Sydney, Australia, Jul 9, 2008 / 20:22 pm
Catholics are responding to anti-papal demonstrators who plan to distribute condoms to pilgrims at World Youth Day by distributing Natural Family Planning information.
The Australian Council of Natural Family Planning (ACNFP) said it will distribute material promoting the sympto-thermal method (STM) of natural family planning, News.com.au reports. The STM method involves using the knowledge of the naturally-occurring fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
The ACNFP said there have been protests of Catholic teachings on sexuality and contraception at every previous World Youth Day.
"Interestingly, despite the thousands of young people there to celebrate their belief in the church, it is the condom peddlers who tend to catch the eye of the media,'' the group said in a statement.
"But this time we're ready for them!
"Despite popular belief, the church isn't against sexuality. On the contrary, the church wants everyone to develop a deeper, richer understanding of the meaning of sex and sexuality,'' the ACNFP asserted.
The group plans to hand out material on Natural Family Planning to pilgrims before next week’s final World Youth Day Mass at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.