Why Does Silent Voices Encourage NFP?
By: Sharon Pearce
When we first "birthed" Silent Voices, I had the typical non-Catholic perspective on birth control - "it was a far better alternative to nothing - and if people were using birth control, there would be fewer abortions." It didn't take me long to realize that I'd been pretty naive in my thinking - because we were seeing many women who were using birth control who were getting pregnant! Granted, many of these women weren't using birth control consistently - or correctly - but they were making the attempt, and in their minds, that was good enough - they were "being responsible." And - because they were "being responsible" - it wasn't their fault that they were pregnant, so having an abortion was their "right."
The other thing that was happening during these early years was that I was reading everything I could get my hands on from the pro-life movement in the US. I wanted to know as much as I could about the issues we were dealing with - from people who had been "in the trenches" for years before we got started. It was the first time I'd ever heard that the Pill could actually cause an early abortion - a chemical abortion - and I was horrified. I never knew that - and I had used the Pill myself for years as "birth control." When I learned how the pharmaceutical companies and powerful medical groups manipulated terminology to get women to accept the Pill without question, I was angry. That's when my eyes were opened and I started to understand why my Catholic co-laborers were so opposed to the Pill and the IUD.
I still didn't see anything wrong with using a barrier method - condoms, diaphragms - or spermicides - those were all "OK" morally. I didn't start to question those options until I traveled to Eastern Europe to help Believers in Russia and Romania start pro-life ministries of their own. I was always surprised when their first question to me was what I thought about birth control - did I think it was morally acceptable? I told them what I knew about the Pill and IUD, but told them that I didn't think anything was wrong with condoms, etc.
As the years passed - and as I continued my habit of reading through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, I started to feel convicted about my position on birth control. I couldn't deny that the Word teaches us that God loves children - that He sees them as a blessing - not a burden - and that sexual intimacy was intended for enjoyment AND procreation. Removing procreation from intimacy makes it less than God intended - and therefore, less of a blessing to married couples. Nowhere in scripture did I see God saying we should limit family size - in fact, it says the complete opposite - "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court." Psalm 127:3-5
SO - Silent Voices started talking to women about birth control choices - answering their questions - offering them a place to discuss their concerns. Initially we referred interested couples to an NFP instructor I'd met. She had been teaching the Billings Method for decades, and I began to worry about what would happen when she was no longer available as a referral. I heard that there was a teacher training class available at the San Diego Diocese, and I asked if I would be welcome as a non-Catholic, and they said "Of course!" I took the class in 2005, and started teaching! I LOVE empowering women to understand the beauty of their body - their gift of fertility! I love teaching couples to respect how she has been created!
When we first "birthed" Silent Voices, I had the typical non-Catholic perspective on birth control - "it was a far better alternative to nothing - and if people were using birth control, there would be fewer abortions." It didn't take me long to realize that I'd been pretty naive in my thinking - because we were seeing many women who were using birth control who were getting pregnant! Granted, many of these women weren't using birth control consistently - or correctly - but they were making the attempt, and in their minds, that was good enough - they were "being responsible." And - because they were "being responsible" - it wasn't their fault that they were pregnant, so having an abortion was their "right."
The other thing that was happening during these early years was that I was reading everything I could get my hands on from the pro-life movement in the US. I wanted to know as much as I could about the issues we were dealing with - from people who had been "in the trenches" for years before we got started. It was the first time I'd ever heard that the Pill could actually cause an early abortion - a chemical abortion - and I was horrified. I never knew that - and I had used the Pill myself for years as "birth control." When I learned how the pharmaceutical companies and powerful medical groups manipulated terminology to get women to accept the Pill without question, I was angry. That's when my eyes were opened and I started to understand why my Catholic co-laborers were so opposed to the Pill and the IUD.
