Marriage, Family, and Life

A Wedding is a Day, a Marriage is a Lifetime! Catholic Engaged Encounter Inc. is a community of Catholics serving engaged couples by sharing their experiences of living out the values of a sacramental marriage.

They host weekend retreats for engaged couples incorporating presentations, self-reflection, and couple's dialogue.

Local Chapter: Catholic Engaged Encounter of Tucson
Contact: Martin and Delia DeSoto

✉ amiramyl@gmail.com
✆ 520-954-3856
 

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Dynamic Catholic’s free questionnaire will spark incredible conversations that celebrate strengths and highlight opportunities for growth between engaged couples.

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The FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory is a comprehensive, user-friendly tool for use by lay individuals, couples, and professionals who are helping couples prepare for marriage, and who become trained as FOCCUS Facilitators.

The FOCCUS Inventory is designed to help engaged couples appreciate their unique relationship, learn more about themselves, and discuss topics important to their lifelong marriage.

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Basic Theory and Practice of Natural Family Planning 

By Rev. Julius Ntalo, OCD. Father Ntalo is a certified Natural Family Planning instructor with a degree in Public Health, previously based at Santa Cruz Parish, Tucson.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives us the teaching on marital relations, that sex is a gift with a two-fold purpose: 1) union / bonding; 2) procreation / babies (CCC 2363).

The regulation of birth is an aspect of responsible parenthood (CCC 2368). “If there are well-grounded reasons for spacing birth, married couples may take advantage of natural cycles immanent in the reproductive system … thus, controlling birth in a way which does not in the least offend the moral principles” (Cf, Humane Vitae 16). 

Natural Family Planning is child spacing through observing periods of abstinence during the woman’s fertile phase. 
There are several methods of Natural Family Planning. To choose the best for you, you should get a certified instructor either online or nearby and she/he will help you to choose. Various methods work well according to menstrual cycles: the short cycle of (18 – 25 days), the medium cycle (26- 32 days), the long cycle (33-50 days), and the irregular cycle. 

Why is instruction in the theories and practice of Natural Family Planning good for all? It promotes self-knowledge about one’s cycle, it promotes self-control, it encourages communication between the couple, it is easy to learn, and it can be used to both achieve pregnancy or postpone pregnancy.

Who can use Natural Family Planning? Women with healthy cervical secretion and who can check cervical secretions daily. This is a habit that can be developed. Couples who communicate well have a great success with Natural Family Planning. NFP also promotes healthy communication in couples.

When to start: Women can start using observation at any point of their cycles. 
 

The Fertility Cycle

The female fertility cycle can be divided into three phases:

• Phase I begins on the first day of menstrual bleeding, and normally includes a few infertile days after menstruation.
• Phase II begins as soon as a woman’s daily observations detect the onset of signs of fertility. This fertile time lasts up to and a few days after the time of ovulation (when an egg is released from the ovary). In a normal, healthy woman, Phase II will typically last up to 12 days.
• Phase III is the post-ovulation time and is a time of infertility. Phase III typically accounts for the last one-third of a healthy woman’s cycle.

The three phases of the female cycle are the result of the interplay of four key hormones – estrogen, progesterone, follicle – stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. These hormones are also responsible for the fertility signs that a woman can learn to observe.

All NFP methods are similar because of a foundational understanding of the woman’s reproductive system. They all rely on the charting of observable signs of fertility and infertility in the woman and abstinence from all genital contact during the fertile time to postpone a pregnancy. They are all reliable, highly effective, and free from side effects and the abortifacient nature that haunt all chemical forms of contraception and IUDs.

Single women and couples alike should take classes on Natural Family Planning for more indepth education and analysis of the fertility cycle. National providers can be found on the USCCB website.

Contact:
Michele Grantham, NFP instructor in Tucson

✉ michelegrantham@gmail.com
✆ 520-235-1400

 

Sympto-Thermal Method

When using the Sympto-Thermal Method, observations are made daily of biomarkers: cervical mucus, vaginal sensation, basal body temperature, and optional cervical changes, and recorded with symbols on a chart. Couples are taught to cross-check and interpret these signs to determine fertile and infertile phases in a cycle, and the rules for postponing or achieving pregnancy.
 

