[Claud]

The 81-year-old pope's message Friday to a seminar on the encyclical also reaffirmed that the rhythm method is an acceptable form of contraception for couples in "dire circumstances" who need to space their children.

Dire circumstances. I'd like to point that out for those who are so gushing about NFP that they practically treat it as an eighth sacrament.

[Pyro7480]

The 81-year-old pope's message Friday to a seminar on the encyclical also reaffirmed that the rhythm method is an acceptable form of contraception for couples in "dire circumstances" who need to space their children.

I'm sure he didn't say "rhythm method," since that's been surpassed by NFP.

[RKV]

I am very happy to have the pope voice the Church’s opposition to contraception. Benedict should repeat this loudly and often.

[justkate]

“The open letter in July by dissident Catholic bodies from countries including Britain, Brazil, Canada, France and the United States said the Church’s opposition to birth control endangered women’s lives and exposed millions of people to the risk of contracting AIDS.”

I’d would LOVE to hear the “logic” behind that assinine contention.

Snort.

[kidd]

Freeper Lesson #421 on How to Read an Article:

If an article uses the term “Rhythm Method” in reference to acceptable forms of Catholic natural family planning, it either speaks out of ignorance or does so as a means of mocking Catholic practices. As a minimum, the article should be regarded as highly unreliable.

The rhythm method has been considered obsolete for at least 20 years and such calendar-based methods are not even classified as natural family planning by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Catholic church currenly promotes natural family planning methods that are based on fertility awareness, such as tracking of basal body temperature.

[HappyinAZ]

This whole concept originated as a way to insure a base of Catholics for tithing..... The last thing the desperately poor around the world need...is this. Case in point for why other religions are taking hold in the most poor places. Don't bother to Flame away..(I'm turning off my mail)...but DARE to think about it....

[B Knotts]

Humanae Vitae was prophetic. Look at birth rates in the developed world. In some countries, native populations will effectively disappear in a century or so.

[bdeaner]

Humanae Vitae -- A Witness to Christ's Faithfulness

Infallibility of Humanae Vitae

Our Demographic Winter...Forty Years After Humanae Vitae

Self-Giving Love: Humanae Vitae's Paradoxical Wisdom

Humanae Vitae: "Failure" to Freedom

Humanae Vitae -- Charter of the Family and the Catholic Faith

The Vindication of Humanae Vitae

Humanae Vitae and Making Babies

Contraception and the Catholic Church

[NYer]

a position that has driven millions of people away from the faith.

Millions?!! Where did they round up those statistics?

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[Dajjal]

Pro-Life bumpus ad summum

[philly-d-kidder]

USA largest consumer of Oral Contraception in the world also the highest incidence of breast cancer! When Pope Benedict XVI spoke at the UN hementioned the importance of Natural Order when supportin g the environment! He also mentioned the Natural order when respecting the innocent unborn! God Bless him!

[dmz]

I confess that the most interesting thing about this thread is the lack of Biblical references. In most disputes about what is or is not acceptable, there are usually numerous specific references from the Bible.

Sincere question: Is this one of the articles of faith that Catholics come to from tradition, as opposed to coming to that from scripture? Forgive my ignorance, raised mostly Episcopalian (dinosaurs still ruled the earth), now quite agnostic.