Additional Resources on Love & Sexuality

The following list of resources starts with practical assistance and brief articles, and it concludes with books and major Church documents that explore the Church's vision of responsible parenthood at a deeper level.

Web Site

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/ (offers information on church teachings on conjugal love and responsible parenthood, methods of natural family planning (NFP), where to find local classes, and which NFP organizations offer home study programs).

 

Articles from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Respect Life Program

Bruchalski, John T. “The Contraceptive Revolution and its Fruits” (1997), www.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/97rlpbru.htm.

Doerflinger, Lee Ann. “Natural Family Planning: An Unexpected Grace” (2002), www.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/leedorf02.htm.

Notare, Theresa. “Sex: What Do Women (and Men) Really Want?” (2004), www.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/04notare.htm.

Schu, Rev. Walter J. “Contraception and Abortion: The Underlying Link” (2005), www.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/Schu05finaleng.pdf.

 

Popular Books

Doyle, Fletcher. Natural Family Planning Blessed Our Marriage: Nineteen True Stories. Cincinnati: Servant Books, 2006.

West, Christopher. Good News About Sex & Marriage. Cincinnati: Servant Publications, 2000.

 

Theology Books

García de Haro, Ramón. Marriage and the Family in the Documents of the Magisterium. San
Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993.

Hogan, Richard M., and John M. LeVoir. Covenant of Love: Pope John Paul II on Sexuality, Marriage, and Family in the Modern World. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1985.

Shivanandan, Mary. Crossing the Threshold of Love: A New Vision of Marriage. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1999.

Smith, Janet E. (ed.). Why Humanae Vitae Was Right: A Reader. San Francisco: Ignatius Press,
1993.

West, Christopher. Theology of the Body Explained. Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 2003.

 

Church Documents

Pope Benedict XVI. Encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love). Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2006.

Pope John Paul II. Encyclical Evangelium Vitae (On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life). Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1995.

Pope John Paul II. Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio (On the Family). Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1982.

Pope Paul VI. Encyclical Humanae Vitae (On the Regulation of Birth). Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1968.

Pope John Paul II. Letter to Families. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1994.

Pope John Paul II. The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan. Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 1997.
Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.), nos. 369-373, 1601-1666, 2360-2379. Washington, DC: Libreria Editrice Vaticana–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2000.