- President's Perspective
Start the Ripple
by Lynn Keenan, MD
In the Clergy Corner section of www.canfp.org, Fr Clifton does an excellent job laying out the basis for understanding natural law, and how it applies to contraception. Articles by Sr. Vandegaer and others demonstrate some of the harms that can come to society when the natural law is broken with widespread contraception. Less than 5% of couples use natural family planning, and even fewer use the scientifically advanced forms. I want to ask all of you to help me dream what our culture would look like if all couples used the advanced forms of NFP. Of course, most of human history had limited contraception, but the empowerment of couples to understand their joint fertility was not what it is today. I’ll start with my top seven, and I hope you will help me extend the list.
If all Couples Used Advanced Forms of Natural Family Planning….
1. More couples would know that they are truly cherished for who they are, not what they can provide, as the marital act is sometimes refrained from for the good of the other such as during times of fertility when spacing children.
2. Women would better understand their body and be able to interpret signs of health or disorder, leading to better preventive health care.
3. Communications skills would build between couples as learning to discuss some of the most intimate details of life would spread to better communication of other facets of life.
4. Potent antifertility chemicals would no longer be dumped in our water system, which are adversely affecting our wildlife.
5. Less synthetic estrogens in the water system may lead to less prostate cancer based on some research studies, and maybe other hormonally influenced disorders would also diminish.
6. Couples would be empowered to truly plan their families, being able to space children when needed, and protecting their fertility so they can achieve a healthy pregnancy when desired.
7. Married couples would more fully reflect the life giving love of our creator, who designed life to come from love.
What blessings do you envision if more couples truly understood and used natural family planning?
Share the advantages of NFP with those around you and start the ripple of blessings today.
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