Creighton Model

The Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System relies upon the standardized observation and charting of biological markers that are essential to a woman’s health and fertility. These biomarkers tell the couple when they are naturally fertile and infertile, allowing the couple to use the system either to achieve or to avoid pregnancy. These biomarkers also telegraph abnormalities in a woman’s health.
 

MARQUETTE Model

The Marquette Model uses hormonal monitoring technology (ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor) and additional cervical fluid observations to estimate a woman’s fertile window. Couples may use this method to postpone or achieve pregnancy by detecting the rise in estrogen and the LH surge through urine testing. 
 

Self-Observation / 2-days Method

Self-observation uses cervical secretions as an indicator of fertility. The woman checks daily for the presence or absence of cervical secretions of any type. In the absence of secretions, the male gamete dies within one to two hours in the acidic environment of the birth canal. However, when cervical secretions are present, the male gamete can live up to three days. 
The function of the cervical secretions is to protect the male gamete against the acidic environment in the birth canal and to transport the male gamete to meet the egg after ovulation. 

The general rule with self-observation is that if a woman notes secretion TODAY and/or YESTERDAY she is considered to be fertile TODAY. If a woman doesn’t note secretion TODAY and/or YESTERDAY she is considered infertile TODAY. Other methods of NFP outline more specific ways of tracking fertility using temperature and charting.

Have you taken the first abortion pill? It's not too late to save your baby!

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By Dr. Ana Sanguineti, Diocese of Tucson's Pro Life Spokesperson

It is important to understand Mifepristone, a dangerous chemical - how it works, what are its side effects and complications, and what is the history of Mifepristone.

History of Mifepristone Use

Mifepristone, an antiprogestin chemical, was first approved in the United States for use in ending the life of a baby in the womb in 2000. While the FDA limited its use to the first 7 weeks of gestation, it carried a Black Box Warning noting the chemical’s serious side effects. In 2005, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory for Mifepristone because of incidents of serious infections or sepsis. The Black Box Warning was revised (1). In 2011, the FDA developed a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy Program (REMS) to specify guidelines for its use. Here’s what they wrote: "The goal of the Mifeprex REMS Program is to minimize the risk of serious complications" (2). 
 

Side Effects of Mifepristone/Mifeprex

• Bleeding that can be heavy, excessive and prolonged, even resulting in hemorrhaging
• Infections and sepsis
• Severe abdominal pain after Misoprostol is taken as part of this regimen
• Nausea, vomiting, headaches and weakness that can lead to “passing out”

The side effects associated with this chemical can mask the symptoms of an impending rupture of an Ectopic Pregnancy, leading to a surgical emergency.
 

Black Box Warning

This warning emphasizes the occurrence of “serious and sometimes fatal infections” that can present in an atypical manner. It also warns of the risk of prolonged and heavy bleeding.
 

REMS Program

In 2011, the use of Mifeprex was limited to 49 days gestation of the pregnancy, with a physical exam, under the supervision of a healthcare provider, for 3 visits.

In 2016, the goal of REMS was modified and clearly stated: to mitigate the risk of serious complications associated with Mifeprex (3). The drug could only be dispensed in clinics, medical offices and hospitals under the supervision of a certified prescriber. Retail pharmacies were not allowed to dispense Mifeprex. 

By 2023, Mifeprex (and its generic counterpart, Mifepristone) became more readily available through the removal of the requirement for an office visit and exam prior to taking the pills; allowing pharmacies to dispense the drug; promoting the mailing of this drug; and increasing its use to 70 days gestation.

From this history, we see that Mifepristone has long been known to have serious side effects. A Black Box Warning has been present to warn of these dangers. A strategic program (REMS) was needed to try and minimize the serious complications of this drug.

This tells us that this chemical and the regimen for chemical abortions can have dangerous consequences to the health of the woman taking it.
 

Why does this matter?

