"Pregnancy is not a disease, and fertility is not a pathological condition to be suppressed by any means technically possible." - Cardinal Daniel Di Nardo
The Cardinal is addressing the Institute of Medicine's recommendation to the Department of Health and Human Services to mandate that surgical sterilization and all FDA approved birth control be covered by insurance companies. This recommendation would seriously do more than to undermine the right to life for all persons. This recommendation is being heralded by groups such as Planned Parenthood as a step in the right direction. Some commentators are noting that free birth control and surgical sterilization will help taxpayers by reducing unwanted pregnancies and the ensuing welfare children borne out unwanted pregnancies. At the heart of this is a complete misunderstanding of the source of unwanted pregnancies and pregnancies out of wedlock. The first misunderstanding is the nature of sex inside the covenant of sacramental marriage. Marriage is the fulfillment of man's response to God's call to be fruitful and multiply. When people live faithfully inside sacramental marriage and they lovingly have children, they participate in God's creative nature. At the heart of this issue in this reflection on the Cardinal's quote is the lack of the Institute of Medicine and the Department of Health and Human Services perspective on this issue. The recommendation does nothing to address the underlying issue of the pervasive nature of sexuality in today's culture. It also builds on our culture's desire to shift responsibility away from our own actions.
Neither God or the Church is looking to stifle sexuality but rather to allow God to teach us what the true meaning of love is and how we ought to properly express it. Even more so, the Church wants people to be healed of the brokenness and the wounds they carry and express through unsafe behavior. It is our duty and our salvation to work to advance the gospel message and live faithfully according to God's will. So we must let Jesus lead us to truth and trust in the Holy Spirit.
The Cardinal is addressing the Institute of Medicine's recommendation to the Department of Health and Human Services to mandate that surgical sterilization and all FDA approved birth control be covered by insurance companies. This recommendation would seriously do more than to undermine the right to life for all persons. This recommendation is being heralded by groups such as Planned Parenthood as a step in the right direction. Some commentators are noting that free birth control and surgical sterilization will help taxpayers by reducing unwanted pregnancies and the ensuing welfare children borne out unwanted pregnancies. At the heart of this is a complete misunderstanding of the source of unwanted pregnancies and pregnancies out of wedlock. The first misunderstanding is the nature of sex inside the covenant of sacramental marriage. Marriage is the fulfillment of man's response to God's call to be fruitful and multiply. When people live faithfully inside sacramental marriage and they lovingly have children, they participate in God's creative nature. At the heart of this issue in this reflection on the Cardinal's quote is the lack of the Institute of Medicine and the Department of Health and Human Services perspective on this issue. The recommendation does nothing to address the underlying issue of the pervasive nature of sexuality in today's culture. It also builds on our culture's desire to shift responsibility away from our own actions.
Neither God or the Church is looking to stifle sexuality but rather to allow God to teach us what the true meaning of love is and how we ought to properly express it. Even more so, the Church wants people to be healed of the brokenness and the wounds they carry and express through unsafe behavior. It is our duty and our salvation to work to advance the gospel message and live faithfully according to God's will. So we must let Jesus lead us to truth and trust in the Holy Spirit.
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