How the Catholic Church Became Cool Overnight

Not everyone has achieved your effortless effusion of vivid verbiage. He’s got potential: there are some very clever turns of phrase and more than one original simile.

Unless he’s had a very interesting life so far, a college freshman is two calendar years and about eight experience years younger than you are.

Beautiful :) Thanks for sharing that with us!

That’s very sweet.

I love it.

Some of the facts and NON-facts here!

Obama's anti-religious implosion
Lew: Obama's latest stance on birth-control mandate final, puts issue to rest (CAPTION)
Pat Buchanan: 'Obama is trampling on God's turf' (Video)
W.H. official: Contraceptive rule stands
Obama chief of staff: No more compromise, contraceptive rule is done deal
Bishops Reject White House’s New Plan on Contraception (Obama continues his "War On Religion")
Faith/Pro-Life Leaders to Challenge Mandate by Praying and Risking Arrest in Front of the WH
Catholic Bishops: Don't Revise, Rescind
Obama's contempt for the Constitution
How the Catholic Church Became Cool Overnight

Chuck Colson Reacts to Obama’s “Compromise” on Required Abortion Care for Church Employees
US Bishops: Obama's 'Compromise' Has No Clear Protection...(Needless Government Intrusion)
Protests Continue Over Insurance for Contraception, Abortifacients (Feds Under Increasing Pressure
Bishops to Obama: No dice
Paul VI: “danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities ...”
Michael Moore Goes On Anti-Catholic Twitter Rant, Distorts Contraception Debate
Religious controversy burns Obama again (the rookie Hussein is in WAY over his pay grade)
Another Catholic college vows it will ‘not violate conscience’ on Obama mandate
Lutherans join chorus of voices slamming HHS contraceptive mandate
The Obama HHS 'Compromise' Switches the Tiger for the Lion (Not all Catholics buying Obama's bull)
Hannity on now with Priests, Pastors and Rabbis. Please watch
EDITORIAL: Obama’s free abortion pills
U.S. bishops ‘express concerns’ about Obama mandate ‘accommodation’
What Compromise? This Policy Leaves Religious Liberty in Peril and Planned Parenthood Smiling (Albert Mohler Opinion)
Bishops Renew Call To Legislative Action On Religious Liberty
Southern Baptist leader: Obama gave Christians ‘the dismissive back’ of his hand
Obama's Act of Tyranny
Bishops Were Prepared for Battle Over Birth Control Coverage
'Accounting gimmick' -- Obama compromise still threatens religious liberty, leaders say
Bishops ‘concerned’ over reworded mandate; other Catholic leaders slam as ‘insult to injury’
Obama Bows to Pressure, but His Religious 'Accommodation' Even Worse

Don't Be Deceived! Evil Obama Policy Now Even MORE Evil!
Obama’s Contraceptive 'Compromise' Doesn't Pass the Smell Test ("It doesn't change a thing")
Compromise or Accommodation, it’s still unacceptable. (updated from Catholic Vote)
Pres. Obama’s “Plan B” compromise, Sr. Keehan, and the Magisterium of Nuns
Land Says Obama Mandate Most Anti-Catholic Government Action in 150 Years
Motive, Means and Opportunity: Obama’s Assault on Catholics
(Exempt Catholics) Joe Biden, Bill Daley warned of contraceptive backlash
(Tim) Thomas makes second political statement (Stands With Catholics)
Southern Baptist leader: If Obama mandate isn’t changed, Christians will go to jail
Over 150 congressional leaders demand repeal of HHS mandate
Boehner vows to overturn Obama’s birth control coverage rule
Boehner: Congress to overturn birth control policy if Obama does not reverse course
O'Brien says Archdiocese of Baltimore won't offer birth control coverage
Archbishop of San Francisco says Obama ruling strikes at religious freedom
How Obama Lost the Catholic Vote
‘I am going to stick with fellow Catholics’ in Pres. Obama’s war on Catholics. Wherein Fr. Z rants.
Unholy War
Six Things Everyone Should Know about the HHS Mandate
Santorum: Obama Hostile to Christians
Understanding Oppostion to the HHS Mandate (Part 1): Why the Church Won’t Pay for Contracept

The Bishops Chickens Coming Home to Roost.
65 Orthodox Church bishops call on Obama to ‘rescind’ the ‘unjust’ contraception mandate
Doug Kmiec Writes Obama: 'Friendship Will Not Permit Me to Disregard Duty to Faith and Country'
Catholic Outcry Over Obama Administration's Birth Control Decision Could Factor In Presidential Race
Standing with the Bishops [Catholic Caucus]
Updated: *167* Bishops (More Than 90% of Dioceses) Have Spoken Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate
Outrage!… Military Tells Chaplains What They Can and Can’t Say About HHS/ObamaAssault on Religion
Updated: *153* Bishops (Over 80% of Dioceses) Have Spoken Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate
An Affront Catholics Agree On [Liberal and Conservative Catholics Against Obama Mandate]
Army Silenced Chaplains Last Sunday
Catholic Military Archdiocese & Chaplains interfered with last Sunday by Pres. Obama’s Admin
The Anti-Catholic President v. the Catholic Bishops
Sen. Rubio introduces bill to reverse Obama birth control mandate
Churches balk at birth control rule - Catholics won’t comply, Bishop Kevin Rhoades says
Protestants and Jews declare to White House: We stand with Catholics
Checking the Air Outside [Bp. Zubik's follow up to Obama's “To Hell with You”]
Mohler [Southern Baptist] Says Insurance Mandate Not Just 'Catholic' Issue
An Open Letter to President Barack Obama Concerning Recent Tyranny (With Pictures!)
Lincoln bishop: prepare for 'suffering' under HHS mandate
Bishop David Zubik confronts Obama
Obama’s ‘war on the church’

