People ignored Humanae Vitae

A conflict has surfaced between the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Department of Health and Human Services over the issue of contraception — specifically whether church sponsored organizations such as schools and hospitals will be required to give employees health insurance including contraceptive services at no additional cost.
The USCCB holds the provision of such services to be a violation of Catholic religious beliefs. HHS calls these preventative services to which employees are entitled by law.
Sadly, although the Catholic teachings on contraception were clearly stated by Pope Paul VI in his 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae, many clergy and laity chose to ignore or reject them.
Pope Paul’s warnings about the consequences of birth regulation seem clearly prophetic. If we had only heeded his warnings, what grief and tragedy might have been avoided?
Instead, we bought the lie that sexual pleasure was an end in itself and not connected with love, marriage, or the Creator’s plan. Declining populations, broken families, rampant disease, and millions of abortions are some of the results.
HHS, seeing pregnancy as a condition to be avoided and drugs or medical intervention as a solution, cites health and cost benefits while ignoring health risks.
The view of pregnancy as a blessing and consequence of the loving union of spouses and their Creator is ignored.
The moral, social, environmental, and economic costs of the anti-birth policy are also overlooked.
Finally, can the state require Catholics to support an activity which they know is immoral?

James Pennell
Beaufort

Helping widows in India

After the article on the Widows of Orissa Fund, “Group helps widows of persecuted Christians in India,” by Christina Lee Knauss came out, St. Mary Magdalene Church’s Outreach Tithe Committee in Greenville called me and got details about the project.
In a few days they approved a sizable donation to the fund. Because of their great generosity many widows will have food, a small income and education for their children. St. Mary’s Women’s Club in Greenville and several donors from across the state have also sent generous donations.
Thank you so much for opening doors for this worthy cause. Many women who were in dire poverty now have hope. Together we show our unity with the suffering church from 10,000 miles away!

Rita Larrivee
Greenville