Natural Family Planning

This bulletin insert is excerpted from Married Love and the Gift of Life, a statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that was approved at its November 2006 General Meeting.

A natural family planning method is as effective as the contraceptive pill, German research suggests.

Read the BBC article.

Fr. Habiger of www.NFPOutreach.org to preach in Cedar Rapids 10-11 June 2006.

Proclaiming the Meaning of "I Do"
By Carol Schnaufer

What is God's plan for a strong and loving marriage?  What is the Lord's design for a happy, healthy family?  How is it possible to live out this plan in today's modern world?  Proclaiming the answers to these questions and exhorting brother priests to do the same, is the mission of Benedictine priest Fr. Matthew Habiger.

Father Matthew Habiger, OSB

"Marriage and family are facing hard times today.  Just look at the 50% divorce rate and all the pain and unhappiness that go with it," points out Fr. Habiger.  "But Jesus said that in the beginning that was not God's plan.  (See Matthew 19)  Marriage was designed by the Lord to be permanent, 'until death do us part.' In the words of the late Holy Father Pope John Paul II and his 'theology of the body', husband and wife are called to make a 'total gift of self to each other.'"

Catholic teachings on marriage go way beyond a list of prohibitions: against contraception and sterilization which estrange husband and wife, against in-vitro fertilization and the careless creation of hundreds of thousands of babies that are frozen or discarded, against pornography and the selfishness that it feeds.  An authentic marriage is all about "I do."  It's about generosity and kindness in caring for other's needs.  It's about the faithfulness of a husband and wife to their marriage vows to "accept children lovingly from the Lord" and to be true to each other "in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."  It is about conversion, prayer, and being transformed from love to deeper love with God's help.  As Habiger says, "Living out God's plan for marriage is good for us, and it is possible!"

Fr. Habiger serves full-time with the NFP Outreach team of priests who travel throughout the country to help others rediscover God's original plan for marriage and family life.  (see www.NFPOutreach.org)  On June 10-11, 2006 he will preach at all the weekend Masses at Immaculate Conception and St. Wenceslaus parishes in Cedar Rapids, IA.   On Sunday at 2:30 pm, he will present a seminar at Immaculate Conception Church on "The Spirituality of Natural Family Planning."  Also at the seminar Dr. Gregory McKernan will speak on "Good Medicine and Good Morality: A Perfect Fit", and a married couple will share their personal testimony on "The Joy of Living God's Plan for Marriage".  All are welcome.  For more information about the weekend mission or afternoon seminar contact:  Geralyn at (319) 393-2061.

When it comes to living out his vocation as a Catholic priest, Fr. Habiger doesn't know the meaning of the words "I can't."  His life says to the Lord, "Where ever You want me to go, I will go.  Whatever You call me to do to meet the needs of Your people, I will do."  That brings a lot of joy to heaven and to earth!

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The author interviewed Fr. Habiger by phone on March 29, 2006.

Carol Schnaufer and her husband Bernard volunteer as Natural Family Planning instructors with the Couple to Couple League.  They reside in Marion, IA with their six children.