Chemical abortions have gained popularity as a way of circumventing the US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and return the issue of abortion to each State. But this use of the chemicals Mifepristone and Misoprostol is dangerous to the pregnant woman, and the relaxation of the restrictions on its use has made it more risky. Furthermore, women taking these pills are no longer medically supervised, are often alone and may not understand the full implications of taking these chemicals. If the proponents of Mifepristone don’t care about a woman’s health, why would you trust them with ANY statement that minimizes a woman’s risk with chemical abortions? Rather, shouldn’t we help an expectant mom with the assistance she needs to bring her baby into this world, safe and healthy? 

Mailing harmful chemicals to women without physician involvement, to promote abortions, even when prohibited by that state, results in great threat of harm to the woman's health. The chemical regimen used to abort the developing child in the womb has resulted in a 500% increase in emergency room visits over the past decade for the treatment of its severe side effects (4). And, it is dangerous to take if an ectopic pregnancy is present.  

Chemical abortions, indeed ALL abortions, harm women and cause them to be abandoned in their pain. They are an affront to a woman's dignity, an attack on her life-bearing gift and on our most vulnerable children in the womb.  

There is much more work to be done to end abortions altogether and safeguard a woman's health and a baby's life. We must continue with prayer for vulnerable women and in compassionate service to expectant moms and children as our Catholic faith requires, so that abortion becomes unthinkable.


1.    https://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20081026174111/http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2005/020687s013lbl.pdf  page 1.
Mifeprex Label;FDA Warning. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/020687Orig1s025Lbl.pdf
2.    REMS; https://www.fda.gov/media/164648/download?attachment NDA 20-687 MIFEPREX Tablets;Danco Laboratories,LLC
3.    REMS; https://www.fda.gov/media/164649/download?attachment Ref ID: 3909592
4.    Abortion Drug Facts; Charlotte Lozier Institute; Risks to Women; https://lozierinstitute.org/abortion-drug-facts  and
JStudnicki et.al. A Longitudinal Cohort Study of ER Utilization Following Mifepristone Chemical and Surgical Abortions,1995-2015; Nov9,2021 
https://doi.org/10.1177/23333928211053965 or 
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23333928211053965 
see also  https://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20081026174028/http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/mifepristone/mifepristone_historical.htm 

An unexpected pregnancy is a life-changing event. The caring staff at Reachout Women's Center believe you should know all the facts about your options during pregnancy. You do not have to go through this difficult time alone. Be empowered to make the best decision you can make based on the facts and not fear. Reachout Women's Center will walk with you from the initial steps of your pregnancy, through the first 36 months of your child’s life. All services are confidential and free, including pregnancy testing, limited obstetrical ultrasounds, counseling referrals, and materials assistance.

Contact:

✆ (520) 321-4300
✉ info@reachoutwomenscenter.com

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Walking with Moms in Need calls each Catholic parish to "walk in the shoes" of local pregnant and parenting women in need. Everyone should know how to help moms in difficult circumstances.

While not trying to turn Catholic parishes into pregnancy centers, parishes can support local pregnancy centers where they exist, and can also find and share other resources with pregnant and parenting women. And where there are few local resources, parishes can create their own, based on the gifts of the parish community!

Parishes in the Diocese of Tucson invite pregnant and parenting women in need to receive support through materials, education, resources, or pregnancy tests. You are not alone!

• Casa Grande: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
• East Tucson: St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church
• North Tucson: St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
• Mid Tucson: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church
• Yuma: St. John Neumann Catholic Church
• South Tucson: Santa Cruz Catholic Church
• Vail: St. Rita in the Desert Catholic Church
• Marana: Our Lady of the Desert Catholic Church

Rachel's Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild, and redeem hearts broken by abortion or fetal loss. Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential, and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release, and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal, and healing.

Contact:

✆ (520) 743-6777
✉ rachelsvineyardtucson@gmail.com

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40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer, fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses.

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Become a Sidwalk Advocate and help abortion-minded women choose life.

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Get trained with the tools and resources you need to become a fully equipped pro-life activist in your community. Live Action seeks to make abortion unthinkable.

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