Why the Catholic Church has it right

Robert Harrison’s letter of March 24 is filled with distortions and half truths. First, individual conscience is not the ultimate arbiter of truth. Rejection of the Catholic Church’s authority on matters of faith and morals is a mistaken notion of the autonomy of conscience. Sensus fidelium requires the faithful be guided by the teaching Magesterium of the Church. It is not a license for dissent.

Second, Christ gave his teaching authority to the pope for the Universal Church and the bishops (in communion with the pope) for their particular diocese, not theologians nor other faith traditions (which all outlawed contraception until 1930). Faithful theologians help us understand in greater depth revealed truth. Heretical theologians seek to redefine truth — such as the intrinsic evil of contraception — based upon the whims of the culture.

Third, the Catholic Church teaches natural family planning as a legitimate way of regulating births. NFP respects both the unitive and procreative dimensions of marital love while contraception does not. NFP is based on the sexual self-control of both husband and wife which is necessary for a healthy marriage. While the divorce rate of couples using contraception is over 50 percent, the divorce rate among couples using NFP is .2 percent.

Fourth, Mr. Harrison speaks of overpopulation as an issue. In fact Western civilization is facing a demographic winter due to the success of contraception and abortion. Birthrates are falling rapidly. Populations are aging and tax bases are being strained to the breaking point. Immigration is needed to fill labor shortages. Unfortunately, Western governments are trying to export the contraceptive culture to the Third World.

Fifth, life beginning at conception is a scientific fact — period. The Catholic teaching on contraception is true and unchangeable, and we ignore it at our own risk.

Peter Nordlund

Barrington