Homilies and Contraception

[bitterhope]

And this is why priests don’t talk about contraception in their homilies. No one cares. They already have their minds made up and refuse to even consider that children aren’t to blame for their problems.

There was a time when there were many mothers of large families that posted on CAF but most have been chased off by the hateful posts aimed at families like theirs. It’s probably a very good thing that CAF’s days are limited.

 

[ItTakesAllKinds]

And this is why priests don’t talk about contraception in their homilies. No one cares. They already have their minds made up and refuse to even consider that children aren’t to blame for their problems.

There was a time when there were many mothers of large families that posted on CAF but most have been chased off by the hateful posts aimed at families like theirs. It’s probably a very good thing that CAF’s days are limited.

I am not at all hateful towards large families. I am hateful towards the concept of people not having choice. The Catholic church needs to do a better job of delivering the reasons why the teaching is the way it is. I am well-versed on what they teach now, and it doesn’t hold water. That does not mean I’m hateful towards large families. Large families are great. So are small families. So are childless couples.

 

[truetofaith]

I am not at all hateful towards large families. I am hateful towards the concept of people not having choice. The Catholic church needs to do a better job of delivering the reasons why the teaching is the way it is. I am well-versed on what they teach now, and it doesn’t hold water. That does not mean I’m hateful towards large families. Large families are great. So are small families. So are childless couples.

The size of the family is not the point here…it’s whether people are using artificial birth control or natural to limit their families.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I am not at all hateful towards large families. I am hateful towards the concept of people not having choice. The Catholic church needs to do a better job of delivering the reasons why the teaching is the way it is. I am well-versed on what they teach now, and it doesn’t hold water. That does not mean I’m hateful towards large families. Large families are great. So are small families. So are childless couples.

Well, as long as you are hateful about something I guess…

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

And this is why priests don’t talk about contraception in their homilies. No one cares. They already have their minds made up and refuse to even consider that children aren’t to blame for their problems.

There was a time when there were many mothers of large families that posted on CAF but most have been chased off by the hateful posts aimed at families like theirs. It’s probably a very good thing that CAF’s days are limited.

Yes to both your points. Thats why an adult class is not really the answer. People who are serious and exited enough about thier faith usually at least know the Church’s position on Birth control. Even if they don’t follow it.
Probably midnight Mass is the best time to speak on the topic!!!
Lol.

As for the second point. I’ve been shocked at the way large family people are treated. One cannot make any sort of pro family comment without 4 pages of people making them feel like dirt. " thats nice for you but remember all those who cant handle large familes or who struggle with infertility that you just offended you horrible judgemental person. I’ll bet you like Latin!"

 

[bitterhope]

Yes to both your points. Thats why an adult class is not really the answer. People who are serious and exited enough about thier faith usually at least know the Church’s position on Birth control. Even if they don’t follow it.
Probably midnight Mass is the best time to speak on the topic!!!
Lol.

As for the second point. I’ve been shocked at the way large family people are treated. One cannot make any sort of pro family comment without 4 pages of people making them feel like dirt. " thats nice for you but remember all those who cant handle large familes or who struggle with infertility that you just offended you horrible judgemental person. I’ll bet you like Latin!"

Unfortunately you are correct

 

[Usige]

As for the second point. I’ve been shocked at the way large family people are treated. One cannot make any sort of pro family comment without 4 pages of people making them feel like dirt. " thats nice for you but remember all those who cant handle large familes or who struggle with infertility that you just offended you horrible judgemental person. I’ll bet you like Latin!"

Unfortunately you are correct

Which is why I avoid the “Family Life” forums; it is almost as toxic as “World News” if you relate anything positive about being from or having a large family.

I’ve also gotten ripped 6 ways to Sunday for relating anything about sterilization reversal surgery and my own experience. I was listening to my Bishop a few weeks ago talking about counseling men who had a vasectomy to consider reversal and thought, “man, on CAF they would rip him to shreds for saying that.”

 

[bitterhope]

Which is why I avoid the “Family Life” forums; it is almost as toxic as “World News” if you relate anything positive about being from or having a large family.

I’ve also gotten ripped 6 ways to Sunday for relating anything about sterilization reversal surgery and my own experience. I was listening to my Bishop a few weeks ago talking about counseling men who had a vasectomy to consider reversal and thought, “man, on CAF they would rip him to shreds for saying that.”

Your bishop is in good company!

google.com/amp/www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/want-to-change-the-world-it-starts-with-joy-archbishop-chaput-says-13858/

From the article:

“When young people ask me how to change the world,” he said, “I tell them to love each other, get married, stay faithful to one another, have lots of children, and raise those children to be men and women of Christian character. Faith is a seed. It doesn’t flower overnight. It takes time and love and effort.”

“The future belongs to people with children, not with things. Things rust and break,” the archbishop continued. “But every child is a universe of possibility that reaches into eternity, connecting our memories and our hopes in a sign of God’s love across the generations. That’s what matters. The soul of a child is forever.”

Archbishop Chaput speaks of joy being our birthright as Christians. I know when I have said anything like the good and holy Archbishop says in this article I have been told how horrible it is to say such things.

 

[pianistclare]

Yes to both your points. Thats why an adult class is not really the answer. People who are serious and exited enough about thier faith usually at least know the Church’s position on Birth control. Even if they don’t follow it.
Probably midnight Mass is the best time to speak on the topic!!!
Lol.

