Catholic Bishop teaches most birth control is a grave wrong

[Maranatha]

Bishop calls for classes in method of birth control

Birth control is a grave wrong that is at the root of many of the problems afflicting American society, Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted said in a series of articles that reopened a contentious debate in the church and augmented his credentials as one of the most conservative bishops in the nation.

Olmsted now is one of only three bishops in the country to require a full course of natural family planning for anyone who wants a church wedding, joining his counterparts in Denver and Fargo, N.D. Natural family planning is the only church-approved method of birth control.

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[matthias]

God bless him.

 

[bellesjoy]

I noticed on that site that there are many responses from readers, some Catholic and some???. What is offensive is how a wonderful holy man like Bishop Olmsted can be attacked in a secualr newspaper by people who don’t even know him! If you don’t want to be a Catholic don’t be one. If you want to one, follow the rules…they aren’t there to ruin your life…just to help us live as Christ wants us to and to reflect his glory.

 

[willy]

bellesjoy:

I noticed on that site that there are many responses from readers, some Catholic and some???. What is offensive is how a wonderful holy man like Bishop Olmsted can be attacked in a secualr newspaper by people who don’t even know him! If you don’t want to be a Catholic don’t be one. If you want to one, follow the rules…they aren’t there to ruin your life…just to help us live as Christ wants us to and to reflect his glory.

Well said. May God’s infinite Glory shine through the unfaithful’s persistancy to attack the Church and Her most faithfull servants. :bowdown:

 

[JMJ_Pinoy]

bellesjoy:

I noticed on that site that there are many responses from readers, some Catholic and some???. What is offensive is how a wonderful holy man like Bishop Olmsted can be attacked in a secualr newspaper by people who don’t even know him! If you don’t want to be a Catholic don’t be one. If you want to one, follow the rules…they aren’t there to ruin your life…just to help us live as Christ wants us to and to reflect his glory.

 

[Nohome]

Bishop calls for classes in method of birth control

Birth control is a grave wrong that is at the root of many of the problems afflicting American society, Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted said in a series of articles that reopened a contentious debate in the church and augmented his credentials as one of the most conservative bishops in the nation.url=“http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0109birthcontrol09.html”]more

When I read this headline my first comment was “this is news?” Why wouldn’t a leader of the Catholic Church profess Church doctine? As a former Catholic, I reject most Church doctrine, but I still respect her right to teach what she believes. If the rules he puts in places cause people to choose not to get married in the Catholic faith, I say good. These people are no more Catholic than me.

Nohome

 

[Karin]

Maranatha:

.

Olmsted now is one of only three bishops in the country to require a full course of natural family planning for anyone who wants a church wedding, joining his counterparts in Denver and Fargo, N.D. Natural family planning is the only church-approved method of birth control.

more

So you take this course before your Church wedding…is their a guarantee that couples will use NFP instead of ABC after taking this course?

 

[felra]

Karin:

So you take this course before your Church wedding…is their a guarantee that couples will use NFP instead of ABC after taking this course?

No, …but their conscience has been properly informed. And they will know of NFP resources available to support them during their marriage.

 

[ally704]

bellesjoy:

I noticed on that site that there are many responses from readers, some Catholic and some???. What is offensive is how a wonderful holy man like Bishop Olmsted can be attacked in a secualr newspaper by people who don’t even know him! If you don’t want to be a Catholic don’t be one. If you want to one, follow the rules…they aren’t there to ruin your life…just to help us live as Christ wants us to and to reflect his glory.

ICAM! Our beloved Bishop Olmsted is consistently attacked by our secular newspaper and by those outside the church, as well as Catholics who choose to ignore Her teachings. I thank God for him daily and pray for his strength at times of persecution, which is often. Having only met him a handful of times, he exudes holiness and love. I know that this new requirement is just another sign of his love for us and our church. I pray for all of those who will be going through these classes to be open to life and the Lord’s love.

 

[Elizabeth_B]

Karin:

So you take this course before your Church wedding…is their a guarantee that couples will use NFP instead of ABC after taking this course?

In addition to Felra’s comments, I’d like to add that the couples will then have complete information regarding both artificial contraceptives and NFP.

I know many, many Catholic women who were misinformed about the effectiveness and health risks of each. We all have the same question: Why didn’t someone tell us? Why didn’t our doctors tell us how hormonal birth control works or even the overwhelming about the overwhelming number of negative physical and emotional side-effects ? Why didn’t anyone tell us that NFP, used properly, is just as effective as the artificial methods? Most importantly, why didn’t our priests and family members try to tell us the truth?

When I attended Engaged Encounter in the mid-80’s (in every other respect a wonderful program) the speakers and the priest told us to follow our consciences without any encouragement to inform them first.

Perhaps I wouldn’t have listened. But I believe there was a greater chance I would have because deep in my heart I know God was calling me to be a mother.

I can’t undo the past, but I can speak the truth to all who will listen. Perhaps, if enough of us do so, we will rescue the next generation from the lies of our society.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

While I applaud His Excellency for teaching clearly against artificial birth control, I have seen other good posts about how the Church seems to push NFP even though even that practice should only be used given serious reasons (health, financial, etc.). I think the ideal situation would not be to require every couple to take a full course on NFP but to have a program including strong, clear, and well-presented teachings a) against ABC, b) explaining NFP and why it is different from ABC, and c) explaining that NFP is not to be used a Catholic birth control, but only when it is prayerfully discerned to be necessary. Then those couples who anticipate a need to use NFP in the near future can be given the option of a full NFP class. The main point: don’t make NFP seem like the given, standard practice, even if for many it may end up being de facto so.

For the record, I don’t doubt that the bishop agrees with points a - c, I was just saying that while I’m glad he’s taking a stand, I can envision a way of educating couples that might be even clearer.

 

[frommi]

bellesjoy:

I noticed on that site that there are many responses from readers, some Catholic and some???. What is offensive is how a wonderful holy man like Bishop Olmsted can be attacked in a secualr newspaper by people who don’t even know him! If you don’t want to be a Catholic don’t be one. If you want to one, follow the rules…they aren’t there to ruin your life…just to help us live as Christ wants us to and to reflect his glory.

Um, you know, it dawns on me that this rule about not attacking someone you don’t know only seems to apply to Bishops such as Tom Olmstead. I’ve been in other places on this forum, and any bishop who does not pass the ‘sniff test’ employed by many who post here seems to be free game (like Roger Cardional Mahony, the late Bishop Untener).

So I find it striking to see someone taking offense to comments made about a bishop people do not know.

 

[Franze]

He is a very good bishop