杏MAP导航 Francis upholds "Billings Revolution"

杏MAP导航

In a message to participants in the WOOMB International Congress Rome on the Billings Method, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlights its ongoing contribution to the understanding of human sexuality and to a fuller appreciation of the relational and procreative dimensions of the couple, saying that use of methods based on the natural rhythms of fertility should be encouraged.

By Lisa Zengarini

杏MAP导航 Francis has called for a 鈥渘ew revolution鈥� in today鈥檚 way of thinking human sexuality, after the so-called sexual revolution and the breakdown of taboos in the Sixties, by refocusing on its strict connection with the fundamental vocation of each person which is the 鈥済ift of self鈥�.

The beauty of human sexuality

鈥淲e need to discover the beauty of human sexuality by once again turning to the great book of nature, learning to respect the value of the body and the generation of life, with a view to authentic experiences of conjugal love鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 wrote in a message addressed to participants in the WOOMB International Congress hosted from 28-29 April by the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome.

WOOMB is a U.S. based organization founded in the 1970鈥檚 to help spread the Billings Ovulation Method for natural family planning, which was pioneered in 1953 by Australian physician John Billings and his wife Evelyn as an alternative to artificial contraception. As such this method is endorsed by the Catholic Church, as well as being approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The relational and procreative dimensions of human sexuality

In his message to the Congress, titled 鈥淭he 鈥楤illings revolution鈥� 70 years later: From Fertility Knowledge to Personalized Medicine鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis notes that over the past seven decades the Billings Method has continued to prove 鈥渢imely and challenging, since it has led to serious reflection on a number of essential areas鈥�.

These include 鈥渢he need for education in the value of the human body, an integrated and integral vision of human sexuality, an ability to cherish the fruitfulness of love even when not fertile, the building up of a culture that welcomes life and ways to confront the problem of demographic collapse鈥�.

鈥淭he original momentum of what has been called the 鈥淏illings revolution鈥� has not diminished, but continues to contribute to the understanding of human sexuality and a fuller appreciation of the relational and procreative dimensions of the couple.鈥�

Citing , 杏MAP导航 Francis goes on to reiterate the need to keep in mind 鈥渢he inseparable connection the unitive and procreative meanings of the conjugal act鈥�, against the 鈥渞elativistic and trivialized view of human sexuality鈥� prevailing today.

Sexuality as the gift of self

鈥淟acking this鈥�, he says, 鈥渢he experience of sexuality is impoverished, reduced to sensations that soon become self-referential, and its dimensions of humanity and responsibility are lost鈥�, resulting, amongst other things, in gender violence.

鈥淲e are tending to lose sight of the connection between sexuality and the fundamental vocation of each person, the gift of self, which finds particular fulfilment in conjugal and family love.鈥�

Hence the importance of educating young people on the truth of human sexuality as a genuine expression of self-giving.

Artificial procreation, trade in gametes and surrogate parenthood are wrong

Reflecting further on the relationship between sexuality and procreation, 杏MAP导航 Francis remarked that the Billings Method, together with other similar natural methods, represents 鈥渙ne of the most suitable means for realizing responsibly the desire to be parents鈥�, also for addressing infertility problems avoiding the ethical issues related to the modern artificial methods which separate procreation from sexual relationship.

鈥淭oday the ideological and practical separation of the sexual relationship from its generative potential has resulted in the quest for alternative forms of having a child, no longer through marital relations but through the use of artificial processes. While it is appropriate to assist and support a legitimate desire to conceive with the most advanced scientific knowledge and technologies that can enhance fertility, it is wrong to create test tube embryos and then suppress them, to trade in gametes and to resort to the practice of surrogate parenthood.鈥�

In this regard, the message remarks the fundamental contribution of Catholic universities, and Faculties of Medicine in particular, to advancing research in this field.

The pastoral value of promoting knowledge of fertility and natural methods

Bringing his message to a close, 杏MAP导航 Francis also underscores the 鈥減astoral value鈥� of promoting knowledge of fertility and natural methods in that they help "couples to be more conscious of their marital vocation and to bear witness to the Gospel values of human sexuality鈥�.

Therefore, he concludes, 鈥渢he use of methods based on the natural rhythms of fertility should be encouraged鈥�.

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