More than 50 years ago, the Vatican, led by Pope Paul VI – a thoughtful and conscientious man – deliberated over the newly invented contraceptive Pill for women. Could it be regarded as a legitimate method of regulating fertility? Many Catholic scholars thought it could. The Pill had been pioneered by a Catholic doctor, John Rock, and he had done much of his field research in Puerto Rico, among Catholic mothers who were anxious to limit their families.
It was a rabbi who explained to me why the contraceptive Pill was the most acceptable form of birth control – as far as he was concerned, for orthodox Jews. Barrier methods were frowned upon precisely because they placed an impediment between a couple who should be “two in one flesh”, whereas the contraceptive Pill was a medication which placed no obstruction to conjugality. From this rabbinical lesson, I could see why the contraceptive Pill came so near to getting papal approval back in 1968.
And now we are on the cusp of the launch of a contraceptive “Pill” for men, currently being pioneered by (among others) Professor Richard Anderson at the University of Edinburgh. Trials have taken place – this “Pill” is a jab rather than an oral medication – and it seems that the procedure is, clinically, reasonably successful. (Though there are side-effects, which most drugs have.) So, will the Vatican return to discuss this new chapter in the ever-evolving story of fertility control?
Possibly not, for the moment. But it’s an interesting development, with many psychological ramifications. The pharmaceutical companies are reported to be doubtful about marketing it – they’re not sure they could trust men to take it.
And I suspect some women might feel that a male contraceptive jab means a man “taking control”. I have encountered wives who were furious when their husbands had a vascectomy. Fertility management often comes down to trust and love between the couple.
Yet it’s a subject in which there is continuous development. One of the most fascinating experiments this year was carried out by a Danish researcher, Dr Elina Burglund, who created an app for natural fertility cycles. It’s not perfected yet, but Dr Burglund believes that it’s a way of helping women to understand and direct their fertility – and her husband says it enhances the marital relationship. From rhythm to algorithm!
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I have a little book of reflections published this month (A Day at a Time, from New Island Books, Dublin), and in it I have described “the best sermon I ever heard”, which I wrote about originally in the Catholic Herald.
This memorable sermon was given by Fr Eamonn Whelan, parish priest for some years at Deal in Kent, and it recalled his experience when he was stranded on a motorway and nobody came to his aid – until a fierce-looking phalanx of Hell’s Angels drew up, and rescued him with great kindness. And that, said Fr Eamonn, is the story of the Good Samaritan.
Then just last weekend, I learned that Father Eamonn, who has suffered from a chest illness (COPD) for some time, is to be admitted to a hospice in Dublin, his homeplace.
He is fondly thought of by his parishioners in Deal, and I’d like him to know that he wins my personal best-sermon award too for an unforgettable story.
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Poor Italy – it has suffered so many afflictions this year, not the least being the repeated earthquakes destroying its historic (and holy) architecture and inflicting suffering on so many.
It has also been on the front line for the refugee crisis, taking in so many refugees where other countries – further away geographically – wonder how they can manage their lesser quotas. The small Irish navy has been diligent in rescuing refugees from drowning in the Mediterranean, but so far the practice has resulted in bringing these poor people to Italy.
Italy also has an economic and banking crisis, and a demographic crisis. The Italian minister for health pleaded with couples to have more babies, only to be angrily rebuffed by women’s groups who said there were insufficient childcare arrangements to support families.
I think, however, that Italy will always be loved by all those who know it. Let’s hope that 2017 brings Italy more blessings.
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