Via the Natural Family Planning Discussion Board, here's a classic example of the general public's ignorance regarding NFP:
"How long is the Legislature of Nebraska going to do the bidding of the Vatican as expressed by the paid lobbyist of the Roman Catholic Church — Greg Schleppenbach — and the mouthpiece of the same church, Sen. Mike Foley?"
"He was supposedly elected to represent the best interests of the citizens, not the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church. His latest bill shows where his loyalties really lie — not for women but for his church. He is against any form of birth control. He would have women have babies who do not have the resources to care for them."
"If a woman does not have the financial resources to take care of a child, then the state must help with food stamps, welfare, Medicaid and a host of other services. Are the citizens of Nebraska compelled to support the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church as put forward by Foley and Schleppenbach?"
"Natural family planning does not have a successful track record. Birth control and condom use are far more effective. The state should be subsidizing those methods in the search to cut state expenditures."
"Sen. Ernie Chambers is the only person who always stands between Nebraska and the domination of our lives as dictated by the Vatican."
"If the rest of the Catholic legislators want domination of the Vatican over Nebraskans, then back Foley and Schleppenbach. If you think that one religious belief system should not be dominant in state law and practices, then send Foley and his Roman Catholic agenda to the wastebasket."
Ruth C. Snyder, Lincoln
I feel as though I can almost hear this woman snearing.
"[Sen. Mike Foley] was supposedly elected to represent the best interests of the citizens, not the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church."
The "agenda" of the Roman Catholic Church, i.e., the Christ's agenda, is in the best interests of the citizens.
"His latest bill shows where his loyalties really lie — not for women but for his church. He is against any form of birth control. He would have women have babies who do not have the resources to care for them."
*Gasp* He wants people to take responsibility for their actions. I saw a great T-shirt once. It said, "I'm pro-choice; I choose to keep my pants up!"
"If a woman does not have the financial resources to take care of a child, then the state must help with food stamps, welfare, Medicaid and a host of other services. Are the citizens of Nebraska compelled to support the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church as put forward by Foley and Schleppenbach?"
This is a bad thing?!? Ruth makes it sound like helping the less fortunate is a horrible thing. Sure, poor families put a burden on society, but shuldn't we be willing, nay enthusuastic, to take on that burden?
"Natural family planning does not have a successful track record. Birth control and condom use are far more effective."
"What is 'utter nonsense', Alex." A poster at the NFP board responds to this well.
"I read a stat somewhere that about 20% of people using NFP to avoid will become pregnant the first year . . . but it was footnoted with the observation that this is not due to method failure, rather to the couple's knowingly changing their mind about observance of the abstinence rules and taking a chance. So, the NFP equivalent of 'Nah, let's not use a condom tonight honey. Whatever happens, happens.'"
"So, looking at THAT stat alone (20% of NFP users claiming avoidance become pregnant with 1 year) the method does not look very effective– certainly not as effective as ABC. However, I think most people are unaware that that includes people who changed their minds on purpose, and would do better to look at studies of long-term committed-to-TTA efficacy, which does put the success rate about 98-99%."
Anyone know where we might find some concrete stats?
"Sen. Ernie Chambers is the only person who always stands between Nebraska and the domination of our lives as dictated by the Vatican."
That's right. You'd better be careful. The thought police will hear you and then it's all over. You'd better put on your foil hat before the storm troopers arrive!
"If you think that one religious belief system should not be dominant in state law and practices, then send Foley and his Roman Catholic agenda to the wastebasket."
This isn't about separation of church and state. This is about bigotry, pure and simple. I'm not certain what horrific agenda Ms. Snyder thinks the Church has in mind for Nebraska, but it doesn't sound good. Obviously, the world's largest Christian denomination must have evil and nefarious plans for subjugating Nebraskans and doing cruel things to them.
I guess the cat's out of the bag. It's too late to stop us now, though. Nebraska's fate is sealed. When we're finished with Nebraska, we'll move on to the rest of the country, and then the whole world! Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. Muahahahahahahaha….
OK, seriously, how does abstinence education harm people? If people would just keep their libidos in check and only have sex with their spouse, with whom they will remain loyal for their whole lives, there'd be far fewer problems for society, and therefore governments, to worry about.