Report
Diocesan Development Program for Natural Family Planning Profile 2000 Summary
In November of 2000, 189 Profile questionnaires were mailed to dioceses. One hundred eighteen or almost two-thirds (62%) of the dioceses completed and returned questionnaires. This represents the largest baseline data on NFP programs throughout the nation, since the Profile began in 1990. As in previous years, the data indicates that certain aspects remain unchanged concerning NFP programs with a slight improvement in a few areas.
At the beginning of a new millennium, when viewed nationally, NFP programs vary from nonexistent to comprehensive. Some dioceses have very strong educational programs that integrate NFP into all educational efforts on human sexuality, marriage, and family life. Through hard work and dedication, other dioceses have made tremendous strides in improving the quality of their NFP programs in order to meet the National Standards. Increasingly, there is a trend in dioceses or provinces to sponsor their own teacher training programs. But, across the nation, as one diocese improves its NFP program, another diocese experiences a reduction in its NFP program size either through teacher loss, budget cuts, and/or diocesan restructuring. The hard fact remains that in many dioceses, NFP is viewed, if at all, as a marginal pastoral concern (see the reports on funding, personnel, and time devoted to NFP).
Finally, regardless of the diocese, the single most compelling pastoral question when examining diocesan NFP efforts is “Can couples who wish to be faithful to Church teaching on responsible parenthood get the NFP help they need?” The answer to this baseline question will determine how best to plan and support local diocesan NFP Ministry.