I still didn't see anything wrong with using a barrier method - condoms, diaphragms - or spermicides - those were all "OK" morally. I didn't start to question those options until I traveled to Eastern Europe to help Believers in Russia and Romania start pro-life ministries of their own. I was always surprised when their first question to me was what I thought about birth control - did I think it was morally acceptable? I told them what I knew about the Pill and IUD, but told them that I didn't think anything was wrong with condoms, etc.
As the years passed - and as I continued my habit of reading through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, I started to feel convicted about my position on birth control. I couldn't deny that the Word teaches us that God loves children - that He sees them as a blessing - not a burden - and that sexual intimacy was intended for enjoyment AND procreation. Removing procreation from intimacy makes it less than God intended - and therefore, less of a blessing to married couples. Nowhere in scripture did I see God saying we should limit family size - in fact, it says the complete opposite - "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court." Psalm 127:3-5
SO - Silent Voices started talking to women about birth control choices - answering their questions - offering them a place to discuss their concerns. Initially we referred interested couples to an NFP instructor I'd met. She had been teaching the Billings Method for decades, and I began to worry about what would happen when she was no longer available as a referral. I heard that there was a teacher training class available at the San Diego Diocese, and I asked if I would be welcome as a non-Catholic, and they said "Of course!" I took the class in 2005, and started teaching! I LOVE empowering women to understand the beauty of their body - their gift of fertility! I love teaching couples to respect how she has been created!
I know that this is a subject that many people see as a "Catholic" issue - Evangelicals aren't concerned about using birth control. Did you know that EVERY denomination - not just Catholics - rejected artificial birth control until 1930? The Lambeth Conference 1930, was a historic event, but for the wrong reason. At this gathering of bishops of the Anglican Communion, they ruled folks in their denomination could use birth control so as to avoid having children.
This decision broke from the 1900-year tradition of Christianity! Up to that point, every Christian denomination taught that using contraception was immoral.
WHAT THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE 1930 DECREED
Here is what the Lambeth Conference 1930 declared that caused an earthquake in Christianity worldwide:
“Where there is a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse (as far as may be necessary) in a life of discipleship and self-control lived in the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Nevertheless, in those cases where there is such a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles.
“The Conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception-control for motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience” (Resolution 15, emphasis added). (Isn't that what contraception has become - something that enables us to have indiscriminate sex - gives us the illusion that we can "have it all" if we just limit our family size - and/or to plan our family when it's "convenient" for us? Our emphasis)
Just to be clear, “other methods may be used” opened the door for Christians of this denomination to begin to use contraception.
Over time, Evangelical denominations walked away from almost 2000 years of historical opposition to birth control of any kind, and embraced the contraceptive culture. Only our Catholic brothers and sisters stood their ground.
Perhaps it's time for Evangelical Christians to reconsider - to return to the long held resistance to "family planning?" I know that makes people uncomfortable - but perhaps it should.
This decision broke from the 1900-year tradition of Christianity! Up to that point, every Christian denomination taught that using contraception was immoral.
WHAT THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE 1930 DECREED
Here is what the Lambeth Conference 1930 declared that caused an earthquake in Christianity worldwide:
“Where there is a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse (as far as may be necessary) in a life of discipleship and self-control lived in the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Nevertheless, in those cases where there is such a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles.
“The Conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception-control for motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience” (Resolution 15, emphasis added). (Isn't that what contraception has become - something that enables us to have indiscriminate sex - gives us the illusion that we can "have it all" if we just limit our family size - and/or to plan our family when it's "convenient" for us? Our emphasis)
Just to be clear, “other methods may be used” opened the door for Christians of this denomination to begin to use contraception.
Over time, Evangelical denominations walked away from almost 2000 years of historical opposition to birth control of any kind, and embraced the contraceptive culture. Only our Catholic brothers and sisters stood their ground.
Perhaps it's time for Evangelical Christians to reconsider - to return to the long held resistance to "family planning?" I know that makes people uncomfortable - but perhaps it should.
