It is commonly accepted in many parts of Europe and the United States that the world is either overpopulated, or on its way to being overpopulated. This myth has hung on for generations. In fact, the world currently produces enough food to feed every single person on the planet. Unfortunately, Western ideology places blame on the poor for their plight and not systemic issues with economics, politics, equitable distribution, and the likes. Instead, the argument that is often promoted is that in order to solve poverty poor people need to have fewer children. This mentality ignores the root causes of poverty and instead invents one. This often results in forced abortions, sterilizations, or making food aid contingent on population control programs. Not only is this wrong it also has not and will not solve poverty. The Catholic Church does teach responsible parenthood, for each couple to determine how many children they believe they should have. This is where NFP can come into play; assisting with spreading out births. But ultimately, the solution to rising populations is not abortion and contraceptives, it is a more just society where the principles of the dignity of the human person, care for the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, and the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable are realized.
Opening Prayer
God of Justice, open our eyes
to see you in the face of those in poverty.
Open our ears to hear you
in the cries of those exploited.
Open our mouths to defend you
in the public squares as well as in private deeds.
Remind us that what we do to the least ones, we do to you.
Amen
(From Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice
USCCB, April 1998).
Scripture Reading:
Archdiocese of Dubuque NFP page
Humane Vitae, especially paragraphs 2 and 23
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
TO SCHOLARS PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY WEEK ON
“RESOURCES AND POPULATION”
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE
WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2009, p 3.)
Catechesis video questions:
7-12 grade
Parish Leadership/Committees
Faith-sharing/Bible Study
Witness Video
abortion as western ideological colonization
Witness video questions:
7-12 grade
Parish leadership/Committees
Faithsharing/Bible Study
Action Steps
7-12 grade
Parish Leadership/Committees
Faithsharing/Bible Study
Closing Prayer
God our Creator,
we give thanks to you,
who alone have the power to impart the breath of life
as you form each of us in our mother’s womb;
grant, we pray,
that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,
may remain faithful to this sacred trust
and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, you Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(the collect of “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life”) Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved.)