Life

Dear Friends in Christ,

In the recent election, Californians voted to protect the natural institution of marriage. God has created this institution for the purpose of continuing the human species. Unfortunately, there are people who don’t believe in this purpose of marriage and who see conjugal relations as recreational only. They separate the unitive function of the marital act from the procreative function. This is why birth rates in some countries have dropped to dangerous levels in recent years. There are other causes for this drop in the rate of births, abortion on demand is one cause, but perhaps the most common cause is contraception. By contraception is meant any act that prevents conception. Pope Paul VI describes it this way:

“The direct interruption of the generative process already begun and, above all, direct abortion, even for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of controlling the birth of children. Equally to be condemned is the direct sterilization, whether of the man or the woman, whether permanent or temporary. Similarly excluded is any action, which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation.” (Humanae Vitae, #14)

This is the teaching of the Church; “it is a promulgation of the law of God himself”(#20). That many people disregard this teaching does not take away its binding force. The “contraceptive” mentality so prevalent today has resulted in these lower birth rates and more abortions; because when contraception doesn’t work abortion is chosen as a second option.

In view of this problem of the contraceptive mentality being so prevalent today, some within the Church have given serious thought to promoting the teaching of Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae so that it can be better understood. With this in mind we have invited Fr. Matthew Habiger, OSB to preach at all the Masses on Dec. 6-7 on the subject of God’s plan for life. A couple who teaches natural family planning will also be on hand to introduce modern methods of regulating and spacing births. Please pray that this presentation will benefit our parish.

A Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Fr. Hildebrand

CORRECTION

A few weeks ago I wrote about the morality of voting for pro-abortion candidates. I would like to clarify what was written at the end of that letter. When I said, “To vote for a candidate who favors abortion even though he/she may have many other good qualities is to vote in favor of abortion” I was giving what I see as the logical result of voting for a pro-abortion candidate, in my opinion. If a person suppressed his/her own conscience about the morality of abortion when voting for such a candidate, then that person would run the risk of cooperating in immoral behavior, and “that is something a Christian in good standing cannot do.