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This year has been very full. Already we’ve had, as well as our regular prayer
meetings and vigils, two public meetings devoted to the cause of Courage. Our
Bellingen retreat (Sept. 27/28 - you are welcome to partake in sessions if
you can’t attend the two days) will be closely followed by a visit from Catholic
apologist, Raymond de Souza.
Raymond is coming to address RE teachers, but he is happy to talk with us on
one of his favorite topics – Marriage and the Mind of Christ. I heard Raymond
talk at the HLI Conference recently. He is dynamic, inspiring, relevant and
faith-filled. He is a Brazilian-born Aussie, husband and father of eight
home-schooled children, runs St. Gabriel Communications and has a regular
Catholic radio program in Perth. Mark your diary – Oct 21 7.30pm
When they hear the word “pro-Life”, many people think “anti-abortion”, but
while we are anti-abortion, it would be simplistic to regard anti-abortion as
the be-all-and-end-all; there is so much more to the pro-Life apostolate. To be
pro-life means to live fully in the way God desires for each and every person
whatever his state in life – whether single or married, lay or religious, young
or old. To put into action God’s plan for us from the beginning so as to achieve
His ends – eternal happiness for all His children.
This means different works for each of us – building strong marriages,
raising children, school teaching, caring for the sick, aged and disabled,
praying outside abortuaries, offering support to distressed pregnant women and
girls, teaching chastity, explaining Church teaching, taking political action,
teaching Natural Family Planning etc. etc. etc.
To promote this last mentioned, we publish a report from a teacher of NFP.
Please remember to pray for the NFP teachers that their work may grow and bear
good fruit and that others will join them to spread the good news that NFP can
bring greatly improve and strengthen the sacrament of marriage.
I look forward to seeing at least some of you in Bellingen. Please pray for
the success of this weekend. If you haven’t yet made your bookings, there’s no
time like the present.
Natural Family Planning (NFP)
A most important work in the Church today is that of teaching NFP, because
NFP helps to build loving marriages. Would you, or someone you know, like to
train as a teacher of NFP??????????? Report on the Billings 50th International
Conference March 2003 in Melbourne.
From Erin Hassett, Grafton Catherine Magner (Casino), Deirdre Little (Bellingen)
and I attended the 50th Anniversary of the Billings Ovulation Method. 30 nations
were represented including Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Canada, Scotland, Hong
Kong, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Singapore, Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Chile,
Argentina, India, and Pakistan. Participants included teachers, doctors,
obstetricians, scientists, priests, nuns, bishops, and archbishops.
The opening Mass was concelebrated by Abp Denis Hart (Melbourne), Abp Wilson
(Adelaide), Abp Peter Turkson (Ghana), the Papal Nuncio and many bishops and
priests. Drs. John and Lyn Billings received an award from Pope John Paul II and
married couples in the congregation joined with Drs. John and Lyn Billings in a
renewal of marriage vows.
The 2-1/2 day conference presented a variety of speakers from various
countries. Prof. James Brown of Melbourne, who has worked with the Billings for
decades to validate their findings, presented the latest data of scientific
findings of the Billings Ovulation Method. Of particular interest was a paper
given on behalf of Prof. Shao-Zhen Qian of China, where couples seeking
permission to marry, must choose a form of Family Planning to comply with the
one child policy. The presenters indicated that the people of China are very
enthusiastic. BOM has a 99% success rate in the avoidance of pregnancy (W.H.O.
figures), and its recognition by China as an accepted Family Planning method
since 1995 has, where implemented, enabled the government-imposed abortion rate
to drop dramatically. Australian presenters spoke of the Christian Sexuality
program ‘Loving for Life’, its reception in Catholic schools and its success.
The conference was followed by 4 days teacher training. BOM teaches couples
to understand their fertility and use that knowledge to either achieve or avoid
a pregnancy if there is a serious reason. BOM has a high success rate with
couples experiencing fertility problems. For sub-fertile couples there is a 60%
success rate of achieving pregnancy within 6 months.
