NFP is a Pearl of Great Price

Why have I been on the Executive Board of CANFP since 2003? It’s complicated. Because I believe in the goodness and truth of NFP? Yes. Because I like being around the people who live and promote NFP? Yes. Because I feel some Catholic guilt? Yes. Because it’s not always easy to promote NFP? Yes. Allow me to expand on each of these answers

In 2002, I attended a CANFP conference in Sacramento. At the time, I had been ordained only four years. I seem to recall that I was one of the few priests who attended the conference. Most of the conference attendees were lay men and women. In any case, I found that I enjoyed not only the conference talks, but also the energetic conversations that the other conference participants and I had during the breaks and the mealtimes. The energy rubbed off on me. Although I had always been a believer in NFP, it was good for me to be around folks who were really passionate about it. Sometime after that conference, I was invited to serve on the board. The last 17 years have been an adventure, that’s for sure.

So, yes, absolutely, I believe in the goodness and truth of NFP. Yet, serving on the CANFP Executive Board reminds me “walk the walk” and “talk the talk”. To be honest, and here’s another one of those “complicated” reasons, I grew tired of being at Q&A sessions at NFP gatherings and hearing people ask, with a certain amount of frustration and a good amount of justification: “Why have I never heard about this at my church?” And: “How come Father never preaches on NFP?” Whenever I hear these kinds of questions, it moves me to make my own examination of conscience. When was the last time I brought NFP up in a homily? Has it been mentioned in the Prayers of the Faithful lately? Am I making sure that all my parishioners, not just the engaged couples, know what NFP is and that it’s good, beautiful and true? Serving on CANFP’s board is a good reminder me to me that there is always more work to do when it comes to NFP education and promotion.

So, yes, I feel a little guilty that I’m never doing enough. I guess that’s good. If I was completely satisfied with things, I suppose I’d already be in heaven. A final reason is that it is not always easy to promote NFP. And since NFP is not easy to promote and since I am a sinner, I am inclined to shirk challenging tasks at times. Many people reject NFP because they don’t really know what it is, which is completely understandable. It is human nature to reject what we don’t know. To be sure, it is not always easy for couples to live NFP faithfully. But, does it have a pretty good upside? Absolutely. NFP is like many difficult things that are good for us, like eating healthily, exercising, praying regularly and being charitable. Once we put these things into practice, they get easier. One might say, a habit or virtue is formed, and with God’s grace, it becomes easier to do. So, yes, NFP can be hard to live and difficult to promote, but that only points to its great value. NFP is the pearl of great price that I am willing to give much energy to preaching, teaching and promoting and that I hope to continue doing so for years to come.