Fear Not: 5 Resolutions for a New Year
by Sara Fox Peterson
 The
headlines in 2003 were disturbing indeed - the sex scandals within the
Catholic Church, the campaign to legalize gay marriage, the election in the
Anglican church of an openly, actively homosexual bishop. Never before has
there been so much confusion about human sexuality and never have more lives
been destroyed by its misuse.
But what can one Catholic mom do? Here are 5 suggestions for 2004:
1. Pray.
This one is obvious, but be honest with yourself - how often in 2003 did
you intentionally pray for the grace to live chastely according to your
state in life? Marital chastity involves a great deal more than just being
faithful to your spouse and not using contraception (although these are, of
course, absolutely essential). How often did you pray or sacrifice for
others who struggle with the Church's teachings on marriage and sexuality?
The inevitable self-denial that is a part of using NFP to postpone pregnancy
is a perfect opportunity to offer something up for others. If you are one of
those who are struggling with these teachings, how often did you pray for
the courage necessary to accept what God, through His Church, asks of you?
Never have I met someone who rejected the Church's teachings on family
planning who wasn't motivated by fear.
2. Study. Many people think they disagree with what the Church
teaches about sex, marriage and especially family planning, but many fewer
disagree with what the Church actually teaches. Don't take anyone else's
word for it - study these teachings for yourself. The encyclicals Humanae
Vitae, Casti Connubii and Familiaris Consortio, as well as the Catechism of
the Catholic Church, contain the Church's clear, constant and morally
binding teachings on these matters (all are available online at
www.vatican.va) and although they are heavy reading, they are well worth
your time and attention.
In addition to authoring one of the above encyclicals, our marvelous Holy
Father, Pope John Paul II, has written an astonishing amount on this subject
and his book Love and Responsibility* (written while he was bishop Karol
Wojtyla of Krakow) and the collection of his Wednesday audiences on the
Theology of the Body* are truly life-changing reads.
Or, if the above leave you scratching your head, there are a number of
wonderful books and audiotapes that "unpack" these documents and make them
accessible to all of us. Good News About Sex and Marriage* and Theology of
the Body Explained,* both by Christopher West, are great places to start.
3. Witness. Far too many people sail through Catholic
schooling, Catholic marriage preparation and even RCIA without ever hearing
about NFP, and one of the most frightening things for couples struggling to
leave contraception behind is not knowing anyone else who has, so if you
practice NFP - talk about it! Very few people - particularly women - are
truly happy using contraceptives. Be brave, be gentle and be honest, and
remember that what you share is truth that people are starving for.
4. Evangelize. Do you know a pro-life OB/GYN who still prescribes the birth
control pill? Consider sending him or her a copy of Dr. Chris Kahlenborn's
pamphlet "How the Pill and Other Contraceptives Work" which explains in a
most thorough and scholarly way how the pill acts to cause very early
abortions when its contraceptive mechanisms fail. Would you like to hear
more about the Church's teachings on family planning from your priests?
Consider giving them copies of A Preachable Message* (published by BOMA) - a
collection of testimonies and resources from clergy who do preach on these
very sensitive subjects.
5. Fear Not. Yes, the headlines have been disturbing and yes, the struggle
sometimes seems overwhelming, but consider this: 2/3 of everything the
Church has ever written on human sexuality – more than 4000 pages - has
been written by our current Holy Father and this same Holy Father has had
one of the longest pontificates in recent history, even (miraculously)
surviving an assassination attempt. In a time of unprecedented sexual
immorality, we have been blessed with a truly holy and deeply courageous
pope who has been wholly committed throughout his entire pontificate to
making the Church's ancient teachings on sexual morality intelligible to
modern men and women. God has not left us orphans and His Holy Spirit is
with His Church - and with each of us - always. Even now.
*Available from One More Soul (www.omsoul.com).
copyright 2004 Sara Fox Peterson
Sara Fox Peterson is a
stay-at-home mom and certified teacher of the
Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning. She holds a BS in
biology and an MS in human physiology, both from Georgetown University, and
lives in Maryland with her husband and two sons.
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