Humae Vitae - differing perspectives

From today's Irish Times:

FORTY YEARS ago today, Pope Paul VI issued probably the most controversial encyclical letter in the history of the Catholic Church. In Humanae Vitae, he reaffirmed the Church's official ban on artificial contraception, stunning the Catholic world at a time when there were strong expectations of some easing in the traditional teaching.

I was talking about this subject with some friends last night. Telling them about the Contraceptive Train events that took place in Ireland in the late sixties/ seventies (can't remember the exact date), and one of them told me a story about a couple getting married in Nova Scotia in the sixties.

The woman was Catholic, so they had to go to the priest for the talk.

Same deal in Ireland.

The priest explained the rhythm method to them.

Same deal in Ireland.

The priest then told them that the rhythm method was pretty unreliable, so what they needed to do was go to the doctor and get a pill (which you could get back then) that 'regulated' the rhythm.

NOT the same deal in Ireland.

In Ireland, the priest was too busy telling you that the rhythm method was to be used only for the mystery of procreation.

In other words, you could only use the rhythm method to conceive.

Not to not conceive.

There was no talk of the miracle pill that you could get to regulate your rhythm.

No sirreebob.

If you wanted talk of that, you had to go see that communist-anarchist-sinner, Dr. Paddy Leahy.

Canada... deep in its soul there is an innate decency and respect for the intelligence of its citizens that we didn't have for a long long time in Ireland ...

A country that gives Dr. Henry Morgentaler the Order of Canada for his contribution to society, knowing that a large chunk of citizens will be annoyed about it is a good country.

No wonder half the Irish medical graduates from the sixties moved here to practice.

Medicine that is.

Not the rhythm method.