Talking with teachers from around the world, about their countries’ unique
issues and how they address these, was fascinating. Sadly the majority of
countries have been influenced by the culture of death. To meet with nuns &
priests who have been missionaries for decades left me in awe. To attend Mass
daily with Catholics from around the world was truly life changing. To
experience the universality of the Church was inspiring. To feel the vibrancy of
the Church ... She is alive! To have the support of the clergy was fantastic. To
meet so many teachers, faithful to Christ’s teaching, each working in his own
corner of the world, has sent me home rejuvenated and challenged.
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That Last
Lonely Mile Home
Dedicated to our aged
and those who lovingly accompany them on their journey
Blessed
are they who understand my faltering step and palsied hand.
Blessed
are they who know my ears today, must strain to catch the things they
say.
Blessed
are they who seem to know, my eyes are dim and my wits are slow.
Blessed
are they who looked away when coffee was spilled at table today.
Blessed
are they with the cheery smile, who stop to chat for a little while.
Blessed
are they who never say, "You told that story twice to-day".
Blessed
are they who know the way, to bring back memories of yesterday.
Blessed
are they who make it known that I'm loved, respected, and not alone.
Blessed
are they who know my loss in finding the strength to carry the Cross,
And
blessed are they who'll shed a tear, when my final hour is drawing near.
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GOOD READING!
The article on Anne Lastman and her work was in the latest newsletter of
Victims of Abortion, Broken Branches and I am passing it on. Also enclosed you
will find an order form for Sam and Bethany Torode’s “OPEN EMBRACE - A
Protestant Couple Rethinks Contraception”. Anne will receive $3 for each book
ordered if you mention her name. As she says in her article, she is
funded totally by donations.
This wonderful little book, which I read it on my return train trip from
Sydney, amply demonstrates that contraception is not only a Catholic issue, but
is one for all people. It is so beautifully written and one might think the
authors are Catholic. The only giveaways occur in the title, and in the Forward
where Bill Muehlenburg denies that Marriage is a sacrament. Apart from that, I
have no reservations in recommending it, especially as a gift for a newly
engaged couple. The Torodes are young (in their very early twenties) and I am
awed by their youthful wisdom. They present a winsome case for the integrity and
sweetness of married sex au naturel.
I suppose that young people today have the benefit of hindsight that people
of my age (50’s) did not have, i.e. the sad spectacle of broken marriage, with
aftermath, that is endemic in our society. How wonderful it could have been if
we “oldies” had had some of their openness, selflessness and readiness to speak
up against the prevailing “worldly wisdom”.
Sweetly written and solidly argued, this is a head-clearing, heartwarming
read. It would be a great book to have in your library. Spread the word!
Adapted from Harper's November 1992 "SHE COMES TO YOU FOR AN ABORTION.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?"
by Juli Loesch Wiley
1. You are a complex, easily damaged, and sensitive individual, and so is
this newly conceived life. Did you know that some research has found emotional
or physical trauma in more than 90% women who abort?
2. Are you aware that your son or daughter is developing beautifully,
responds to a variety of stimuli, and is already sensitive to pain?
3. Are you considering abortion because of other people in your life? Your
husband? Boyfriend? Parents? Employer? Is it fair that you will be subjected to
physical, emotional, and spiritual trauma because they possibly have an
anti-child attitude?
4. Did you know that it's against the law for anyone to discriminate against
you for being pregnant or having a child?
5. Is the father of the baby a responsible and loving person? Does he care
about you? Does he care about his baby? Could he rise to the challenge of
fatherhood?
6. Is there even one woman in your life whom you love and respect:
Grandmother? Sister? Teacher? Flatmate? Do you trust her enough to ask her to
help you? Would she stand by you and your child during this pregnancy and
afterward?
7. Are you aware that you're carrying a wanted child?
8. Would you abort: If you knew that this were the only baby you would ever
conceive? If you knew this child were uniquely gifted in some way? If you knew
this child were destined to make one other human being supremely happy?
9. Would aborting your baby conflict with other values in your life? A belief
in nonviolence? An ethic of "live and let live"? A commitment to natural or
holistic living?
10. Do you believe in the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have
others do unto you?" Would you want someone to turn against you and physically
destroy you because they weren't ready to deal with you at this time?
11. Do you believe in God? That God made you? That God made the baby you are
carrying? Did God allow this new human to come into being for some purpose?
12. If your circumstances were different and you didn't have the problems you
have now, would you want this baby? If so, can we start there and work backward
together, attacking the problems rather than the baby?
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