As for the second point. I’ve been shocked at the way large family people are treated. One cannot make any sort of pro family comment without 4 pages of people making them feel like dirt. " thats nice for you but remember all those who cant handle large familes or who struggle with infertility that you just offended you horrible judgemental person. I’ll bet you like Latin!"

Your post made me laugh. It’s so true.
And Family Life is a place where you can be SURE to get beat up.
The problem I have is that there one huge family in my previous parish, and another in my current parish…both of them homeschool. Both of them rely HEAVILY on $$ donations from other parishioners to make ends meet. Both of them claim to have perfect lives. One of the mothers drives 2 counties over to buy raw milk. But the kids have hardly any clothes! The littlest one sat by me at Mass the other day. I said, “so, how is school going?” She said “oh, Miss Clare, you know we don’t do school! My sister is going to sign up for college as soon as she learns to read!”

OK, so that is extreme, but the kid was being honest.

I’m pretty tired of people claiming perfection when we know, and everyone can see that it’s not true. And I’m pretty tired of people with 2 kids and a nanny griping that people with more children are never going to be able to provide for them, or they will never have any fun in life because they don’t go to Disney every spring.

The whole notion of claiming to have a lock on how to handle life because of the number of kids you have is daft.

Having a big family may be your vocation. You may do it very well.
Being single may be your vocation. You may give of yourself for the betterment of the entire community.

One is not superior to another, no matter how loudly one shouts it, no matter how many statistics you can cite.

Family Life has turned into a churning cauldron of one-upmanship and snugness.
It’s absurd, and not becoming to Catholics.

But, the entire forum has devolved into mud-slinging and uncharitable postings.
What makes us think that the families would behave any better?
It’s sad.
Particularly as we celebrate the Assumption. We have the best example of a successful family…why do we so quickly forget?

 

[Rico_S]

Your post made me laugh. It’s so true.
And Family Life is a place where you can be SURE to get beat up.

Honestly, the Family Life forum is soooo much more tame and civilized than it was several years ago. The Mommy Wars that raged were epic!! It has really toned down over the years.

The whole notion of claiming to have a lock on how to handle life because of the number of kids you have is daft

Indeed!! It gets ridiculous sometimes.

Having a big family may be your vocation. You may do it very well.
Being single may be your vocation. You may give of yourself for the betterment of the entire community.

One is not superior to another, no matter how loudly one shouts it, no matter how many statistics you can cite.

I’m probably reading too much into this, but l notice that you have the “push and pull” of opposite sides as being between large families and single life? While that exists, it seems the more contentious issue is large vs small family. Does you last sentence still apply if those were the two at odds?

Family Life has turned into a churning cauldron of one-upmanship and snugness.

It certainly happens, but it happens on each side of the equation…even the “right” side.
I think the bottom line is that when one feels they are right, its hard to step back and see how one presenting their side or discrediting the opposing view comes across as one-upsmanship and smugness. Being “right” doesn’t grant one immunity from being a jerk. Another huge factor that leads to the deterioration of threads is the victim mentality that exists. “I get judged b/c I have a small family” or “People act like I am crazy b/c I have 8 kids” I think everyone is so quick to claim victim status…so quick to be offended. But that’s not exclusive to CAF, it’s just how society is today.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Honestly, the Family Life forum is soooo much more tame and civilized than it was several years ago. The Mommy Wars that raged were epic!! It has really toned down over the years.

Indeed!! It gets ridiculous sometimes.

I’m probably reading too much into this, but l notice that you have the “push and pull” of opposite sides as being between large families and single life? While that exists, it seems the more contentious issue is large vs small family. Does you last sentence still apply if those were the two at odds?

It certainly happens, but it happens on each side of the equation…even the “right” side.
I think the bottom line is that when one feels they are right, its hard to step back and see how one presenting their side or discrediting the opposing view comes across as one-upsmanship and smugness. Being “right” doesn’t grant one immunity from being a jerk. Another huge factor that leads to the deterioration of threads is the victim mentality that exists. “I get judged b/c I have a small family” or “People act like I am crazy b/c I have 8 kids” I think everyone is so quick to claim victim status…so quick to be offended. But that’s not exclusive to CAF, it’s just how society is today.

LOL The family life forum is better now because no familes post there.

“Couldn’t go to Mass today because one of my 16 cats hid my car keys…”

 

[Monica4316]

I have been wondering for a while now why priests do not speak of contraception at all in their homilies…ever. I suppose this thread could be about many questions really. Should a priest speak of contraception to his flock? Why does he not? I read that somewhere that only between 8 and 17% of Sunday mass attending Catholics believe contraception to be morally wrong. Maybe this is part of the reason why Priests don’t speak up?? I think of asking my Priest questions on this topic but always hesitate. Do priests need to speak on contraception? (These figures might be incorrect. But the 9% quotation came from a Pew Research Polll. I will provide the link in a subsequent post if not in this OP. ) Should we encourage them to do so or not? Why do they hold back? Is it a pastoral concern that stops them?? (It goes without saying, but I will say it now anyways, that the Catholic Church does teach unequivocally that artificial contraception is a sin. As far as I know, artificial contraception would be considered grave matter.)

Our priest talks about topics like that… it is a Latin Mass parish, so that might be a different case. I have wondered too why it’s not talked about in many other parishes it seems… I’m still trying to figure that out, I don’t really have answers, but the same questions!