinsic ordination towards raising up life, of which God is the principle. "Human life is sacred," Pope John XXIII recalled; "from its very inception it reveals the creating hand of God."

H.V.  §16.2  If, then, there are serious motives to space out births, which derive from the physical or psychological conditions of husband and wife, or from external conditions, the Church teaches that it is then licit to take into account the natural rhythms immanent in the generative functions, for the use of marriage in the infecund periods only, and in this way to regulate birth without offending the moral principles which have been recalled earlier.

• Have I had carnal sex? – "If a man lies carnally (beyond natural foreplay and intercourse; giving into crude bodily pleasures and appetites with absence of intellectual control or spirituality) with a woman, they shall both bathe in water and be unclean until evening." [Lv. 15:18]
         Carnal sex would include oral sex and any other sort of sexual activity which is intent upon sensual gratification and excludes the vision of Heaven. Normal sexual gratification which is open to procreation would not be carnal sex. NOTE: There was no sexual gratification involved in the pure act of God with Mary that resulted in the incarnation of Jesus.

Sex – Menstruation – God's Birth Control

       The natural human sexual act has as its normal end the growth of the human race which provides for the increase in the numbers who enter Heaven as brothers and sisters of Jesus the Lord. If one has the belief that there is over population, then one must abstain from marriage and from all sexual activity. If one marries then sexual activity must –except for a very limited number of reasons and then only by approved natural means– be open to procreation.

*        *        *        *        *

COMMENT: A great mockery within the Church of today is the advertisement of Natural Family Planning (NFP) classes in parish bulletins and in diocesan newspapers that does not include the qualifier,

       "NFP may never be used with the contraceptive mentality (Contraceptive mentality – the desire and willingness to avoid pregnancy regardless of method to be used, natural, mechanical, or chemical.) per the teachings of the Church in Humanae Vitae §10.4; §16.2."

       The notion that NFP is only 99% effective and is therefore open to procreation is the equivalent of President William Clinton stating that oral sexual intercourse is not the having of sexual relations on his part. Since sin originates in the intent, the degree of effectiveness surrounding the act is irrelevant. The following is the most blatant abuse of the teachings of the Church regarding the use of natural birth regulation that I have yet seen:

       Natural Family Planning (NFP) will be the subject of a four part series taught by Family Life Co-Directors Tom and Caroline ________, a certified teaching couple of the Couple-to-Couple League (CCL). The series will take place at St. Ignatius beginning on Oct. 12 (1998). To pre-register call the ________s at 434-____ or 473-____.

       NFP is used to avoid or achieve pregnancy by observing the wife's fertile and infertile times. The ________s will be teaching the Sympto-Thermal Method, which they claim is 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.

       Three fertility signs are observed in the Sympto-Thermal method: basal body temperature, cervical mucus and cervix patterns. It is an improvement over the single- symptom method and can be used by women with irregular cycles.

       The Couple-to-Couple League is the largest Natural Family Planning teaching organization in North America. The League was started in 1971 by John and Sheila Kippley with the help of Konald Prem, M.D., head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.

The Catholic Week, 4 Sept. 1998, Page 2
Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, USA

NOTE:   St. Ignatius is perhaps the most affluent parish in the Archdiocese.

  Even a simple minded person should be able to understand
  that the very wealthy can afford to raise numerous children.
  These are the very ones most able to educate their children
  to enable them to solve critical problems in the spiritual and
  material worlds.

        Many have been mislead by the false gods of this world. Learn to trust in God and in His forgiveness. Do what is right and pray frequently for the restoration of truth and justice in the world.

• At 10:42 AM 7/9/1998 EDT, you wrote:

          I am a 48 year old man. I have been a Catholic from day one. I come from an italian background and in my immediate family there are twelve of us (8girls/4boys). My mother is a deeply religious woman and my father (now deceased) was a daily communicate.

          I was an altar boy for eleven years, had a fair amount of religious education and my parents stressed religion to all of us all the time. After I got married I rebelled and stopped going to church. After a tragedy in my family my wife and I went back to church and eventually had what some would call a born-again experience. Since then we tried to obey the teaching of the church, even to the point of birth control.. Needless to say we ended up having two more children (girls). It was after this that my wife and I strongly considered an alternate form of birth control.

