How Many Mortal Sins That Have Nothing To Do With Sex Can You Name In Under A Minute?

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:15 pm By Melinda Selmys

So, take a minute. Make a list. If you’re a theology nerd, and you’re aware, for example, of St. Thomas Aquinas’ extensive lists of possible mortal sins then you might still be scribbling as the minute waltz fades away. But if you’re just a normal, reasonably well catechized Catholic the list is probably something like “Murder…Suicide…ummm…Theft. If you steal something big, that’s mortal…maybe…Torture. Mutilation…Blasphemy…and I think the catechism says that drunk driving is a mortal sin…Oh yeah, and missing Mass... Read more

Apocalyptophoria

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:15 pm By Melinda Selmys

The apocalypse promises to divest us of responsibility for solving the seemingly impossible problems of the Culture of Death. Read more

Damn you, Chunky Beef Stew! You’ve polarized society!

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:16 pm By Melinda Selmys

Here are two portraits. Which one of these people do you feel is most like you? Read more

Casting Out The Unclean Spirit of Vain Contention

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:16 pm By Melinda Selmys

I've been deliberating over the past couple of days about how to handle the problem of being a Catholic blogger with a com-box. At my old blog my policy was fairly simple: if you posted something that was a recognizable attempt at English, did not contain any blatant slander, and you weren't trying to sell black-magic revenge against ex-boyfriends then I let it slide. Read more

No Slavoj, I Will Not Blog About NFP Anymore. Wombats.

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:17 pm By Melinda Selmys

Catholic bloggers who yammer on about sex are a dime a dozen, but when was the last time you heard a sermon preached about wombats? Read more

What Happened to the Post Humanae Vitae Dream?

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:17 pm By Melinda Selmys

So this is the post where I’m promising answers, and I need to be very clear up front: I don’t have them. If you find that you are backed into a corner with no way out, you feel powerless and depressed, long stretches of abstinence are setting you and your spouse at each other’s throats, every time you give up in desperation and “cheat” with your spouse you feel suicidally guilty, you hate your fertility your body and your chart,... Read more

Sexual Anorexia

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:17 pm By Melinda Selmys

Yesterday, I talked about how NFP functions as an ascetic practice, and why that can be a very good thing for marriage. Today, I want to talk about how it can be dangerous when NFP is used during times of marital crisis, or when avoiding pregnancy is a grave necessity. Read more

So, Is NFP Marriage Building or Isn’t It?

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:17 pm By Melinda Selmys

This will take a couple posts. We'll start by talking about NFP use under normal conditions where a couple wants to space their children, or avoid pregnancy for serious but not grave reasons. Read more

My Libido: A Mosquito

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 3:18 pm By Melinda Selmys

Every so often in discussions of NFP there's that person who pops up and says “I use NFP. I love it. Sometimes it can be a little bit frustrating if you're having trouble with the charting, but I don't understand what the big deal is.” If you get them talking theoretically, there's a lot of rhapsodizing about virtue, self-sacrifice and respect for the gift of fertility. If you get them talking practically, Read more

Rate Your NFP Privilege Quiz

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 2:32 pm By Melinda Selmys

There are a lot of factors that can influence how onerous NFP is for any given couple, and whether it is practically feasible at all. Before judging those who fail or give up, it's a good idea to be aware of the factors that might make NFP easier for you than it is for most. So, here's a handy tool. Read more