re: "The Pill & the Pass" (B.C. Courier Times, 5/10/10)

Dear Mr. Gianficaro,

With availability of "The Pill" having an ominous 50th birthday, "The Pill & the Pass" was indeed timely (www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times/courier_times_news_details/article/28/2010/may/10/the-pill-and-the-pass-1/print.html?type=98&cHash=97b079fe1e125ed3b92080bd36719ca7). Unfortunately, you dropped the ball.

Though called a “contraceptive,” the Pill can prevent implantation of the fertilized egg in a new mom’s uterus. With the possibility of early abortion, just referring to the Pill as a “contraceptive” constitutes mere balm for the conscience.

It's not only pre-born children, for whom the Pill can be lethal. For the woman, even Planned Parenthood acknowledges risks of
· heart attack,
· stroke,
· blood clots,
· high blood pressure,
· liver tumors,
· gallstones,
· jaundice, and
· death
(www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/birth-control-pill-4228.htm). If Planned Parenthood were not earning $136 million each year on contraceptives (www.plannedparenthood.org/files/AR_2007_vFinal.pdf), perhaps they'd also acknowledge the impact of the Pill on breast cancer!

The Pill went hand in hand with the sexual revolution. As per syndicated columnist/sociologist Dr. Suzanne Fields, "When the Pill gave women the freedom to join men in their sexual rebellion, cultural attitudes shifted radically. Junk sex was no better than junk food, but millions of men and women greedily devoured the empty calories. 'Looking for Mr. Goodbar' was the title that told it all" (www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/fields121503.asp).

You somehow describe the Pill as a “godsend.” For what? For health? For Family?
· There are now 56 times more new STD infections each year, than there were overall STD infections in the pre-Pill world (cf, (http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/STD/OSTD3202/Table_1.html) and (www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/std/std.asp). Yes, I said that correctly – 56 times more new infections each year, than there were overall infections a half century ago.
· Americans are less likely to marry now, than in the pre-Pill world. Of those fewer who do marry, they are more likely to divorce. Kids are the biggest victims of such changes in family stability. As per Princeton University, “if the same share of children lived with their biological parents today as did in 1980,
about 300,000 fewer children between the ages of twelve & eighteen would repeat a grade,
485,000 fewer would be suspended from school,
250,000 fewer would need psychotherapy,
210,000 fewer would be involved in violence, and
30,000 fewer would attempt suicide every year.
In addition, child poverty would be much lower.
The total savings to society from greater marital stability would be considerable”
(www.futureofchildren.princeton.edu/briefs/briefs/05_fall_marriage.pdf)

There are medically safe and morally acceptable alternatives to contraceptives. As per the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Natural Family Planning “methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Couples using NFP to avoid pregnancy abstain from intercourse and genital contact during the fertile phase of the woman's cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy” (www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/index.shtml).

Methods of Natural Family Planning involve fertility awareness and abstinence during fertile times (if looking to avoid pregnancy). These methods are as “effective” in avoiding pregnancy as the Pill. One big difference is that its users have a 0 to 4% divorce rate! Oh, and by the way, Planned Parenthood (and pharmacies hawking contraceptives) receive absolutely no remuneration from couples who utilize Natural Family Planning!

Mr. Gianficaro, your references to Humanae Vitae strike me as derisive. I encourage you to better familiarize yourself with the workings of hormonal contraceptives, as well as the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage and family.