Humanae Vitae MINISTRY

 

 

Introduction

            As Catholics, we are saddened by the all-too-frequent reminders that for many people, human life has little value. How could our society have degraded to this point? Has the culture of death taken root so deeply in our lives that we must continue on this path inexorably to the end of mankind? These seemingly vexing questions can be answered by focusing on the Word of God and the true teachings of the Catholic Church, as promulgated in Humane Vitae, by Pope Paul VI.

Rejection of Truth Causes Insidious Harm

When this encyclical was released in 1968, artificial contraception had already made its way into the lives of practicing Catholics and many of the faithful in the United States, Canada and Europe refused to accept it. The call for generosity in procreation, true responsible parenting and the prohibition of birth control, clearly set forth in Humanae Vitae were seen as requiring too much sacrifice. The conflict created by the ensuing debate between supporters of the Pope and dissenters, as well as the fear of alienating parishioners, has silenced the majority of the clergy for the past 30 years. Yet the truth remains.

We are all aware that despite the consistent teaching on the evil of artificial contraception in the Catholic Catechism, the prevailing practice in many areas of the Church today is to make exceptions for this sin. While our conscience is the witness to everything we do, it is not the originator of moral truth. God is the only source of moral truth. There are no special circumstances, nor can there be valid excuses for ignoring the true teaching of the Church. The insidious harm to society, especially women and the unborn, as foreseen in Pope Paul VI’s encyclical has indeed come about. To slow down and ultimately halt this ongoing damage, we must as Catholics and as a community, return to the Truth.

Conference Ministry

To that end, Humanae Vitae Conference Ministry has been specifically designed to assist all clergy in rejuvenating the pulpit with the teachings of the encyclical. The first Conference was held in 1998 at the Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California, where it was a bi-annual event for three years, recommended by the Diocese of San Diego. These Humanae Vitae Conferences are organized through us in concert with each local Diocese, Parish or other Catholic organization which generously agrees to sponsor the program.  Humanae Vitae conferences are now held nation-wide.

God’s Promise and Our Responsibility

We have time to repent and return to the way of God. “What we await are new heavens and a new earth where, according to His promise, the justice of God will reside. So, beloved, while waiting for this, make every effort to be found without stain or defilement and at peace in His sight. Consider that our Lord’s patience is directed toward salvation” 2 Peter 3:13-15A. Jesus said, “He who hears you hears me.” Therefore, Catholics look to their Priests for moral guidance. The Church relies on her Priests, Deacons and men and women religious to bring the Truth to the people. To assist you in fulfilling this command, the Conference speakers will provide the tools you will need to communicate with others who may not initially perceive that our society is on the wrong path:

v     The fundamentals of God’s plan for life as set forth in Humanae Vitae;           

v     The consequences of our rejection of His plan, as predicted in the encyclical;

v     Methods to effectively teach Humanae Vitae from the pulpit and through parish educational programs;

v     A CD recording of three sample homilies entitled “The Church’s Moral Teaching on Contraception”. 

Assisting Catholics in re-examining and accepting God’s plan for life requires confidence, conviction and courage.  All Priests, Deacons and Men and Women Religious are warmly invited to come to the Humanae Vitae Conference and be fortified for the task. 

 

v     To find scheduled conferences, see Conference Listing

 

v     Conference Program Set up a Local Conference    Budget 

 Conference Testimonials