Pope hits out at 'radical secularism'
‘We Will Not Comply’: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate
‘We Will Not Comply’: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate
Bruskewitz: Fight Insurance Ruling [Sebelius a "bitter, fallen away Catholic"]
Letter from Archbishop John G. Vlazny on the matter of freedom of conscience and decisions by HHS
Bishop Olmsted's Letter to Catholics [Catholic Caucus]
Liberty for the Amish & Quakers but not Catholics. . .
Contraception mandate prompts Peoria bishop to instate St. Michael Prayer (Catholic Caucus)
Phoenix bishop (Olmstead): defy feds on birth control
A letter from Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr concerning HHS edict
Speak honestly: abortion is ‘the killing of tiny human beings in the womb’ – Denver bishop
Bishop [Daniel Jenky] Blasts Secularist Intolerance, Calls For ‘Assertive Action’ to Defend Church
(Pittsburgh Bishop Zubik comments:) HHS delays rule on contraceptive coverage
Dolan: Natural law, not religious preference, dictates all life sacred
Religious leaders blast HHS over contraception mandate
Mandated Contraception, Sterilization: Caesar Demands Church Violate Conscience
OBAMA’S CONTEMPT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (mandates coverage of sterilization & contraception)
Implications of Obama Admin move to force Cath hospitals to provide contraception and sterilizations
Catholic doctors’ group launches petition against contraception mandate
Contraception mandate tramples religious freedom, US bishops say

Thanks for the reply.

After reading the book I too bought several copies...but not a whole case...and gave them away. It is a matter of being willing to be persuaded. Most of the people that I gave the book to could not get passed the idea that they may end up with a large family. Most of them now see my family (seven children so far) and at times voice their regret for not allowing God to be God in this area of their lives. A few of the people that received the book have surprised me...they were the ones I did not think would accept it...but a few of the families are still growing...God works in great and small ways.

Most of the people that I gave the book to could not get past the idea that they may end up with a large family.

Large families - more than four seems to be the threshold for "really large" - have been such a small percentage in the last couple of generations that many people have never known one. It's a terrifying phantom, and they think it's possible only for people who were Very Special from birth.

People ask me if my husband earns a million dollars a year. (Nope, just over $100,000, in his most recent job.) Do we have a huge house? (No, smaller than yours, actually: we just have a higher population density.) "Aren't you a saint?" (No, I just have a lot of kids. Pass the wine, please.)

Around here most seem to think that more then two children is a large family...three of four would be “really large” and in their minds it would be to much work. I am somewhat surprised by this since I live in the middle of farm country where large families were common just a generation ago.

I too have been questioned about my income (less then what your husband earns) because I have seven children. What really is telling to me is that the ones that ask me the most about the money side of raising a large family are people that I know are making a lot more then I am...bank presidents and vice presidents, owners of real estate companies, etc...and yet their children (never more then two per family) always want to hang out at our house because we have more things to do at the house...they can play pool, ping pong, air hockey, Foosball, video games (five different systems), watch movies, read books (thousands of books) and interact with different animals on the farm. All this on a modest income and no debt. It really is about where we place our priorities.

It really is about where we place our priorities.

Yes, exactly. Do you find that people think they have to make excuses to you for not having more children, when you've never said anything to them on the subject?

I'm afraid I roll my eyes rudely at most people who volunteer that they "couldn't afford to have more," since I know what their house, their two SUVs, and their pro football season passes cost ... but they probably believe it, or they wouldn't expect me to believe it.

“Do you find that people think they have to make excuses to you for not having more children, when you've never said anything to them on the subject?”

Yes...I here it often, and normally it is about the money. Over the last several years (since joining FR) I have been more blunt about challenging them on their excuses. I often point out those same things...$300,000 house (3000 sq. ft.) for mom, dad, and one child...three new cars in the garage (only two drivers)...spending $100 a month on cable/satellite TV...I try to point out that it will cost no extra money to heat the house, pay the mortgage, watch the TV with three children versus one child. My feeling is that the real issue is not about money but that they do not want to spend the extra TIME on another child...

My feeling is that the real issue is not about money but that they do not want to spend the extra TIME on another child.

That's entirely possible. It's certainly not that the house costs more with twelve people in it than with three!

At the same time, I think many people have never even thought about what would be so bad about having more children. The cultural standard is two, and they just accept it without thinking it through.