'Humanae Vitae' Conference Speaker Cites Pope Paul VI's Vision

By JOHN WOODS

A seminary professor speaking at an archdiocesan conference marking the 40th anniversary of the issuance of "Humanae Vitae" ("Of Human Life") said that Pope Paul VI's stance against artificial birth control looks increasingly prophetic based on what has transpired in the years since then.

Speaking about the pontiff's ability to look forward and predict the perils brought on by what she referred to as the "contraceptive culture" that has taken hold, Dr. Janet Smith asked, "How did Pope Paul VI know it was going to be such a disaster?"

Dr. Smith, the Father Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Issues at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, is also a consultor to the Pontifical Council on the Family. She delivered two talks, "Humanae Vitae: Controversy and Prophecy" and "The Connection Between Contraception and Same—Sex Unions" at the afternoon conference Oct. 4 sponsored by the archdiocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office and St. Vincent Ferrer parish in Manhattan. A crowd of 250 people, including many who appeared to be in their 20s and 30s, attended the conference and a concluding Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer Church.

Pope Paul VI made several predictions about what would transpire if contraceptives became widely available, Dr. Smith said. Among them was a general lowering of morality, a lessening of respect for women, coercive control by governments over sexuality, and bodies becoming like machines. As an illustration of one of the points, Dr. Smith cited China's one child per family policy that results in fines and, sometimes, forcible abortions when the child limit is exceeded.

Dr. Smith took her audience on a fascinating, detail—filled journey of the history of how contraception was regarded within the Catholic Church and by other churches and religions. She noted that there was "no dissent from Church teaching until the late 1950s" and then "a firestorm" of protest in the mid—1960s. The dissent was voiced by seminary professors and theologians and also was taken up at the parish level, she said.

It was in such a restive environment that Pope Paul VI weighed in with the Humanae Vitae encyclical, which came after long study on the issue by papally appointed commissions. Many had predicted that the pope would reverse the Church's teaching on artificial contraception, but they would turn out to be wrong.

"The Church is always a sign of contradiction to the times," Dr. Smith said.

She noted that the prevalence of contraceptive use in America has coincided with some startling statistics. The percentage of babies born out of wedlock skyrocketed from 6 percent of all births in 1960 to 37 percent in 2005. One of five Americans now has an incurable, sexually transmitted infection, and the rate of infertility and of divorce have greatly increased.

Dr. Smith did note reason for optimism, in her response to a question from the audience. She said that seminaries are doing a much better job of training future priests to carry forth the lessons of Humanae Vitae.

"Seminaries have all gotten better, and some have gotten very good," she said.

After the talks by Dr. Smith, three married couples shared their stories of living the Church's teaching on human life. All are Natural Family Planning (NFP) instructors.

Speaking with CNY before their presentation as their children played busily at their feet, Dave and Colleen Toder of New Paltz called NFP "a blessing in our marriage."

The Toders, parents of six and residents of New Paltz, said they were looking forward to letting others know about the beneficial effect that practicing NFP has had on their marriage. They have been NFP instructors for six years at classes given at St. Augustine's in Highland.

Auxiliary Bishop Gerald T. Walsh, rector of St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, celebrated Mass in the parish church to conclude the day.

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