In my December 2nd blog, I said my next blog would review significant omissions in the Student Guide recently published by the Couple to Couple League. Then, however, we received a review from a disappointed CCL teacher that we think is important, so it appears below. My comments will follow on the 16th. The review follows between the two lines below.
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I have a few comments about the blog posts on www.nfpandmore.org from Nov 18, 2007 and Dec 2, 2007 regarding what CCL’s new Student Guide says about breastfeeding infertility.
After having reviewed the new Student Guide on the topic of breastfeeding and breastfeeding infertility, my overall impression is that CCL’s emphasis on this topic is very much reduced compared to the old class series. The new material is also greatly reduced in scope and detail compared to the old class series. It seems to me that CCL is generally trying to say a few positive things about breastfeeding and mention that there is such a thing as natural breastfeeding infertility which is associated with more full forms of breastfeeding. And that’s it! They include just a few general comments, nothing more.
That is the extent of what I see presented. In my opinion they are definitely not trying to teach how to achieve extended infertility as a natural side effect of some form of breastfeeding. They do not present their definitions of “exclusive breastfeeding” as a rule. In other parts of the book where they present their new STM, they explicitly highlight when something is a rule. So from this standpoint I can see why the current CCL management does not feel that a correction sheet for the Student Guide is necessary. Since the entire intent of their breastfeeding material is different than the old class series in not trying to teach couples to achieve extended breastfeeding infertility, I can understand that they aren’t going to put in a corrections sheet.
I think the fundamental criticism of CCL’s current presentation of the topic of breastfeeding is precisely its reduced emphasis, scope and detail and not anything specific of how they present it. The current presentation of the material is weak and significantly watered down.
This is the same criticism I have about the morality component of the new Student Guide. It’s weak and watered down to a great degree. What it does include is this mushy “Theology of the Body” material that comes across as mostly happy talk about how the Catholic Church is really positive about our sexuality. I could hardly believe how the Student Guide practically disparages both Humanae Vitae and St. Thomas Aquinas in one short section. And CCL really believes that a nebulous presentation of the Theology of the Body is going to make a difference? It strikes me as incredible naiveté. They have no proof whatsoever that their new presentation of the material will be more effective. Also, my impression is that the new material on morality will not resonate with non-Catholics as much, since it is so much focused only on the teaching of Pope John Paul II.
It’s for these reasons that my wife and I are planning not to recertify with CCL. We are an NFP teaching couple because we wanted to help couples live chaste and holy marriages, not just to teach STM. I’m not saying that the new Student Guide and class series are “just about teaching STM only”, but the morality and breastfeeding emphases are so much reduced that we just don’t feel it’s worth our time to teach NFP in this way.
Also, congratulations on the first NFPI class. Glad to hear it went so well!!
–A CCL Teacher
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This teacher’s speculation may be correct; in the absence of any response from CCL, we have no way of knowing. Regardless, serious mistakes need to be corrected promptly. The fact remains that the new CCL manual describes exclusive breastfeeding in such a way as give the impression that it is 97% effective in postponing pregnancy in the first six months without the all-important qualifier that this applies only to mothers who have not yet menstruated. Professionals and organizations worldwide promote this rule including its qualifier.
We also believe that “exclusive” breastfeeding should be better defined. CCL cited the World Health Organization when discussing this term, “exclusive breastfeeding,” yet CCL failed to add the clear definition used by WHO: “Exclusive breastfeeding–that is the infant only receives breastmilk without any additional food or drink, not even water” (Nutrition: Infant and Young Child, WHO).
The teacher who shared his thoughts in the above email is interested in the thoughts or comments from others on these topics related to the new CCL manual. You can comment here; or if you want to remain anonymous, you can send your comment to nfpandmore@nfpandmore.org.
Next week: What CCL is no longer teaching?
Sheila Kippley
NFP International
www.NFPandMore.org
Author: Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood (Sophia) and Natural Family Planning: The Question-Answer Book (e-book at this website)