September 25, 2009
Catholic Charities: Ask the Counselor
An invitation to learn more about NFP
By EMILY SNIPES, Family Life Respect Life Coordinator, Catholic Charities
After Christmas last year my son told me about a gift he wanted to get for me. While our family was eating dinner he explained that next year he wanted to get me a ring. Of course I perked up at hearing that and thought I must be raising this kid right.
I asked what kind of ring he had wanted to buy and his reply caught us by surprise. “A NuvaRing,” he innocently responded. My husband began choking on his food, and I immediately knew my son was referring to a newly advertised birth control method. I’m sure many of you have seen the commercials with synchronized women swimming, posing as a pack of birth control pills, and singing a catchy song.
A vaginal ring that delivers a low dose of hormones wasn’t exactly on my wish list, but if the commercial caught the attention of our six year old, it must attract many women with its promise of convenience and freedom. The idea that you only have to worry about birth control one time a month is indeed a big selling point in a world where instant gratification is idolized. Love is commonly equated as getting what you want, when you want it.
I wonder what affect Natural Family Planning commercials might have in our society today. In my head I picture several women sitting around a table drinking coffee and sharing their experiences using NFP. One woman comments how it has impacted her marriage and increased their communication. Another woman states how comforting it is to know on any given day what her fertility is. The other woman chimes in with the effectiveness and reliability rates of NFP.
Now I know that is a far-fetched dream at this point in time, but the one thing that would not need to be included with a commercial like this is a list of potential life threatening side effects which typically follows other birth control methods. NuvaRing’s stylish advertisement ends with a long list of deadly complications such as blood clots, stroke, heart attack, liver tumors and possibly death.
I’m fairly certain God didn’t have harming our bodies in mind when he designed married love and the gift of sexuality. Now our son isn’t old enough to realize this, but to think someone would want to give a gift that could potentially kill or harm another person is ridiculous. Unfortunately it is where our culture is today.
Dr. Bill Blanke, a trained Creighton Method FertilityCare™ physician, transitioned to a family practice office over eight years ago in Evansville. He wanted to provide care from birth to natural death and do it in a way that respected the Church’s teachings and his own beliefs. This included not prescribing artificial birth control. Many shook their heads at the thought that a physician could successfully practice in this manner, but he’s proved them wrong and managed to change a few minds along the way.
Married and engaged couples throughout the Diocese of Evansville are invited to attend the Date Night Out dinner and conversation about “Making Marriages Better Using NFP” at St. John’s in Daylight on October 3. Dr. Blanke will be explaining why NFP isn’t just a good thing for marriages, but a great thing. He brings together the medical aspects, the Church’s teaching on contraception and his experiences in working with couples. Maria Janney, a parishioner from St. John the Baptist in Newburgh, will share her own struggle with accepting and practicing NFP in her marriage. The Holy Family Center for Life will provide local resources and information to those wanting to learn more.
Mass begins at 5 p.m. with dinner and a presentation to follow. The cost is $15 couple/$7 individuals for dinner and you may register by contacting St. John’s parish office at (812) 867-8390. Registration is required. For more information on this event or questions about NFP feel free to contact me at (812) 423-5456 or esnipes@evansville-diocese.org.