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Catholics urged to learn about natural family planning during awareness week

Homilies

American Catholic Tribune Jul 24, 2025

Webp 5
Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre | Archdiocese of Louisville

Couples are being encouraged to participate in the "sacred task" of responsible parenthood during National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, which takes place from July 20-26. Deacon Stephen Bowling, director of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Family and Life Ministries Office, clarified that the natural family planning (NFP) promoted by the archdiocese is not what people might remember from their grandparents' time.

Angela Hobbs, a certified NFP instructor within the archdiocese, explained that NFP involves observing and understanding fertility signs to identify fertile windows. This method differs from artificial contraception, which is opposed by the Catholic Church. Hobbs highlighted that there are "solid, scientific methods that are healthy and safe," as well as accepted by the Church.

“The Church teaches that there should be respect for marital intimacy, and part of that marital intimacy is that it should be unitive and procreative,” Hobbs stated. She added that using NFP respects these aspects.

Deacon Bowling noted that various methods of NFP can help couples either pursue or avoid pregnancy. Pope Paul VI’s encyclical “Humanae Vitae” allows for legitimate reasons to avoid conception due to financial, physiological, or medical conditions.

Hobbs has assisted couples who needed to avoid pregnancy for serious medical reasons. She emphasized understanding combined fertility since sperm can live up to five days while a woman is fertile for 12 to 24 hours each cycle.

“If they’re trying to achieve a pregnancy... but if they’ve discerned it’s not a good time... then they make decisions to abstain,” Hobbs explained. She teaches the Marquette method involving a fertility monitor, with other methods relying on indicators like basal body temperature and cervical mucus.

While acknowledging challenges such as discerning fertility markers and abstaining from intimacy when necessary, Hobbs remarked on the benefits when couples trust in God’s plan: “Anything worth pursuing is going to have its challenges and take work.”

The Archdiocese of Louisville offers multiple NFP methods locally. For more information or contact with an instructor, reach out to their Office of Family and Life Ministries at 636-0296 or email family@archlou.org.

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