By Dorothy Timbs
Three years ago (summer of 2002), I was a law
clerk at the National Right to Life Committee. A perk of my internship was the
opportunity to attend the NRL annual Convention in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. If I
recall correctly, Priests for Life had a booth set up with various pieces of
pro-life literature.
During one brief interval between sessions, I had the opportunity to chat
briefly with Father Frank Pavone. Since I have been a committed Christian from
the Protestant tradition, this was actually my first personal encounter with a
priest - ever! What a blessing that it was Father Frank. In the course of our
conversation, Father Frank briefly explained the related evils of contraception
and abortion.
Most Catholics might find it hard to believe that a committed pro-life Christian
would be ignorant to the intrinsic evil of contraception. Yet the vast majority
of Protestants have either 1) never heard of the notion or 2)immediately
disagree with it and dismiss it because they do not understand such a strange
idea.
Still, the Catholic Church's teaching immediately struck a chord inside my heart
that I could not ignore. I wanted so badly to talk more about it with Father
Frank! Since time constraints made this impossible, Father Frank instead very
graciously handed me a brochure titled, "Abortion and
Contraception: Fruits of the same tree." Little did we know that God would use
this simple gesture in a mighty way in my own life and also the lives of many
others.
The brochure offered a concise teaching on the very heart of the issue of
abortion and its evil counterpart, contraception. It was just enough to plant a
seed in both my heart and mind. Again, I was unable to forget this teaching, so
I decided to do some further research on the issue immediately.
This led to hours of study on various aspects of contraception. I read articles
on the history of the legalization of contraception in the United States, and
was surprised to learn that it was spawned by the eugenics movement, and
spearheaded by one Margaret Sanger. I learned that the advent of the pill,
contrary to feminist thought at the time, served not to liberate women, but to
objectify and exploit them by placing the sole responsibility upon their
shoulders for family planning, while men were invited to enjoy newfound sexual
promiscuity. This, in turn, led to the sexual revolution, the breakdown of
families, and abortion on demand. And the pill was supposed to be good?
On the other hand, I was captivated by the beautiful alternative to it all-
Natural Family Planning. All this new information brought me to a new place in
my understanding of the life issue. I learned that being pro-life is so much
more than just simply being against abortion. It is to be "whole-life."
I read JPII's Theology of the Body, nothing less than a brilliant expression of
truth. Again, this changed my entire outlook on the life issue and was a guiding
hand in my quest to understand this idea of life-giving love in the sacrament of
marriage. It became apparent to me that I was drinking truth deeply during this
time, as I learned for the first time that the renewing of the marriage vows is
a beautiful, lifegiving, gift of self at its core - a sacramental expression of
the self-giving, relational, familial love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The conjugal act, when properly understood and expressed, is quite a powerful
expression on earth- when we cooperate with God, we have the power and privilege
to participate in God's plan to bring forth life!
I continued to delve deeper in my studies. I concluded, after some time for
reflection, this was truth as I had never known it before. I felt that others
needed to hear about it! So, since I was President of my law school pro-life
chapter (Regent University), I organized a Symposium on the issue.
I brought in a panel of speakers who spoke on contraception in Christian
marriage- what does the Church teach, and what does the Bible say? As I
mentioned previously, these were all new concepts for Protestants, and I
anticipated that the topic of discussion for this Symposium might be
particularly foreign/disturbing to some. But I was amazed to see how much
support and interest was generated by the Symposium! Since it was an interesting
topic, it was well attended and since the hearers were open to truth, the
message was well received! Paul Schenck [a Pastoral Associate of Priests for
Life], who was one of the panelists, was an especially gifted, articulate
messenger of truth.
God used this Symposium as another opportunity to get the whole life/pro-life
ethic to sincere Christians who love God and love truth. And as I knew it would,
truth defended herself again. I have even received news of couples who are
expecting, whose marriages and ideas about family changed as a result of the
dialogue.
On a more personal note, I continue to be drawn to the truth that I discovered
was guarded so beautifully by the Catholic Church. I wondered, why have all the
other Christian denominations abandoned this truth that was once so
unassailable? Could the Catholic Church be right on other things as well? I
began to study more about the authority of the Church and with that came a
plethora of theological questions.
Now, almost three full years after Father Frank handed me the brochure (and
many, many books later), I find myself nearing the conclusion of the RCIA
program here at St. Mary's in Washington, D.C. I am truly at a cross-roads in my
Christian walk. By God's grace, I will go forward at Easter to be received into
full communion with the Catholic Church.
Father Frank will always have a special place in my heart, and to think this all
started with the smallest of gestures- handing me a brochure on contraception!
To God alone by the Glory,
Dorothy Timbs