Category Archives: science and technology

Investigating NFP: An Ob/Gyn’s Point of View

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If the following podcast had a text transcript I’d consider using it for the last post of this series.  Since it doesn’t, I’ll just point you folks to it so you can listen at your leisure.

Today we have a conversation with Dr Paddy Jim Baggot, MD. He is a Catholic Physician board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Geneticist specializing in preconception health and NaProTechnology, which is a new reproductive science for assisting couples to conceive naturally without the use of artificial reproductive techniques.

He has studied at the Pope Paul VI Institute, a health science research insitution dedicated to following Catholic teaching in all aspects of Human reproduction.

Dr Baggot talks about Humanae Vitae, Donum Vitae, Pope Paul VI’s call for Doctors and Men of Science to "considerably advance the welfare of marriage and the family and also peace of conscience, if by pooling their efforts they strive to elucidate more thoroughly the conditions favorable to a proper regulation of births", the Church’s teaching on artificial contraception, In Vitro Fertilization, new ways to treat infertility, Natural Family Planning, etc….

Paddy Jim Baggot on Obstetrics/Gynecology and Catholic Teaching

2006 Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure

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[raceforcure.jpg]This Mother’s Day, I will be participating in the 2006 Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure® to raise pledges in support of the fight against breast cancer.  Since my aunt is currently receiving treatment for breast cancer, this a disease I am particularly motivated to eradicate.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today and the most common cancer among women. It is estimated that more than 1.2 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year worldwide. Early detection is your best defense against this disease. When found early, your chance of survival is greatly increased. Your participation in the pledge program will save lives by providing mammograms to the underinsured and uninsured women and men in 30 counties throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania.

Click here to visit my personal page and pledge your support

By pledging your support of my participation in the Race, you will help provide the necessary funds for vital breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs in our community. Please join me in the fight by pledging your tax-deductible contribution. Simply click the link below to make your online donation. You may also download a pledge/donation form from the website if you prefer to mail in your contribution. Whatever you can give will help! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress. Thank you so much for your time and support in the fight against breast cancer! Every step counts!

To sponsor my participation online, click here.

Investigating NFP: Sidebar on Definitions

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In response to a debate in the comments to my first investigative post about NFP, I’ve decided to query my readers for their opinions.  Please consider answering these surveys. I’d like Catholics and non-Catholics alike to participate.

Survey link: Do you believe that "birth control" and "contraceptive" are synonymous?
Survey link: Do you believe that NFP/FAM is a method of contraception?

Investigating NFP: Preface

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Recently, all hell broke loose (At least, that’s what I call 100+ comments on a small-time blog like mine!) when one of my contributors wrote a post questioning the Church’s position on NFP. Rather than taking the more common stance that NFP puts undue burden on couples and artificial contraception should be permitted, Lightwave seemed to be suggesting that NFP is on a moral plane with certain artificial methods of birth control. I found myself siding with Lightwave, if not with the same tone or delivery, at least with similar sentiment. Neither of us could not understand how NFP does not frustrate "the procreative potential of the marriage act". Furthermore, the arguments that NFP is somehow not a contraceptive because it is natural and involves the omission of an act, rather than the commission of one, seemed spurious. In order to alleviate my ignorance, I’ve decided to find out what the learned teachers and evangelizers of NFP had to say in defense of the practice. I began with Couple to Couple League International (CCLI). They seemed as competitent in this area as any organization I could find. They are well-known and well-respected.

Continue reading →

The Demography Wars (Dance Mix)

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Following Mark Steyn’s excellent expose of the affluent West’s demographic suicide in It’s the Demography, Stupid, Phillip Longman presents an intruiguing piece at Foreign Policy entitled The Return of Patriarchy. Longman writes:

"Throughout the broad sweep of human history, there are many examples of people, or classes of people, who chose to avoid the costs of parenthood. Indeed, falling fertility is a recurring tendency of human civilization. Why then did humans not become extinct long ago? The short answer is patriarchy."

For those who equate patriarchy with misogyny, go get an education. For those who think of parenthood more as a consumer choice (wittingly or otherwise) than a sacrificial commitment to transcendant goods, go take a peek at your future.

Update 03/19/06:  Annie Gottlieb (Ambivablog) has tossed in her two cents on this matter.