THE EDITOR: Leela Ramdeen, (CN March 11, 2007) has shown the connection between the corrupt family planning origins and the Nazis, in urging full protection for the sanctity and inviolable dignity of human life by the rejection of abortion and contraception.

Matching societal violence by such further violence would be monumental blunder.  These ideas have sprung from the introduction of contraception.

More effort needs to be put into care for unwed mothers and their children, into training in the need for children to have a mother and father in marriage, with the support that faith and family should provide.

Vatican I in a dogma (to be believed on divine and Catholic faith), infallibly defined that popes teach infallibly when, as supreme pastors and teachers of all Christians, they define a doctrine on matters of faith or morals to be held by the whole Church. 

This infallible doctrine of the ordinary Magisterium is necessary for faithfully keeping and expounding the revealed deposit of Faith as taught in Vatican II in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 25.

Thus, this leads to the understanding of the vital importance of the papal infallible doctrine against contraception in Casti Connubii (1930) and Humanae Vitae (1968), an understanding which some priests and laity seem not to have, and about which some Catholics appear oblivious.

Reported by the Catholic News Agency on March 1, the results of the research conducted by the German Natural Family Planning Study Centre between 1985 and 2005 concludes: "Therefore, we maintain that the effectiveness of STM (Sympto-Thermal Method) is comparable to the effectiveness of modern contraceptive methods such as oral contraceptives, and is an effective and acceptable method of family planning."

Scientists have been taken aback by this new study which found STM to be as effective, if not more so, than the contraceptive pill in family planning, as the research was published in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal “Human Reproduction”.

This is a stunning recognition of the scientific evidence backing Natural Birth Regulation by those who have tended to decry the science involved as well as the morality.

Parents and their offspring should know how always trustworthy are the Church's doctrines, and how harmful are those ideas and people who decry them, even if it takes the detractors 39 years (after Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae) to see the light!
Peter Howard, Queensland, Australia  via email

DEAR EDITOR: After having repeatedly called the TTSPCA to report cases of animal cruelty around my neighbourhood, I wonder if this organisation is in fact pro-animal.

I live next to a compound where dogs are kept for days on end, on the shortest of chains, or wire collars and left out in the hot blazing midday sun without so much as a leaf blade of shade or shelter.

These dogs suffer the same fate in the rainy season where they battle ice-cold rains and are soaked to the marrow.

Repeated complaints and reasoning to the owners have all failed. Repeated calls to the TTSPCA have similarly served no purpose as no one from the association has yet graced my street with their presence.

A year ago, another neighbour of mine kept a cat chained up to a shed with a piece of wire around its neck. Forget food or water. My then 60 year-old mother spoke to them but was once again ignored.

Upon calling TTSPCA, she was told that they do not come to this area because only criminals reside here and might they suggest that she jump over the wall to untie said cat. Such an aberration!!

I recognise that the TTSPCA is the single institution, poorly aided and equipped by the powers that be to resolve such matters, but I would think that some action is better than none!

Might I suggest some sort of public awareness campaign and weekend caravans that inform pet owners of good and unacceptable pet-care? I know that members of the animal loving public will be only too willing to volunteer their services.

Let us hope that some day we can live in a country that is not only crime free for its citizens, but for their pets as well.
Karen A Sankar, San Juan