Economy and Birth Rates

Here is a very interesting article!

Torture

There has been a growing movement in the Catholic Blog-o-sphere concerning torture. I've always known it was wrong, but I usually blamed my liberal tenancies, especially since I never win the argument when I'm surrounded by other Catholics. Thankfully, as I usually do, I can rely on the Church to set me straight.

Torture is happening far more than we, as a country, would like to acknowledge. How do I know? After all, suburban mom, home-schooler, and otherwise boring person does not qualify me to speak on much. I know because I have heard first hand stories from my family, my brother serves in Kuwait and Iraq, my brother-in-law recently returned from Afghanistan and my dad, a veteran of the Marines were sharing stories at our late Christmas dinner. I was shocked, appalled and left speechless. I love these guys, especially my brother-in-law, he is well read, and a smart guy, yet, he tortured. Everyone did from what he was saying. It wasn't as extreme as water-boarding, but there were many little things that were unnecessary for the questioning of other human beings. Honestly, they treated the dog that wandered in from the desert better than the locals. I was sickened.

The simple lesson, just because we can, and everyone else does, doesn't mean we should. This week I'm teaching the kids about the Holocaust. How can I tell them all that happened to rob people of their dignity and eventually their lives is wrong if I think it is okay to do the same today? I'm not the best spokeswoman for this cause, admittedly, I'm not the best at expressing the truth with clarity, but hopefully, I can convince my family, and friends.

From this priest I know

An Old Friend, Fr. Dennis Paul of St. Isadore's in Bloomingdale, IL.

Good Women like Manly Men

So I'll happily take what I've got, a guy who seldom likes to talk, share feeling or read poerty, simply because I know I got him for being natural. Poor hormone drugged up girls, don't even know what they are missing. I'd never trade my guy who can change a tire, chop down a tree and break a sweat for one who is sensitive. Not that mine is insensitive, but he is manly, and that makes me more womanly.

I guess any future babies will not be born there!

I had my last at this hospital. I worry about stuff like this. Not just because women are vulnerable during birth, but because having more than 2 kids is becoming less and less popular. I hope the woman wins this suit and gets enough out of it to adopt 10 kids!


***Note***
After I posted, the article was pulled form my local paper's website. The jist of the story is that a local woman went in for the C-section birth of her third child and without her permission the Dr. did a tubal ligation. The Hospital was Rush-Copley, in Aurora, IL

Assumptions people make who teach NFP

There is this assumption that because I teach NFP, I am less than trilled when people, particularly my former students, are expecting another baby. Nothing could be further from the truth! It actually upsets me quite a bit that people would think I would be disappointed they are expecting. Usually when a student tells me they are pregnant, I am delighted, to me, it means I did my job. 

What? You ask, doesn't NFP prevent pregnancies? Well, yes, it does, but it also, and more importantly teaches an openness and generosity to life. So when I hear a student is expecting again, I know they really get it. That does not mean those who do not have more kids do not get it, after all there are a number of just reasons that they may not be having more children, but it is so easy to rejoice that a little baby is going to be joining a loving family! 

Another assumption about NFP teachers is that if we have huge families, we mustn't know how to use NFP. See the above explanation to understand this one. The opposite is also assumed, that if we have smaller families, we are not open to life or must be infertile. Ouch, this one hurts the most. I have only 3 kids. Notice how I say only, because my realm is filled with super-sized families, so three kids is out of the norm. Please do not get me wrong, I love the huge families, but variety is the spice of life. Our small family is no less a blessing and we are not less open to life, God has a different plan for us. As for the status of a woman's fertility, I hate to sound like a Feminist, but a woman's fertility is between her and God, and her husband and maybe her Doctor, but not every member of her home school group or her parish. 

So Congrats to all my expecting students, and hang in there to those who are judged and criticised for not having more children. We are all serving God, in different ways.

I love my sister!

My sister is a character. She is a military wife and mother of 3 all 1 year apart. She lives with my mom to help her, my mom is disabled, and Kate needs the help, too, her hubby is overseas freezing his butt off in Afghanistan. She wears a size 2, which disgusts me, and is just a good person. She, however, fell away from the faith before she got to know it, thanks to my parents, who left when she was little. She has no negative feelings towards God or the church, but like I said, was to young to know, and has not found her way back yet. That's Kate.

