Report
Diocesan Development Program for Natural Family Planning Profile 1998 Summary
DIOCESAN NFP PROGRAM--NATIONAL PROFILE 1998
In November of 1998, 187 Profile questionnaires were mailed to dioceses. One hundred and six or 57% of the dioceses completed and returned questionnaires. Data provided indicate that most trends have remained constant with NFP programs around the nation with some improvement in certain areas.
NFP efforts in dioceses, when viewed as a whole, remain varied and uneven. Some dioceses have robust educational programs that integrate NFP into all education efforts on human sexuality, marriage, and family life. By their dedicated efforts, some dioceses have made tremendous strides in improving the quality of their NFP programs by meeting the National Standards. Sadly, a few dioceses have experienced a reduction in program size either through teacher loss, budget cuts, and/or diocesan restructuring. With the exception of a handful of dioceses in the U.S., the Church’s direct commitment to help couples understand the benefits of NFP over contraception is weak. Knowledge of NFP remains a much needed pastoral gift to offer to couples, who wish to be faithful to the Church’s teaching on conjugal love.