BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy celebrated the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, the encyclical from Paul VI, by asking every deacon, priest and bishop to reread and re-educate their flock with this prophetic document.
The organization also pledged support for all bishops who confront and deny Holy Communion to unrepentant Catholic politicians that support abortion, if prior attempts to enlighten their consciences fail.
A national association of 600 priests and deacons, the CCC met in Baltimore, MD, July 14-17 for its 33rd annual convocation. Dr. Janet Smith, Fr. Thomas Euteneuer (HLI) and Fr. Peter West (Priests for Life) and Mr. Thomas McKenna were speakers.
All of them discussed the perennial truths taught in Humanae Vitae, namely, that human life is sacred from the first moment of conception until natural death and that it is gravely immoral to separate the unitive (love) and procreative (life) ends of conjugal love. Hence, abortion, contraception, in vitro fertilization, et al. are considered sinful and immoral and to be avoided.
Dissent from Humanae Vitae, which was in vogue in the late 1960's is on the decline in Catholicism since the pontificates of John Paul II and now Benedict XVI. While sometimes a difficult teaching to embrace and maintain, it is nevertheless the only means to uphold the natural law and to safeguard the sanctity of the human person, marriage and the family as well as civilization itself.
Forty years ago, opponents of Humanae Vitae wanted Pope Paul VI to change the Church's ban on contraception due to the then newly developed birth control pill. Experts point out, however, that since the advent of the Pill, instances of breast, uterine and other forms of female cancer have increased in proportion to the proliferation of the Pill. Sexual promiscuity, deviancy, venereal disease, increase in divorces, illegitimate births, and a host of other social ills threatening society and the Church.
The CCC challenges all its brother clergy to teach, explain and defend this most timely encyclical.
A plea was made to the national conference of bishops (USCCB) so that an accurate and eloquent English translation of the Roman Missal be approved expediently as long as it does not insult the intelligence of the faithful and does not betray the authentic Latin text. The CCC thanked Pope Benedict for his visible efforts to restore more reverence to sacred worship through personal example when celebrating the liturgy.