Today we were talking about my mother, and if she would speak to us tonight, or be glued to the TV watching election coverage, when I asked Kate if she voted, she did, then she told me who she voted for, freely. McCain. Why? I'll quote her, " I couldn't vote for a baby killer". I love my sister. 

Life's Chance Encounters

Recently I met a lovely older (to me at least) woman at my parish. She was serving soup at our Lenten Soup dinner. I was struck by her kindness and her perfectly manicured nails. Here she was serving soup, at a parish function, to mostly hyper children and their tired parents, and she looked so elegant. She smiled, and waited patiently on all of the children, happy to refill their bowls again and again. She served with joy. I did not know who she was, i had never seen her around before, but I remembered her.

A few months later she and I met at a committee meeting for Project Gabriel, a group that in parishes helps support women in crisis pregnancies. There she was, the head of the material goods committee. I was thrilled to finally meet her and more thrilled to work with her. 

I grew to know her a bit, she was witty and realistic, perfect for our work, which can be hard. She was full of great ideas and resources. Her husband was a Knight of Columbus and was very helpful in our work, rallying the older men to help our young, pregnant, homeless mother with her material needs, and gettting them to pray for her. Every time I saw her, she was joyful and greeted me with a warm smile. A good Catholic woman.

This morning I received a phone call to inform me she had suddenly died. I am deeply saddened. I am shocked, and I am better for this chance encounter with a wonderful woman who shared her time with so many, including me.

See me in Print...

I've now received 6 reports that my husband and I can be found in this month's Family Foundations Magazine. We agreed months ago to have out "witness" to be published in the engaged couple issue. I have not yet received my copy yet, it is probably with my Gilbert, Paste and Kids Discover being read by the post office people. I must just get the best magazines. If you like what you read, let me know, So far, I've had 3 complaints and two compliments. I much prefer the nice comments(who doesn't).

Good news for NFP

Dec. 12, 2007

Making NFP relevant: CCL enlists revitalized presentation and JPII in new program
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Couple to Couple League, a leading provider of training in Natural Family Planning, was facing a problem: stale materials and a skeptical audience. Its leaders responded boldly, deciding to overhaul all of their outreach materials and methods. After three years of work, CCL is now unveiling brand-new materials animated by modern technology and a more personal approach based on the timeless theology of Pope John Paul II.
At the heart of the change, said Executive Director Andy Alderson, is the realization that young Catholics are harder than ever to reach. "'Because the church says so' is not good enough anymore," he said. "They need to be reached in a new manner and engaged on multiple levels."
To do that, CCL teachers will now use an instructional DVD embedded with video clips of experts, including a priest and a medical doctor. It also features computer animation of ovulation and implantation. CCL's thick, monochrome reference manual has been replaced by a full-color, graphics-rich workbook that couples can write in throughout class. Classroom instruction will be much more interactive. Couples will roll up their sleeves and fill out charts within 45 minutes of the start of the first class; before, that didn't occur until well into the second class.
Because the new materials simplify the science of the Sympto-Thermal Method, they make room for greater emphasis on another important element: NFP's rich marital benefits. That altered emphasis is reflected in the line added to CCL's slogan: "NFP: safe, healthy and effective...and it can change your hearts in surprising ways." "It's a little teaser," explained Publications Director Ann Gundlach. "We want couples to know that if they start living this way, they're likely to see a change. And the teachers emphasize this by sharing parts of their own experience in each class."
All the training materials are wrapped in the wisdom of Pope John Paul II, incorporating principles and language from his seminal masterpiece "Theology of the Body." The level of incorporation is
what most impresses Father Richard Hogan, a key editor of CCL's new program. "It's refreshing to see how CCL has adopted the ideas of John Paul II, the Great, and sprinkled them throughout all of their programs," he said, "from teacher training, to printed materials, to the public instructional program." When Board Chair Linda Kracht participated in the program pilot, she witnessed the lasting power of the late pontiff. "The teachings of John Paul II ring true with couples," she said. "This makes it easier to teach the moral reasons behind NFP to our students."
Embracing the Internet will also add ease, Alderson said. For example, couples will be able to meet in an online forum to find support for their counter-cultural practice. They can also optionally track their fertility signs in a new electronic charting program, and easily send data to their teachers for any needed follow-up. This brings NFP to the students' computers, right where they send their e-mails and grab their news and pay their bills.
Meanwhile, the web access will enable CCL trainers, who used to rely on a cumbersome paper process to train NFP teachers, to support, evaluate and certify candidates much more swiftly. The polished new materials will persuade many couples to become CCL teachers, Alderson said, while the online format will make training much easier, allowing them to start and stop whenever they want. As a result, CCL is aiming for a 20 percent increase in teaching couples each year.
Early observers are equally optimistic. "NFP has generally resided on the periphery of most Catholic parishes and dioceses. It's still a small percentage of engaged couples who even take an NFP class," said John Gagliardi, chair of the Twin Cities chapter. "CCL is committed to truly mainstreaming NFP. Because of this, we're confident that many more parishes and dioceses will make the new CCL course a normal part of marriage preparation."
Archbishop Harry Flynn of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis echoed that enthusiasm. "The Couple to Couple League is paying a double homage to Pope John Paul II: answering his call for a New Evangelization and incorporating his theology. I anticipate a profound impact."
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as declared by Pope John Paul II, makes an apt occasion for CCL to unveil its new approach to NFP training. The pontiff placed under Our Lady's motherly care the innocent lives of children and the unborn.
For an online video explaining the new CCL teaching program and other related information, visit http://ccli.org/news.
About CCL
The Couple to Couple League teaches more than 7,000 couples in the United States every year. Since its founding in 1971, the organization has instructed more than 185,000 couples. CCL is made up of a network of more than 850 teaching couples who offer classes in natural family planning throughout the United States and in other parts of the world.