          To make a long story short I ended up having a vasectomy (after I had talked to our resident priest) I was troubled by a great sense of disobedience and guilt. Our priest told me that there are two forms of guilt...deserved and undeserved. He also told me that my wife and I had consummated our marriage by going forth and multiplying (four times) and our consideration for a permanent form of birth control was not wrong.

          My wife and I labored over this problem for along time. We felt in our hearts that we could not financially, emotionally, and psychologically handle any more children. The "straw that broke the camels back" came when my wife thought she was pregnant one week after our fourth child. I immediately set myself up for a vasectomy.

          It is now 1998. Somewhere I read that if you had some form of permanent birth control preformed to yourself you were considered excommunicated from the church. Is this right??? I'm not even sure I'm writing to the right person for this question.....I found your name attached to an article about excommunication.

          I would appreciate if you could email something that would alleviate some of my stress if my worries are for naught. I did go to confession after I had the vasectomy, and to this day I am still very sorry for having it done. Not because I would have wanted more children, because I don't,. But because I still feel in my own heart that I failed to trust fully enough in God to help me get through having more children.

          Right now in my life my two daughters are teenagers and it is all my wife and I can do to try to be good parents and spouses to each other. Teenagers nowdays have everything at their disposal to help them and hurt them.

          If you could help me I would appreciate it.

RESPONSE:  All forms of unnatural birth control are always mortally sinful. The IUD is a device that causes abortions. Birth control pills do cause abortions over a period of time. Their first use may or may not cause an abortion. It is relatively certain that over an extended period of time they will produce one or multiple abortions. This is also true of other birth control chemicals. To know this and use any of the above one would incur an automatic excommunication the same as does surgical abortion -- also all direct participants.

        If you are unfamiliar with Church teachings you should know that automatic excommunications of this type can often be rescinded by a parish priest. Many will do so without even giving a meaningful penance - unfortunately.

        Natural Family Planning may never be used with the contraceptive mentality (Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI). It may only be used when their is grievous reason to do so. To use NFP without proper reason is a mortal sin regardless of what you may have been told by any person, even a priest. No moral permission can ever be granted for the use of NFP with the contraceptive mentality.

        A vasectomy or tubal ligation does not have any special penalty attached. It is of course a very grievous mortal sin. While their is no existing directive on this subject, it is my belief that having stolen a precious faculty from God, one should make a serious attempt at reversal (requirement for restitution - a formal teaching). These operations are proving to be more and more successful with the passage of time. Keep in mind that the first command God gave to the human race was, "Be fertile and multiply."

        The whole purpose of creation was that God wanted to share. Since He is unlimited in capacity and has the full ability to provide for trillions of people to the trillionth power, we should never feel that we can limit, without very real and necessary cause, the number of children a family will produce. God has given us life and wants to share everything He has with us. We in return are expected, even though it means hardship, to share with Him in return. God has determined that human procreation is the best method for producing the highest form of being capable of sharing with Him to the greatest possible extent in Heaven.

        The effect of having sexual activity while deliberately excluding the possibility of children should be equated with sodomy -- and, you know how God feels about such sins. Even sodomy however does not carry an automatic penalty. One can repent, humbly seeking the mercy of God, and be forgiven.

        Do not expect however that you will have an easy life just because you have repented. Jesus never sinned but suffered greatly that we might believe. Saints Peter and Paul were both repentant sinners and suffered much for the sake of the Kingdom. Trials, tribulations, testing, pruning are all part of the narrow road to salvation. But, keep in mind that God never places upon anyone a greater burden than can be carried.

        If you cannot trust completely in God, how can you ever expect Him to trust you enough to bring you into eternal happiness -- sharing forever in the unlimited power God can assign for your personal use. Every possible problem of life is worth obtaining the great goal of Heaven. One must not doubt but believe and have hope in all that is good.

        The consummation of marriage has nothing to do with any of the above. Consummation only has the effect of greatly restricting the possibility of annulment. It is referred to as a non sequitur.

        Two times two equals four as does two plus two. The first undisputed multiplication is two times three which equals six. No one in their right mind however would want to try to get by with a minimum requirement when God is so directly involved. Keep in mind that while a mother is always a mother and has her salvation accordingly, everything else being equal (1 Tim. 2:15), a human male parent is only the father of the body and is foster father to the spirit child individually created by God the Father -- its true Father/Creator. The Lord's Prayer begins with the words, "Our Father."

