By Tim Rohr
Aside from his now much-maligned elevation of the role of "homemaker," Harrison Butker had much more to say about a couple of other things including the serious leadership problems in our Catholic Church and a reference to "a month."
A Catholic Response to Harrison Butker's Speech - an interview with Bishop Thomas Paprocki
Harrison Butker | Commencement Address 2024 | Benedictine College - May 12, 2024
And by the way, he slams NFP (at about 14:30 into his speech):
"Heterodox ideas abound even within Catholic circles. For let’s be honest. There is nothing good about playing God with having children, whether that be your ideal number or the perfect time to conceive. No matter how you spin it, there is nothing natural about Catholic birth control.”
If the church authorities approved the NFP I do not see why he needs to go against it. Not all families are equal, there are lots of factors that go into it. Mother's psychological health one of the most important.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a tough issue. And I speak as a father of 11 children who could never afford “the next one.” There are a lot of problems with NFP, including when it is used, to quote Butker, as “Catholic birth control.” The CCC says this:
Delete2370 Periodic continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria of morality.
So, it seems like all is well. However, this statement is preceded in Par. 2368 by this:
“For just reasons, spouses may wish to space the births of their children.”
Unfortunately, “just reasons” are not spelled out. But what we do know is that when the Church uses the word “just” it uses it in absolute terms of justice, such as in “Just War.”
In short, “just” means proportionate. And given that “be fruitful and multiply” is the first commandment given by God to Man, we must have “proportionate” reason for intentionally denying new life - be it by “natural” means or otherwise.
Today, NFP is taught to couples in pre-Cana classes in ways that assume the couple does not want to get pregnant right off the bat. This is wrong. During the marriage vows, the man and woman vow to “accept children willingly and lovingly from God.” If they are not ready to do that at the outset, then they are not ready to get married.
I am copying here from an article I wrote about the issue several years ago.
…the Catechism rescues us by its use of the word "just" as in "just cause". However, I've yet to read or hear any attempt to unpack this, so let me give it a go.
When the Church uses "just" relative to moral issues it generally does not mean "just figure it out for yourself". The best parallel would be the use of the word "just" in defining "just war".
There are several key provisions which must be in place for a war effort to be considered "just" and therefore morally "inbounds". One of the key provisions for a Just War is "proportionality": the benefits must equal the damage.
Denying God souls to love (children) - by whatever means - is serious business and demands proportionate (just) cause. And when it comes to marital relations the discernment of that cause cannot be reliant on a list, or anyone's attempt to define that list - which is probably why no pope ever has.
Personal holiness is your only aid in this regard. Total submission to the Holy Spirit and union with God in and through his sacraments is all there is. Throw away your charts and get out your rosaries.
https://1timothy315.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-response-to-attempt-to-define-serious.html
Here is another good reference:
DeleteNATURAL FAMILY PLANNING - IS IT REALLY AN ALTERNATIVE TO CONTRACEPTION?
https://1timothy315.blogspot.com/2010/05/natural-family-planning.html
The true love (which is forever from this earth to a heavenly eternal life, hopefully) between a sacramentally married man and woman is the bond, given by God to procreate. The married couple does not need to calculate anything as far as when to have children, or how many. God has joined that man and woman and it will be God's decision on the number of children he will give them to raise and love for God's glory. When a man and a woman get married, they have committed themselves before God to abide by his will in raising children that he decides to give the married man and woman. If they tried to conceive but cannot, and still want children, they can adopt, and that may be God's will and plan for that family. If they are blessed with one child or more, it is God's will. And if that couple believes strongly in their life together to raise their children, no matter the number, God will provide for them, rich or poor. The foundation in that family, no matter what their circumstances are is the love of God. From God's love comes mutual love among the family members; respect; understanding; support; caring for each other. The parents must make sure the children receive the sacraments as they become adults; that they recognize that love of God and glorify Him by going to Mass and receiving His body and blood regularly--and never stray from the Mass. They must teach their children to confess to a priest and receive the sacrament of Penance regularly. All God wants is the continued commitment of the parents to trust in God and his plan for them, and to care and love their children, who are gifts from God. Raise their children according to God's commandments and love them, so their continued life on this earth continues to connect with God, our Creator. This is what a married couple at the altar before God commits till their death. Hardships of life seem minimal when God is at the center of the family in all they do. As a father, I take this obligation of mine very seriously, and I live my life as close to God as possible, setting an example for my children and grandchildren to never lose sight of God at the center of our lives.
DeleteWell said. Thank you. Would like to hear this from a pulpit every once in a while.
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