RIP Henry Hyde

I was sad to hear the news this morning that Henry Hyde had passed away. I am not one for politics, frankly, I hate politics, but I really admired Henry Hyde. I was privileged to meet him a few times over the years at Pro-life functions, and have many friends who live in his district. Henry Hyde was a man of class.

No politician is perfect, but I really felt like Henry Hyde tried to be a man of honor and dignity, which is rare in this age (and especially this state). He was elected to the House the year I was born and I remember hearing my parents speak of him growing up, as a good man, who cared about life. As a young adult, I remember telling my friends who lived in his district to vote for him. My opinion then of politicians and the whole political system was very typical for a 19 year old in the mid 90's, jaded, and lazy. There was just something about this grandfatherly man that made me like him.

Listening to the news, I think I must have been correct in my feeling, fellow politicians are giving story after story of his kindness and integrity. They are speaking of his ability to forgive and his genuine desire to do good through his work. We can only hope for more leaders like Mr. Hyde in the future.

A Short Prayer Request

So many reasons to be Thankful! I had a very nice Thanksgiving. The best part of the day was when my Sister-in-Law, who has struggled with infertility for many years, told be she is on a waiting list to adopt! I am SO happy! But, I need your help, please pray for Beth, that by the grace of God, the process be short. Ask St. Nicholas, as his feast is just around the corner, to pray for her, to bring her the gift of a child. Ask Our Lady, our Mother, to help Beth become a mother quickly. Ask any saint in Heaven you have a devotion to, please, for me? Children are a great gift, we all know that, and not a privilege. There are so many babies that need good mommies, and, I know Beth will be an excellent mommy. I'm just so excited for her and her husband, I love babies, and my husband's family needs more!

More on Catholic Drinking

Of I've read many different articles about wine and beer. Truth be told, I really enjoy both. For many years, I swore off both, out of a misconceived notion of piety, but that changed as I matured. I really enjoy finding budget friendly wines and beers that have unique tastes. I frequently give wine as a gift, usually paired with a fine chocolate, another food favorite. A friend sent me info on a Catholic wine company today, BOGO wines. They support Priests for life and Adult Stem cell research, and it looks like they are budget friendly. With Christmas not that far off, I will be giving more wine, and feel good about doing it, not only can we celebrate and relax, but support pro-life groups as well. I hope everyone will enjoy!

40 Reasons to have a baby...

Karen Edmisten is awesome! This made me so happy to read. The baby question has been on the minds in our home very much lately. The only thing I can add to what Karen has said, it can add a lot of romance to a marriage, and not just the making the baby! There is nothing sweeter than a baby and its dad. Don't tell my husband I used his photo, but I love the big linebacker and his little one month old. I have picture of each of my kids asleep on daddy. Men need babies. I never took my husband to be the "papa bear" type, but do not, I repeat, DO NOT mess with his little babies. He is in best form when he has a little baby in his arms. I get so happy-weepy when I look at him, babies are what marriage is for.