Why is the Church against birth control? This is another misconception. The Church is not against FAQ’s about Natural controlling births, per se. In fact, the Catholic Church advocates Family Planning responsible family planning. Indeed, each couple may have serious reasons to postpone or avoid a pregnancy. At the same What is Natural Family Planning? time, the Church is de nitely “pro-child,” believing that each Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a term for certain methods child is a gift that enriches both their family and the world. This used to achieve and postpone pregnancy based on the is in contrast to the increasingly popular view that children are awareness of a woman’s fertility. These scienti c methods, 98% a burden to be avoided, severely limited, or at least postponed eective when practiced faithfully, are based on the reality as long as possible. Some falsely believe that the Catholic 2021 SCHEDULE that a woman’s fertility varies through the course of her Church is against arti cial contraception because it’s “arti cial,” menstrual cycle in ways that can be determined through the as if the Church is against medical technology! Actually, the observation of certain physical symptoms. For example, in the Church considers arti cial contraception immoral not because days surrounding ovulation, a woman’s cervix ascends and it’s arti cial, but because it’s contraception (literally “against softens, her body secretes cervical mucus (to facilitate the conception”). In fact, “natural” methods of contraception−e.g. Natural sperm’s movement), and her temperature rises slightly. early withdrawal−are immoral as well. Through the observation of natural signs like these, a couple Then why is the Church against contraception? can determine the fertile phase of a woman’s cycle. Dierent Contraception−i.e. the sterilization of the sexual union−changes NFP methods−there are several−focus on dierent symptoms. Family the meaning of sex. Sexual union is a marital act, the embodi- Couples using NFP to achieve pregnancy engage in intercourse ment of a couple’s wedding vows to love one another freely, during the woman’s fertile phase. Couples wishing to postpone totally, faithfully, and fruitfully. In fact, every time a husband and pregnancy simply abstain from sexual relations during the time wife share the marital embrace, they are meant to renew the Planning of fertility. No hormones, drugs, devices or surgical procedures promises they made on their wedding day. Contraception keeps a are used in the practice of NFP. Furthermore, the practice of NFP couple from giving themselves totally (fertility and all) to one increases couple communication and thereby strengthens another, and renders the sexual embrace fruitless. Contraception, marriage. therefore, contradicts and violates a couple’s wedding vows. For ful lling Is this another name for the Rhythm Method? Is there really a dierence between the periodic component #3 of the No, but this is a common misconception. The Rhythm Method abstinence of NFP and contraception? After all, the tries to predict ovulation by using a calendar exclusively. If a motive is the same—avoiding a pregnancy. Marriage Preparation Process woman has irregular cycles, then, the accuracy of the Rhythm That’s a good question; answering it depends upon the moral Method is limited. No wonder the Rhythm Method inspired distinction between “ends” and “means.” Responsible steward- several jokes! Understandably, couples who falsely equate NFP ship of the gift of fertility is a worthy pursuit—a good “end” of CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LEXINGTON with the Rhythm Method are hesitant to entrust their family moral decisionmaking, shared by the contracepting couple and planning to NFP. The truth is that NFP assumes that every the couple practicing periodic abstinence. But a key principle in Mike Allen, Director woman is irregular at least some of the time. In general, if her moral thinking is that the “ends do not justify the means.” 1310 West Main Street fertile time comes earlier or later than usual, she knows about Contraception as a “means” changes the nature of the sexual Lexington, KY 40508 it because of certain physical signs she has learned to identify. union in a way that periodic abstinence does not. The former 859-253-1993. ext. 212 NFP can be used at any stage of a woman’s reproductive life distorts the marital language of sex (see question above), while [email protected] and can be used by women with irregular cycles, women who the latter respects and honors the marital language of sex, and are breast feeding, and women in pre-menopausal years. thus chooses not to speak rather than to reduce the act. Visit our website at cdlex.org/family UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS NFP METHODS Parish Life Center meeting room Choose one right for you—do your own research Brett & Julie Ervin − (859) 576-7980 Find more info at cdlex.org/natural-family-planning Email: [email protected] NFP methods can be grouped into four categories: INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTORS IN OTHER METHODS 1. The Ovulation Method, in which a woman learns how to identify the ☛ Torey Burns is an instructor in the Billing Ovulation Method, which normal, healthy, cervical mucus which indicates the days that sexual analyzes the unique mucus pattern belonging to a woman to identify periods intercourse is most likely to result in pregnancy. The Billings and Creighton- of fertility and infertility that are naturally part of her cycle. Cost is Methods are two examples. $100/couple. Inquire at [email protected]. 2. The Sympto-Thermal Method, which observes several signs of fertility and ☛ Johnna Wilford is a certified Lexington-area instructor of the GOD'S PLAN cross-checks two or more of the signs to pinpoint ovulation. Symptoms include Symptothermal Method of NFP via SymptoPro. Instruction consists of three basal body temperature and cervical mucus with other optional indicators. two-hour sessions that meet over a month with on-going follow-up. Cost is Seminar Couple to Couple League and SymptoPro are two examples. $100/couple. Inquire at [email protected]. 3. The Sympto-Hormonal Model observes several signs of fertility and adds a ☛ Mairead Sutho, ATC, is an athletic trainer and instructor in the (FEMM) fertility monitor for the self-detection of reproductive hormones in the urine. Fertility Education & Medical Management Method, which teaches to chart Example: The Marquette Model. fertility symptoms for health first and family planning second, via the FEMM app. Cost is $200/couple. Inquire at [email protected]. 4. FEMM is an acronym for Fertility Education & Medical Management. It is a comprehensive women’s health program that teaches women to understand ☛ Angela Hobbs teaches the Marquette method, which uses a ClearBlue their bodies and how to recognize hormonal and other vital signs of health. Fertility Monitor in conjunction with observing other biological symptoms. FEMM provides women with support through its free Health App to help Cost is $75 plus the purchase of the monitor. Inquire at [email protected]. women track their health and reproductive goals. ☛ Rita Johnson of Northern KY is a certified instructor and FertilityCare practicioner in the Creighton Model., which teaches standardized mucus 2021 INPERSON SYMPTOTHERMAL GROUP CLASSES observations with an introductory session and follow-ups Cost approx. Cost: $135/couple (includes materials) These classes teach the “sympto-ther- $175/couple. To inquire, via Rita’s website at naturalfertilitycare.org/ mal” method, observing symptoms like body temperature, cervical mucus, MARRIED LIFE position, and softness. Registration for classes is done via www.ccli.org (click ☛ Tracy Comer, RPh, CFCP, in the Huntington, WV, area, teaches the Sponsor couple or on “Search/Register for Classes” button). Creighton Model, which involves charting biological markers related to cervical mucus, position, and softness. Phone: 304-733-3704 parish workshop Series 1: Sundays, Jan. 24, Feb. 21, March 21 2pm-4:30pm, Cathedral of Christ the King 299 Colony Blvd. in Lexington ONLINE AND HOME STUDY OPTIONS VIA COUPLETOCOUPLE Parish Life Center meeting room LEAGUE (See CCLI.org) Brett & Julie Ervin − (859) 576-7980 Email: [email protected] Live On-Line Option • Cost: $135 plus shipping With this option, you both take a live class together, even from separate Series 2: Sundays, April 18, May 16, June 13 locations. You’ll get premium support from a teaching couple who can 2pm-4:30pm, Cathedral of Christ the King answer your questions face-to-face (virtually) before, during, or after 299 Colony Blvd. in Lexington class. Parish Life Center meeting room Brett & Julie Ervin − (859) 576-7980 Self-paced On-Line Option • Cost: $135 plus shipping NATURAL FAMILY Email: [email protected] This option is best for couples with varied schedules that make is hard to attend live on-site or virtual classes together. Couples will enjoy the Series 3: Sundays, Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 7 exibility to proceed at their own pace, and will receive basic support, 2pm-4:30pm, Cathedral of Christ the King PLANNING with access to a teaching couple via email or phone for questions. Course 299 Colony Blvd. in Lexington NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP) All couples seeking marriage in the Lexington Diocese must take a full course of Natural Family Planning, via any of the in-person or on-line options listed above.