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This July marks the 40^th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI’s counter-cultural encyclical that upheld Church teaching on contraception.

In his weekly letter to Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishioners, Fr. John Bonavitacola said the encyclical was “perfectly timed to coincide with the sexual revolution that undertook societies in the West.”

“When it comes to most things we do to the human body, not to mention the ecology, we seem to insist on an all-natural, pesticide free approach,” he wrote. “Except when it comes to marital relations. Then we rationalize lots of ways to introduce artificial contraception.”

Fr. Bonavitacola hopes to offer more reflections on the encyclical in the coming weeks.

Things are also happening on a diocesan level to promote the Church’s teaching on contraception.

The Phoenix Natural Family Planning Center, which used to be a separate, non-profit organization, became the diocesan Office of Natural Family Planning July 1.

Natural Family Planning classes continue to be provided at parishes throughout the diocese. Natural Family Planning, or “NFP,” is a way “to cooperate with the natural pattern of fertility and infertility implanted in our bodies by God to achieve or postpone pregnancy,” according to the diocesan Web site.

The Church teaching remains controversial, with an estimated 90 percent of American Catholics supporting contraception, according to a 2005 poll. But the Church in Phoenix continues to valiantly uphold this loving teaching every day.

- JD

Some related stories on www.catholicsun.org:

• Bishop Olmsted’s series “Self-giving Love”
• Bishop Olmsted’s July 19, 2007 column: “Humanae Vitae: A witness to Christ’s faithfulness”
• Bishop releases booklet of reflections on Humanae Vitae, Q-and-A
• Church leaders celebrate encyclical’s ‘good news’ (Aug. 3, 2006)
• Katrina Zeno July 20, 2006 column “John Paul II and Humanae Vitae”
• Thousands benefit from Natural Family Planning