The Leaven for Humanae Vitae

Millions More Aborted by Birth Control Than By Surgical Abortion

2012-02-01T10:08:00.000-06:00

I have no idea how wide this post will be circulated, but my hope is that the time is right for a few sparks to get a huge fire going to raise awareness to the enormity of the ever-increasing threat to life and to women that lies in the mandate for the contraceptive Pill, IUD, Patch, and other forms of abortion-causing birth control. You don't hear about contraception much in church. Well,

The Leaven, Lighter Side:Kay's No Knead Cinnamon Rolls

2012-01-30T06:19:00.002-06:00

The Leaven is about some serious stuff, but 'leaven' is also a cooking term, too, that does fit in with my favorite hobby! -- so here's a GREAT recipe that my friend Kay shared with me over twenty years ago. Gets rave reviews from everyone! Enjoy! Happy Monday! Kay's Yeast Rolls Note: This is light as a feather, easy no-knead yeast dough that is great for dinner rolls or Cinnamon Rolls.A

Sex on Demand Within the Married State, part 2

2012-01-27T14:54:00.001-06:00

In my post of Jan. 23, I referred to Section 10 of Humanae Vitae that implies that sex on demand, even within marriage, is not something the Church recommends. It is a most reasonable, compassionate, recognition of the realities of life involved in marital love and rearing a family. Pondering it may help many who've ignored the wisdom of Humanae Vitae to reconsider, especially in light of

On Malachi 3:10-12: Bringing in the full tithes of our wombs

2012-01-25T07:25:00.000-06:00

Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of

Sex on Demand Within the Married State

2012-01-23T11:20:00.007-06:00

Sex on demand is a bad notion that has been around for a long time, but it doesn't conform with the nature of the human being, equipped with intellect, reason, and will, unlike other created beings. The effects of sex on demand, even within the married state are not all that much different from sex on demand without marriage in that its practice results in abuse of women and children and

Contraception: Ongoing Manifestation of the Great Rift Between Man and Woman

2012-01-20T10:00:00.001-06:00

Use of contraception (birth control pill, intrauterine devices, spermacide, condoms, chemical and surgical sterilization and abortion), once taboo by all major religions but now used in epidemic global proportions, is evidence that some have called "Dark Age" thinking about man and woman, meaning that we have not progressed beyond the primitive and enslaving idea that woman is property of man.

Msgr. Charles Pope: Wisdom of Humanae Vitae

2012-01-05T08:25:00.003-06:00

There is much on the web of value regarding the wisdom of Humanae Vitae. Here is an excellent article from Msgr. Charles Pope of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., including comparison of "promises" of those who advocated better marriages by granting use of contraception vs. prophetic realities now visited upon women and society as a result of adopting the practice. Spread the word. . . share

If Only We Knew We Are Not "Higher" Animals

2011-10-08T10:21:00.002-05:00

If only we humans understood that we are not merely "higher" animals, but human beings, created by God in His own image, we would realize that the processes of "spay-ing" (aka tubal ligation) and "neuter-ing" (aka vasectomy) are not fitting approaches to the gift of human sexuality or of being human at all. Neither are any temporary types of "spay-ing" ( Diaphragm.) or "neuter-ing" (aka

Contraception is only a symptom of the REAL problem!

2011-10-02T08:35:00.002-05:00

Contraception, against conception, is only a tragic symptom of a much larger problem:flawed relating between husband and wife, or more broadly, between man and woman. It all started in the Garden of Eden, when Man and Woman became suspicious of God, did things their own way according to logic only, and became alienated from self, from each other, and from God. From then on, Johnny wanted to use

Unplanned Pregnancy Problem Needs to Focus on Men!

2011-09-25T18:49:00.001-05:00

All too often, the focus of unplanned pregnancy is on the woman: what she should and should not do; her rights;her options; her responsibility; her weakness; her prospects for a happy life; her crisis; her sinfulness. By keeping the focus on the women, we avoid, to our peril, focus on the father and his part in relation to mother, baby, and society. We must place more of the focus of unplanned

Women of Grace Project Update: $2500

2011-06-20T11:32:00.001-05:00

Johnnette Benkovic is one of few authors of spiritual growth study guides who incorporates the full truth about feminine dignity as taught by the Catholic Church right along with Scripture. I have found no other spiritual growth study materials in recent years in which Catholic teachings on true feminine dignity are so permeated throughout. While some may give Catholic teaching a bare nod,

Mom Chooses Life, Cancels Abortion Appt.

2011-05-25T13:28:00.002-05:00

"Sherry" arrived yesterday for her appointment for an abortion to end her baby's life, but she had mixed feelings about it. Sidewalk counselors talked to her and urged her to reconsider, offering to take her to a crisis pregnancy center. "Sherry" told counselors that she has three other children at home, no job, father not "here," and she experiences constant severe nausea with her pregnancies.

