Message from Our Pastor

August 1 , 2010

Dear Friends in Christ:

We are celebrating "Natural Family Planning Week" and I know you might conclude that we are always celebrating some week about something, but it does not make this precious awareness any less important. We have so many couples in our parish community that have studied the Theology of the Body and have become interested in the depth of this theology. The gift of NFP is so much deeper than the mechanics and techniques, but the rich grace of being with and for each other in communion through the gift of our sexuality.

Most of our couples preparing for the sacrament of marriage at SJE have an opportunity to spend a Friday evening and all day Saturday at an excellent marriage preparation event sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Recently, a couple attended and they knew next to nothing about NFP, but their experience opened them up to an honest desire to discover the gift for their marriage. The bride-to-be was not Catholic, but very interested and they immediately informed me of their plans to receive more information and meet with some couples who live this method. The insert this weekend will give you some information and Katie Klanke and Judy Lorentz are going to be available at the desk in the fellowship area. I conclude with a quote from Archbishop Chaput:

“It’s hard to see the difference [between NFP and contraception] when the emphasis is placed on “artificial” versus “natural” methods. People rightly point out that many things we use are artificial but not immoral. So it’s important to realize that the Church doesn’t oppose artificial birth control because it’s artificial. Rather, what the Church opposes is any method of birth control which is contraceptive, whether artificial devices, pills, etc. are used or not. Contraception is the choice, by any means, to sterilize a given act of intercourse. In other words, a contracepting couple chooses to engage in intercourse and, knowing that it may result in a new life, they intentionally and willfully suppress their fertility. Herein lies a key distinction: Natural Family Planning (NFP) is in no way contraceptive. The choice to abstain from a fertile act of intercourse is completely different from the willful choice to sterilize a fertile act of intercourse. NFP simply accepts from God’s hand the natural cycle of infertility that He has built into the nature of woman. Regarding the issue of intention: Yes, both couples [the contracepting couple and the couple using Natural Family Planning] may have the same end in mind to avoid pregnancy. But the means to achieve their common goal are not alike. Take, for example, two students, each of whom intends to excel in school. Obviously that’s a very good intention. With the same goal in mind, one studies diligently. The other cheats on every test. The point is, the end doesn’t justify the means in getting an education, in regulating births, or in anything else.”

We will continue to offer more information and opportunities to meet other couples participating in NFP.

Gratefully in the Lord Jesus,

Father Jerry Mahon
Pastor