Summit to explore ‘Humanae Vitae’

By John Gleason

The 2008 Gospel of Life Conference is set for Oct. 25 and, according to Mimi Eckstein, director of the Denver Archdiocese’s Respect Life Office, this year the event will take a slight departure while remaining on focus.

“The conference usually addresses issues that Pope John Paul II talked about within the ‘Gospel of Life’ encyclical,” Eckstein said, referring to the late pontiff’s document on the dignity of human life.

“In this particular conference we’re looking at (Pope Paul VI’s encyclical) ‘Humanae Vitae,’” Eckstein said, “because within the ‘Gospel of Life’ the pope certainly talks about the tenets of this document (on married love and procreation) that is marking its 40th anniversary.”

Critics of “Humanae Vitae” postulated at the time that contraception would strengthen marriage and increase intimacy.  Instead, today one in two marriages ends in divorce.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., who will celebrate the opening Mass at the conference has written that, “‘Humanae Vitae’ is the most misunderstood papal intervention of the 20th century.  It has proven prophetic and offers a key to deeper, richer marriages.  I believe the message is not a burden, but a joy.”

Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley will deliver a keynote address about the papal document, what it meant at the time and what it means for Catholics today.

“I think that Pope Paul VI was prophetic back in 1968,” Bishop Conley said, adding that at the end of the document the pontiff predicted many of the negative effects seen today as a result of contraception, including the rise in divorce, abuse and ill treatment of women, domestic violence, population control by governments, and pornography.

Despite the claim by many that contraception is liberating for women, Bishop Conley notes that early on those who led the way in the women’s movement were themselves against contraception.

“At the beginning of the 20th century there were a number of very prominent suffragettes who spoke out against it,” the prelate said. “Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.  They not only saw it as not good for women but saw that it in fact gave an advantage to men for them to be irresponsible and not be accountable for their actions.”

Also on the program are Christian and Christine Meert, who operate Catholic Marriage Preparation Inc., which helps couples prepare for the sacrament of marriage.

“Marriage preparation is a unique opportunity to meet the couples when their standards and expectations are very high,” said Christian Meert. “High but human. Our goal is to make them think about Christian anthropology and sexuality, the teachings of the Church on marriage, family life, the sacraments and their relation to the Church and to Christ.”

The Meerts will be part of a panel discussion to answer questions attendees have about “Humanae Vitae.”

Lecturer and author Alice von Hildebrand, Ph.D., will deliver a keynote address offering her personal experience of a spousal relationship within the context of “Humanae Vitae.”
Archbishop Chaput will be the main celebrant of the day’s opening Mass, set for 8 a.m.

The daylong conference will be held at the John Paul II Center, 1300 S. Steele St. After the opening Mass in the chapel, continental breakfast will be served in Bonfils Hall, followed by the conference talks. Cost is $15, which includes materials, breakfast and lunch.  For more information, call the Respect Life Office at 303-715-3205 or e-mail Mimi.Eckstein@archden. org.