Update: David Placzek-$1200

2011-05-19T13:46:00.002-05:00

See how they love one another when they know another's need! I am SO awed by my fellow parishioners at St. Mary Catholic Church in Lincoln, NE. Hearing of Carmen and Fred's son's need, they almost instantaneously stepped up to give from the heart, over and above what was asked. The extra benefit will be used for any corresponding medical expense. I am most humbled, honored, and proud to be a

David P needs surgery: Update

2011-05-19T06:56:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends, I recently posted information about David P, a seventeen year old in need of surgery on a birth mark near his temple that has changed dramatically in the past few months. His parents were both laid off from the same parent company in 2009, and have since then had no health insurance for themselves of for their seven children. David has a brother serving in the US military, two

Crowe Family Update: $8280

2011-05-11T14:21:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends, To view pics of Tony and Ann Crowe's organic produce start-up, click here God's richest blessing to your and yours! Juliana

$4500 for the Crowe Family- Our God Reigns!!!

2011-01-22T13:28:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends, It seems fitting that the anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision is the day we share the good news about what you did, through your kind prayers and contributions, to encourage and support Tony and Ann Crowe and children of Clairemorris, County Mayo, Ireland in a most difficult time of great need. It has been an interesting few months, raising money for this family,

The Leaven for Humanae Vitae: Correction: link to Tony Crowes's Powerful Testimo...

2010-12-17T17:01:00.000-06:00

The Leaven for Humanae Vitae: Correction: link to Tony Crowes's Powerful Testimo...: "I was alerted by a reader that my link to Tony Crowe's powerful testimony on my website is incorrect. I have now fixed it, and you can hear ..."

Correction: link to Tony Crowes's Powerful Testimony

2010-12-17T11:46:00.001-06:00

I was alerted by a reader that my link to Tony Crowe's powerful testimony on my website is incorrect. I have now fixed it, and you can hear his testimony and how contraception affected his marriage in a negative way and aslo his re-conversion to the teaching of Humanae Vitae by clicking here After the very difficult loss of one twin, which resulted in Ann's hospitalization of three months and

Tony Crowe update- exciting news!

2010-12-12T18:44:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends, As we continue to entrust the care of our Leaven family to Our Lady, under the titles of Our Lady of Knock, Mother Thrice Admirable (Schoenstatt), and Our Lady of Guadalupe, and also to St. Joseph, patron of workers and fathers, amazing things are happening. . . Heartfelt thanks for a most generous donation on behalf of Women of Grace for $1000, specifically for the purchase

A Wonderful Way to Say 'I Believe'

2010-12-05T20:16:00.001-06:00

Dear Friends, Just think, if 100 people contribute $25 to help Tony and Ann Crowe, that would make $2500 plus $775 ($3275), enough to buy a 50' polytunnel, a gas-powered tiller, fence and wood to house chickens needed for organic farming. If 200 people contribute $25 each, that's $5000 plus $775 ($5775), and the Crowes could buy all the materials they need to get started with their

Almsgiving appeal for Advent: Help the Crowes

2010-11-28T11:06:00.046-06:00

Dear Friends, On this First Sunday of Advent, I make a second appeal for help for a family in need. In this appeal, however, we have received the consent of Tony and Ann Crowe of Ireland to reveal their identity. In this appeal, we tell more specifically why we identify with them so personally, and in this appeal we tell more of our own experience of poverty that it pleased God to give to

A Call to Defend 'Nascent' Traditional Family Life:Tony and Ann Crowe

2010-11-24T10:58:00.001-06:00

As Pope Benedict calls for prayer for ‘nascent’ human life on November 27, 2010, Leaven for Humanae Vitae, a pro-life Catholic apostolate, announces a social action initiative for ‘nascent’ traditional family life through the family of Tony and Ann Crowe, who moved from Northern Ireland south just over a year ago, right before unemployment rates skyrocketed to near 17%. The move only increased

The Meaning of the Word 'Nascent'

2010-11-24T10:27:00.001-06:00

Pope Benedict XVI's call for prayer for 'nascent' human life is undoubtedly a call for going to the dictionary to find out exactly what 'nascent' means. I certainly did, because while I knew he meant to call for prayers for the unborn, I wondered why he would use the word 'nascent.' My copy of Webster's Deluxe Unabridged Dictionary (320,000 words!), second entry, defines it as beginning to

Raise Awareness: "Contraception" Hurts Women

2010-10-08T07:57:00.002-05:00

SO GRATEFUL to Johnnette Benkovic for airing my story yesterday. I will be filling in some gaps that couldn't be covered in a thirty-minute broadcast, but I also do want to thank Johnnette personally and powerfully. Therefore, The Leaven is making Johnnette our primary project for the coming year. It is our intention to contribute 100% of collections earmarked "JB" in the memo line to Johnnette's

So if not contraception, what then? (not about NFP): Revised

2010-09-15T19:17:00.004-05:00

If contraception is not good for women (and it isn't), then what is good for women? And what is good for men? It's simplistic to just say, "Don't use contraception," or even to say, "We'll accept as many children as God sends us" and then abandon all thought or reason regarding life circumstances, personal faculties, and limits. It's not enough to say, "Men and women should control themselves"