WE GIVE!
Resources for Clergy
(Please click on topics below for resources to help you in your ministry)
Reproductive Technologies/Infertility
Diocesan NFP Marriage Prep Requirement
Presentations available from the Respect Life Office Staff
*Please note that most of these sites are not affiliated with the Respect Life-NFP Office of the Diocese of Rockford. We provide this information solely for your information. We are not responsible for their policies, the views they express, the products and services they offer, or the content of their materials or websites.
Video of Embryo 8 weeks after conception
Easy or not, It is time to choose rightly and stand for the truth and against intrinsic evil By Bishop Doran, Observer, October 2008
Reflections on abortion and infanticide By Bishop Doran, Observer, November 2010
Can a Catholic Vote in Support of Abortion? by Bishop Robert W. Finn, Bishop of Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
A Disciple's Vision for Life Homily by Archbishop Alex J. Brunett, Archbishop Emeritus of Diocese of Seattle, WA
Abortion remains the central moral issue Homily By Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI, Bishop of Diocese of San Angelo, TX
Benotafraid.net is an online outreach to parents who have received a poor or difficult prenatal diagnosis. The benotafraid families were faced with the decision to terminate the pregnancy or continue on despite the poor diagnosis and chose not to terminate. By sharing their experiences, they hope to offer encouragement to those who are afraid to continue on.
Prenatal Partners for Life is dedicated to providing families expecting or families who have just had a special needs child, the support, information and encouragement they need to make informed decisions involving their pre-born or newborn child’s care. Their goal is to provide honest, practical information about parenting a special needs child by linking expectant parents or new parents to a special needs child with other parents who have had the same diagnosis. This support can be provided in person, over the phone, by email, or in written correspondence.
The Haven Network, Northern Illinois' perinatal hospice and bereavement center, provides companionship on the grief journey to families who are facing a terminal diagnosis of their pre-born or newborn baby
Parents are called to help children understand the dignity of their bodies
Homily by Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, D.D., Bishop Diocese of Fargo, SD (given on Feast of the Assumption of Mary)
Is Chastity Possible? - brochure by Fr. T.G. Morrow
Overcoming the Masturbation Habit
Fr. Dominic Mary MFVA on Modesty from televised Mass on EWTN
Homilies from Called to Give Life
Contraception, Sterilization, and Abortion – compilation of quotations from Church documents
Evangelium Vitae: On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life, Pope John Paul II, March 25, 1995 (En Español)
Humanae Vitae: On the Regulation of Births, Pope Paul VI, July 25, 1968 (En Español)
Looking back from a 40-Year perspective on the prophetic Humanae Vitae By Bishop Doran, Observer, July 2008
On the 40th Anniversary of Humanae Vitae, by Bishop Thomas G. Wenski
Statements by Pope John Paul II on Contraception from 1978-1996
Why Natural Family Planning Differs from Contraception – Pope John Paul II
Researchers Agree with Pope on Condoms & AIDS
Contraception and Abortion: The Underlying Link by Rev. Walter Schu, L.C., 2005 (En Español)
Breast Cancer Risk from the Pill
Hormonal Birth Control and Hormone Replacement Therapy & Breast Cancer Risk
Factors Which Increase and Decrease Breast Cancer Risk
Does the birth control pill increase your risk of breast cancer?
The Reasons Hormonal Contraceptives and Induced Abortion Increase Breast-Cancer Risk by Angela Lanfranchi, M.D.
If it's not OK for him to take steroids...why is it OK for her? – effects of birth control pills on teenage girls
Oral Contraceptive Use as a Risk Factor for Premenopausal Breast Cancer: A Meta-analysis – article from Mayo Clinic
The Birth Control Pill: Abortifacent and Contraceptive – by William F. Colliton, Jr., M.D., FACOG
Do Oral Contraceptives Cause Abortions – by Association of Prolife Physicians
How the Pill and Other Contraceptives Work – by Chris Kahlenborn, M.D.