        The number of children God gives to each couple must be accepted whether it is none or twenty-five. St. Catherine of Sienna (a great saint and doctor of the Church) was the 25th child of her parents. She was a twin. There is one woman today in South America who has approximately 70 children. She had many multiple births. God provided for all of these children even though the father was, to my recollection, a humble janitor. When birth control is not practiced an average family might well have eight children.

        Before being concerned with overcrowding of the planet, keep in mind that Earth is but one habitable planet among millions of habitable planets in this single small galaxy called "The Milky Way." Keep also in mind that even if the foregoing is not true it is still God's decision as to when the day of final judgement will come upon us. The worthy will be brought into Heaven before the Earth (as we know it), and all remaining thereon, will be destroyed and form a permanent Hell. — Sincerely in Christ, – fr. david

        NFP as taught by many, if not most CCL instructors and others, does not include the admonition that NFP if used with the contraceptive mentality is a mortal sin. This is more thoroughly gone into elsewhere on my web site and will be more clearly explained in a new document which will hopefully be published within the next 30 days.

        Any sexual contact not open to procreation, with very restricted exceptions when NFP is allowed, is always against the will of God and mortally sinful. This teaching is made clear in "Humanae Vitae," but has always been the accepted teaching of the true Church. Natural reason would be sufficient for this understanding by those not caught up in materialism.

        Having personally talked with CCL people at different conventions in the past, it has always been conveyed to me by them that they believed that NFP, as the concept of family planning indicates, could morally be used to keep from having children regardless of reason for avoidance.

        If there is a published position that such is not the case, and there is substantial evidence that CCL teaches and advertises that NFP cannot be used with the contraceptive mentality, I would much like to see it. — fr. david

Dear Lorraine,
        The teaching of natural family planning without also teaching that it may be used only under certain limited conditions to temporarily, or under unusual conditions permanently, avoid birth is to teach the contraceptive mentality. Humanae Vitae expressly states that natural rhythms may only be used to avoid birth for grave reasons.

        The following is excerpted from a new book I am just about finished writing:

        "NOTE: Only with a valid moral reason may any form of natural abstinence be used to avoid pregnancy; and then only for the duration that the valid condition continues (Humanae Vitae Ί10.4; Ί16.2). If selfishness is involved with the decision to use natural rhythms to avoid fertilization then a condemnatory sin will normally have been committed." . . . — Sincerely in Christ, - fr. david

• Just stumbled on your promo for Provan's THE BIBLE AND BIRTH CONTROL.

          What do you think of "Natural Family Planning" promoted, or at least tolerated, by the Roman Catholic Church?

  It can be used 2 ways:

  1. To avoid conception by determining infertile days
  2. To improve possibility for conception by determining fertile days.

          Do you believe that Christians should follow the guidelines in the law of Moses as to their marital conduct? Lev. 12:2, 4, 5; 15:19, 24, 28; 18:19, 20:18. Eze. 18:6 - Numerous others relating to what relationships are approved.

RESPONSE:  Hi Allison,
        I have, in different of my writings, harshly criticized the abuse of NFP. Though most don't seem to realize it, when this method is used to avoid pregnancy, except with serious motivation (wife needs a period of recuperation following some condition - like childbirth), then a grave offense against God has been committed.

        The concept of NFP (Natural Family Planning) is that periodic abstinence be used during the woman's period of fertility, about 8 days at a time. The 40 and 80 days, etc. referred to in the Bible calls for total abstinence for the whole specified period of time (The Bible, in the law of Moses, calls for a rest of 40 days after the birth of a son and 80 days after the birth of a daughter).

        I believe that these guidelines where meant to be practiced until the end of time. Only those things contained in the Old Testament that have been specifically changed by Jesus should be considered as discontinued. Even a pope does not have the ability to change the expressed will of God. While many would like to believe otherwise, no pope ever has changed a formal teaching on faith and morals. The pope can only further develop that which is not clear in the Bible or that needs application to conditions that did not exist when the prescriptions were written. A pope can't reverse teachings of Scripture on faith and morals but he can and often has expanded (decompressed) or explained that which has laid hidden.

