Reflections of a New Priest
The Spring and Summer of 2018 were some of the greatest months of my life. In the middle of May I graduated from St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California, after seven years of studies. At the end of that same month I was ordained a priest and celebrated Mass...
It Has Been a Tough (100) Year(s)
A month or so ago, I was checking bags at the airport when the airline attendant said to me: “Father, I know it’s been a tough year for you all!” Her comment caught me by surprise for a couple of reasons. For one, it has been my experience (albeit limited to my...
Open Letter from the Executive Board of CANFP
The last half of 2018 was a difficult time for the Catholic Church. The clerical abuse scandal has again reared its ugly head, and the extent and nature of what has been revealed, has shaken many to the core. For all who strive to grow in the virtue of chastity in...
Humanae Vitae at 50 A Truth Ever Timeless, Ever New
The title of my talk is obviously inspired by St. Augustine in his famous line from the Confessions: “Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!” As he was surprised by the truth of the Christian faith in his own time,...
Whatever is True
Whatever is true, Whatever is honorable, Whatever is just, Whatever is pure, Whatever is lovely, Whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things Phil 4:8 Between the #MeToo and Professor...
What an Amazing Year! Now What?
What a year this has been! I was humbled and gratified how many attendees of the HV50 Celebration shared being deeply impacted and encouraged! The comments on this website are just a glimpse of the feedback we received. Thanks be to God! One question I was...
2018 Calegari Award Recipient: Professor Janet E. Smith, PhD
It is only fitting that in this 50th Anniversary Year of Humanae Vitae, the recipient of the CANFP Calegari Award be none other then its fearless defender, Professor Janet E. Smith. Attendees of the HV HERO Gala erupted in applause in enthusiastic approval...
Excerpt from Professor Smith’s Acceptance Remarks at the HV HERO Gala
It’s been quite the ride, Humanae Vitae, being chosen in a sense by God to defend this document. I always feel like just this little person that is handing ammunition to the troops, and the troops have just done an incredible job getting it out there....
Reflecting on Two Decades of CANFP Membership
Attending the HV50 Conference in July 2018 has given me occasion to reflect on my 22 years as a member of CANFP and what it has meant to me. Not only was I strengthened and enriched at the HV50 Conference but I was also able to visit with old friends and...
Becoming a Pro-Life Physician
I always considered myself pro-life. I was born and raised in a Catholic family, receiving all the Sacraments in a timely fashion. My Father was ordained a permanent Deacon when I was in high school. I attended a Catholic grade/high school and university....
Inspired by HV50 Clergy Day and Conference
I had just graduated from college when Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae (HV) was released, ironically on the day after my birthday. Unfortunately, HV was far from my radar screen. I vaguely recall a bunch of controversy concerning HV back then, but...
Humanae Vitae
1968-A letter penned by a Pope Written with love to give the world hope Poorly received by a world in despair- Most folks thought the Church just didn’t care. Here we are now fifty years later With all our contraception is the world any better? Or has our...
Unprotected – The Untold Story of the Sexual Revolution
I didn’t set out to make a movie about contraception. After all, in a country where sex without babies is largely considered a basic human necessity like air and water, telling a story about the disastrous consequences of rendering the conjugal act sterile...
Treasure the Gift
God loves you. The creator of the universe, the source of truth, loves you. This incredible gift, to be loved by God and each of us called to live for eternity, can be hard to fathom. In his wisdom, he has woven into our lives ways we can get a glimpse of...
Using AMORIS LAETITIA In Defense of Natural Family Planning
“Work of the Enemy” said Gandalf. “Such deeds he loves: friend at war with friend; loyalty divided in confusion of the hearts.” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King, ch. 7, “The Pyre of Denethor The title of this article will doubtless surprise many....
Let’s Renew Our Commitment This Anniversary Year!!
50 years ago, Pope Paul VI heroically persevered, despite intense pressures to the contrary, in inviting us to know and understand the call to be Faithful to God’s Design. It was not new teaching---the Catholic Church has always taught that our sexual...
Giving Thanks to God for the Many Opportunities for a Pastor to Practice Self-Giving Love
Through God, physical fruitfulness can engender spiritual fruitfulness. Spiritual fruitfulness can engender physical fruitfulness. This is part of my understanding of the Church’s teaching with regards to God’s plan for marital love. The love of God is...
Reclaim-Witness-Challenge
Chastity is a difficult, long term matter; one must wait patiently for it to bear fruit, for the happiness of loving kindness which it must bring. But at the same time, chastity is the sure way to happiness.” St. John Paul II, Love & Responsibility...
Medical Consequences of Contraception: How Sterilizing Steroids Disrupt the Spirit, Mind and Body
In Humanae Vitae, Blessed Pope Paul VI made several predictions of what widespread use of contraceptives would lead to. These included an increase in marital infidelity, lowering of moral standards, men considering women as “a mere instrument for the...
A Higher Perspective
When Pope Paul VI wrote Humanae Vitae, it was as if he had a mountain top view of the culture, and could see the many paths that led through the terrain. He could hear the clamor of those who wanted the Church to change, to get with the times, shouting,...