By DR. BILL BLANKE
CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE
St. Pope Paul VI, rocked the Catholic world July 25, 1968, by confirming Catholic teaching that contraception is contrary to God's law. I say he rocked the world because the commission that St. Pope John XXIII established during Vatican II, which was expanded by Paul VI, had advised the Pope that the Catholic Church should change its teaching about contraception just like every other Christian denomination had done over the previous 30+ years. The deliberations of the commission had been leaked; therefore, at that time, seminarians were being taught that Church teaching would change. When Paul VI issued his encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” it sent shockwaves across the world.
In “Humanae Vitae,” the pope called for physicians and scientists to develop morally acceptable methods of family planning. This led to the Billings Ovulation Method; the Couple-to-Couple League’s Symptothermal method; the Creighton FertilityCare program; and, more recently, the Marquette model – to name just a few of the currently available methods of natural family planning.
I moved to Evansville in 2001; and soon, “Humanae Vitae” would shape my medical practice. As a cradle Catholic, I had the sense that contraception was wrong; but I never understood the reasons why from homilies, religion class in school or even my medical training at a Catholic medical school. Then, I went to the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2002-03 to become certified as a medical consultant for the Creighton program. This was a life-changing experience for me. With thorough explanation of not only the science but also the theology of natural family planning, I understood the why and took it to heart, and this became the basis of my practice.
While watching a recent presentation by two of the couples who share “The Truth about NFP” for engaged couples in the diocese, I asked for the book that is given to all who attend the sessions. “Good News About Sex And Marriage: Answers to your honest questions about Catholic Teaching,” by Christopher West. This book is filled with wisdom. Here are a couple of brief excerpts:
- "The Church holds out to us her teaching on sex, gender, and marriage. This is great news. But if this is such great news, why do so many people dispute the Church’s teachings? Let’s be honest here. People find many points about Catholic teaching to dispute, but if someone has a bone to pick with the Catholic Church, it is almost always related to sex…People hate being told what to do and what not to do, especially when it comes to sex… We don’t want anyone, not even God, telling us that something we want to do is wrong. We want to determine what is good and evil for ourselves. It’s the problem of pride.”
- “The truth about Christ and what He teaches cannot be determined by popular vote. If God reveals something to be true, it’s not open for dialogue about whether or not it is really true. This does not mean we cannot have an open discussion about a given teaching with the goal of understanding why the Church teaches what she teaches…There is nothing wrong with a person growing in faith posing questions in an earnest quest for truth…The truth is not afraid of your questions. The question is, are you afraid of the truth?”
Since 2001, I have been honored to be involved with The Holy Family Center For Life, our diocese’s organization that promotes natural family planning. Soon-to-be-Deacon Ed Walker is now the president of the board and is supported by many faithful and knowledgeable practitioners and volunteers. I will now be assisting soon-to-be-Deacon Gary Keepes in expanding the work of our local Catholic Medical Association.
Finally, through God ordained circumstances, conversations with my wife Dana, and much prayer, I have applied for the diaconate. I ask for your prayers as I and my fellow applicants continue the discernment process. I pray my experience in healthcare will help me share the good news of our Catholic teaching as outlined so beautifully by Christopher West and others with respect to sex, contraception, abortion, marriage, same-sex attraction and gender-identity questions.
Dr. Blanke and his family are members of Evansville’s Good Shepherd Parish.