        The book I have written, and is on my web site until finishing touches are completed and I can get it published, contains arguments against this abuse.

•         I am impressed that much of the trouble in the Roman Church is due to trying to appease nominal Catholics, who are not really Catholics at heart or in practice, in order to keep them "in" the Church.

RESPONSE:  I am hoping that my book will effectively express opposition to much that is wrong in the Church. Jesus Himself warned us to be careful of wolves in sheep's clothing. — fr. david

Jerrol,
        Thanks for your input. I believe I have clarified the book on the points you have made. I have been following the practice that when someone comments on something I have written that can be improved, I endeavor to do so if it is reasonable and is seen as being in accordance with the will of God. In regard to gambling I have used some of your wording. — fr. david

        (In the purest spiritual sense, sexual activity between husband and wife would be limited to that which is necessary for procreation with the desire of giving the gift of a child to God, the true Father, the Father-Creator of the eternal spirit of the child. Of major importance in this life is the achieving of total self-control.

        "For those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit with the things of the spirit. The concern of the flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace. For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." [Rm. 8:5-8]

        Activities of natural touching and kissing between husband and wife, are not sinful. But, giving into baser instincts of fleshly lust or indulgence, that can be described as carnal, would be sinful. Some activities, even between husband and wife, can only be classified as sodomy, regardless of reason or excuse proffered.)

        Personal desires, such as lust, underlie the breakdown of the right reason that is God's will.

        St. Paul -- Now in regard to the matters about which you wrote: "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman," but because of cases of immorality every man should have his own wife, and every woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband. A wife does not have authority over her own body, but rather her husband, and similarly a husband does not have authority over his own body, but rather his wife. Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control. [1 Cor. 7:1-5]

• At 06:48 AM 3/25/1999 -0600, you wrote:

  To whom it may concern,
          What criteria are you using to describe Human Life Foundation and the Couple to Couple League as evil or anti-Catholic organizations? The only thing they have in common is supporting the 2000 year old teaching against contraception. They certainly have nothing in common with the other organizations listed on this page.

          I will keep you in my prayers that you will be delivered from this work of Satan and that some day you will see "choice" and contraception for what it really is; the destruction of life and the denial of a gift or blessing from God.

          With Christ our Savior, unified with the magisterium, — John R.

• At 07:21 AM 3/26/1999 -0600, you wrote:

  Fr Trosch,
          I sort-of, kind-of understand where you are coming from, but I would have to differ on the Natural Family Planning method of Fertility Monitoring. My wife and I are NFP instructors sponsored by CCL and I will tell you that Humanae Vitae and the Word of God are the basis of the morality used to teach NFP.

          Do you think incrementalization is a bad thing in these circumstances? A couple using the pill (which has abortifacient capability) begins using NFP for its effectiveness and for health reasons, then they begin to realize the benefits of NFP from a spiritual standpoint. In other words they shift from using NFP for purely contraceptive reasons to understanding the beauty of Humanae Vitae and the teachings of the Church.

          Have you ever been to a NFP class taught by CCL? I think you might find it enlightening. — In Christ, John R.

  PS:  I apologize for the harshness of my previous letter.

• At 10:44 AM 3/27/1999 -0600, you wrote:

  Fr Trosch,
          Yes. My wife, four children and I are Catholic. We are in the Army and currently stationed in your old diocese of Mobile. I wanted to make sure you saw my question from my previous letter. Have you ever attended an NFP class or read any of the literature sponsored by CCL? If you have, you would know that CCL does not teach a contraceptive mentality. We specifically teach about having a grave or serious reason in order to use NFP.

RESPONSE:  Yes, and I am aware that many NFP teaching couples do, within their limitations of understanding the concepts of serious and grave, attempt to teach their understanding of the HV qualifications.

NOTE: In the past in a direct conversation with Fr. Paul Marx he made it clear that NFP was seen by himself as an acceptable substitute (artificial contraception) for the prevention of pregnancy.

•         You said in your last letter that a majority of people using NFP have no valid reason for doing so...How can you know this? The Church does not provide a list of valid reasons. It is between that couple, God and an informed moral conscience to determine what is a valid reason. It is not more definitive than "grave or serious" reason. What may be a grave or serious reason for one couple may not be for another. We welcome your comments on this.