Statement on the So-Called "Morning-After Pill", Pontifical Academy for Life, October 31, 2000
Greater Access to Contraception Does Not Reduce Abortions
If It Works, Don’t Fix It! – downloadable book on Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome
The Birth Control Pill Documentary
Video: How “The Pill” works as an Abortifacent
Why don't priests address contraception/sterilization from the pulpit? - NFP Outreach
Patients Rights Council Reliable information on end of life care, can provide advance directive materials
A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions Guide provided by National Catholic Bioethics Center
NCBC Consultation Services Information on the consultation services provided by the National Catholic Bioethics Center in regards to end of life care (free services for institutions and/or individuals)
Hospice Patients Alliance Provides information and materials to determine if local hospices are reliable and staying true to the intended purposes of hospice care
Respect for the Dignity of the Dying, Pontifical Academy for Life (2000)
Commentary on Provision of Nutrition and Hydration to Patients in a "Vegetative State", Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Salvific Dolores, On Salvific Suffering, Apostolic Letter from Pope John Paul II on the Christian meaning of human suffering (1984)
Nutrition, hydration and the ‘vegetative state’ Statement by Bishop Leo Higi, Bishop Emeritus of Lafayette, Indiana
Fertility Care Center-OSF Rockford Fertility care in line with Church teaching at OSF Hospital in Rockford
Answering Four Common Objections to Contraception and NFP – medical reasons for using contraception, NFP and contraception are morally the same, I must follow my conscience that doesn’t say contraception is wrong, I’ve used NFP and it doesn’t work
Why Natural Family Planning Differs from Contraception – Pope John Paul II
Diocese of Phoenix video of witness couples
Effectiveness Studies – en Español
Helps for Your NFP Homily - NFP Outreach
NaProTechnology: A Breakthrough in Women’s Health Care - article by Peter McFadden, President, Love and Responsibility Foundation
Frequently Asked Questions Packet: Humanae Vitae, Church teaching on marriage and children and NFP
Discerning Just and Serious Reasons for Postponing Pregnancy – from Jason T. Adams’ Called to Give Life
Responsible Parenthood – compilation of quotations from Church documents
NFP Couples Have Successful Marriages – short article from married MDs
Basic Information on NFP from the USCCB
Unitive and Procreative Nature of Intercourse – compilation of quotations from Church documents
Natural Family Planning – compilation of quotations from Church documents
Current Medical Research on Fertility and Family Planning
Why Use Natural Family Planning? – brochure from One More Soul en Español
Confessional Cards - to give to penitents to whom you would like to give information on NFP - if you would like some cards, please contact the office to order Horizontal/English Vertical/English Horizontal/Spanish Vertical/Spanish
Responsible Parents Are Open to Life - article by Bishop Sartain
Respect Life Office Brochures: Making good marriages great! Myths and Reality Haciendo un buen matrimonio magnificio! Mitos y Realidad
Pornography and Violence in the Communications Media: A Pastoral Response document from Pontifical Council for Social Communications
Renewing the Mind of the Media USCCB Statement on Overcoming the Exploitation of Sex and Violence in Communications from the U.S. Catholic Bishops
www.loveisfaithful.com/: My House Mission from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas: An initiative aimed at fostering the virtue of chastity by building awareness of the effects of pornography in society, offering support and healing for those harmed by it, and educating Catholics on what they can do to protect their families from its influence.
~Click here to watch the My House video put together by the Colorado Spring diocese
Reproductive technologies / Infertility
Fertility Care Center-OSF Rockford Fertility care in line with Church teaching at OSF Hospital in Rockford
Preaching Points on In Vitro Fertilization from the National Catholic Bioethics Center
List of what technologies compatible with and contrary to Church teaching from the USCCB
Infertility and IVF: A Teachable Moment
Reproductive Technologies – compilation of quotations from Church documents
Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology
In Vitro Fertilization: The Human Cost fact sheet from USCCB
Assisted Reproductive Technologies are Anti-Woman by Marie Anderson, M.D., FACOG and John Bruchalski, M.D., 2004 (En Español)
Addressing Infertility with Compassion and Clarity en Español
Embracing the Cross of Infertility: An Interview with Marie & Joseph Meaney
Embracing the Cross of Infertility – audio + transcript of talk by Dr. Marie Meaney
Apostolate of Hannah's Tears offers support to those bearing the cross of infertility
Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology, by John Hass, Ph.D., S.T.L., 1998
Donum Vitae: Instruction on Respect for Human Life, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, February 22, 1987 (En Español)
On Being Catholic and Infertile - article from the National Catholic Register
Local FertilityCare Center flowchart
OSF Saint Anthony FertilityCare Center
U.S. Bishops' Statement on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Interview: Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk on bioethics
Declaration on the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Pontifical Academy for Life, August 25, 2000 (En Español)
Donum Vitae: Instruction on Respect for Human Life, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, February 22, 1987 (En Español)
Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning: Questions and Answers 2008 Bulletin insert from USCCB (En Espanol)
Cardinal Rigali Criticizes Draft NIH Guidelines for Destructive Stem Cell Research
Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Vaccines using Fetal Tissue, August 2001, USCCB
The Ethics of Stem Cell Research, by Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D., 2006 (En Espanol)
Early trial shows adult stem cells healing hearts
"I Will Walk Again" – Adult Stem Cell Research success stories
Success stories with adult stem cell research
Amazing first: leukemia patient completely cured with cord blood stem cells
Cord blood stem cells used to help cure girl of brain cancer in Spain
Diocesan NFP Marriage Prep Requirement
Marriage Preparation page of the website
Marriage Preparation bookmark - explains the NFP requirement options English Español
Talking Points for discussion with couples after they attended an NFP Seminar