Humanae Vitae and Canada, Forty Years Later. By Monsignor Vincent Foy

Introduction

Forty years have passed since Pope Paul VI gave us the gift of the encyclical Humanae Vitae. Signed on the Feast of St. James, July 25th, 1968, it was published on July 29th, 1968. It was addressed to Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops and all other local Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Holy See and all the Clergy and Faithful of the Catholic world, and to all Men of Good Will.

Three times in the encyclical the Holy Father invoked the Petrine or divine authority (n. 4, 6, and 31). He said that he intended to give his reply to the grave questions concerning the regulation of births “by virtue of the mandate entrusted to Us by Christ” (n. 6).

Tragically, the authority of Christ was not enough. For forty years rebellion has been widespread in Canada. For forty years we have experienced the deadly fruit of turning away from Christ in the most critical area of Life and marital Love.

This fortieth anniversary is a suitable time to reflect on how the rejection of Humanae Vitae came about, to consider the malign results of that rejection and the way back to the Truth. Pope John Paul II called dissent from Humanae Vitae the “Great Lie.” This lie remains in Canada like a festering, cancerous wound. Can it be cured?  (more...)

Humanae Vitae and Canada, Forty Years Later. By Monsignor Vincent Foy