RESPONSE:  In general what you have said is true, however, unless there is clear statement as to the difference between serving God's commands and humanism then any teacher of NFP is in opposition to God. If selfishness plays a decisive part in a decision to use NFP then it must be understood to be morally objectionable.

•         Last month a young military couple with a 2 yr. old and a newborn was scheduled to have an IUD inserted. Their mother suggested that they look into NFP and they contacted us. We taught them the first class (which focuses very much on Humanae Vitae and "grave or serious reason." After that class they canceled their appointment and are interested in promoting the Church's teachings to others on being open to life. What do use suggest we should have done? What is better? Not teaching them NFP and letting them continue to use the pill and other methods of contraception, or to teach them Humanae Vitae and NFP. Not to mention the health/life risk of a young mother being on such drugs and using such devices in her body.

RESPONSE:  The teaching of NFP and H.V. is not the problem. If the teaching is both morally advertised and presented then it is up to the couple to make the decision whether or not they are willing to offend God. The primal command of God must always be obeyed, "Be fertile and multiply." The exception concerning a woman needing a major operation with a preliminary period of her building up her physical condition in order to have the operation and a needed period of recuperation following the operation could be seen as valid reason for using NFP. There are of course other valid reasons for using NFP.

        The Couple to Couple League and others should a long time ago have drawn up a representative list of valid motivations for using NFP. The pope and bishops bear even greater responsibility in this regard.

        Sympathy is not due anyone who offends God by going against what is knowable through natural law. The consequences of immoral acts are often what causes people to seek out a positive relationship with God. Those who do not respond to material warnings loose their souls to Satan and for them sympathy is wasted unless it serves the purpose of urging one on to greater service of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

•         We acknowledge that there are couples out there practicing NFP with a contraceptive mentality. We were probably even in that category when we were first married. As you know, God can do anything – even change hearts to reject the contraceptive mentality. The spiritual growth and increased intimacy and communication in our marriage has been profound due to our learning and then teaching NFP. We ask you, Father, to seriously look at your decision to include CCL on a list with Planned Parenthood and NOW.

RESPONSE:  Please see the excerpts, at the end of this e-mail (previously presented in this document), from my book regarding NFP, etc. You should note that extensive damage is done just in the advertising of NFP classes since the vast majority of people who see the ads are not otherwise exposed to learning the truth about Catholic teachings. All that most understand is there is an approved form of birth control and will commonly argue that there is no difference between one form and another. In essence they are correct. In one sense of the word, as explained in my book, the contraceptive mentality as found in NFP is morally worse than the IUD, the pill, and even surgical abortion.

        Conception at least makes a child available to God's kingdom. When conception is prevented their is no child that is made available to the kingdom. The use of condoms, spermicides, NFP with the contraceptive mentality, cervical caps, diaphragms, withdrawal, etc. are the moral equivalent of practicing sodomy.

•         You said in your last letter that many priests and bishops are totally failing in their job to inform the faithful about H.V.  Why is it evil for couples to try to fill that void? We have counseled many couples that have been "given the OK" from a priest for pill or sterilization. They are angry that they had not been fed the truth. We know of three couples who sought vasectomy reversals after hearing about NFP. —

          John and Catherine R.

RESPONSE:  I am sure that there is some good that has come from NFP counselors. It is true that priests and bishops have primary responsible for presenting correct teachings to their congregations, but, the fact that these men are generally on the path leading to Hell should not be seen as encouragement or excuses for others to follow.

        Those that are angry, and they should be since they have been led to Hell's doorway, should talk to their priests and bishops and insist that they teach as is a requirement of the priestly ministry. If talk does not prove effective then public protest should be made outside of churches until such time as the bishops and the Vatican takes due note and makes changes accordingly. The failure to make legitimate protest is the cause for many to have been received in Hell. If one truly believes in the reality of eternal suffering then (s)he would understand the need to protest.

COMMENT:  Bishops of any rank that fail to promote the valid teachings of the Church as found in Sacred Scripture, Humanae Vitae, and other formal teachings in regard to the correct use of married life are guilty of grave sin by reason of omission.

Failed Sodomy / Homosexual Acts

Make All Things Right with God                Articles concerning Mother Teresa

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