|
1. Human
Dignity and The 1968 Revolution
I was about to
start my last year of humanities in 1974, the year that in Belgium contraception
had been legalised, on a double assumption: abortion prevention and promotion of
happy families. By now we can say that in reality the move was intended to
introduce free sex. That seemed to be the result of the sexual revolution of the
1960s. For me the meaning of`’sexual revolution’ would only become clear in
1978, when I was confronted at the university with the first books of Germaine
Greer[1]
and Jef Geeraerts[2].
The contraceptive pill transformed women in female eunuchs easily reducible to
sex objects.
Today in
Europe we still are under the yoke of that sexual revolution. This becomes
apparent in publicity, in sex education, where only one recommendation stands
firm: by all means avoid STD’s and above all pregnancy. The dignity of the
motherhood is stolen from the woman as from its earliest youth. The correlate,
man and father has also disappeared. As if man’s only purpose amounts to
reproduction, as a publicity on the French radio France Inter told us by the end
of July: “In Belgium you find still kind men who shake off their leek and offer
their sperms to surrogate mothers.”[3]
Sex without children, no matter with whom, and children without sex, idem.
2.
Fertility, A Treasure
In the 1980’s,
as I stayed in Vienna with my fiancée later to become my wife, we heard of a new
disease, AIDS and for the first time also really about the condom. Would we ever
have to use this? Of course not, because we both entered marriage as a virgin.
Children were welcome, because we wished a large family. However, after each
pregnancy the doctor asked which pill my wife would like to take. But my wife
persistently refused. Her fertility was a treasure that she wanted to protect. A
book of Ingrid Trobisch[4]
and an article of the French doctor Michèle Guy[5]
had already put some light on our fertility, but nature had not yet entirely
revealed its mysteries. In 1987 through a Belgian gynaecologist Dr André Devos[6],
we met the Irish gynaecologist, Dr Anna Flynn[7]
from Birmingham, UK. And so for the first time we really discovered the wonder
of human fertility. Without contraceptive means we learned to control our
fertility in a very reliable way. The sympto-thermal method for natural birth
regulation was for me a means for respecting my wife thoroughly in her
womanhood.
Today I share
the opinion of Prof. Bart Fauser[8]
that hormonal contraception in fact leads nowhere. The feminist Shere Hite[9]
was aware of this back to 1988: “The fact that women are given a product
actively working on their whole body, is symptomatic for a system which
underestimates the body of a woman.”
3. NFP, A
Way To Human Dignity
Meanwhile in
1988, we ourselves had become NFP-teachers and proposed to promote NFP in
Flanders. Human dignity is based on the integrity of the body, inviolable,
except for conservation or recovering good health under strict medical
conditions, assuming that one treats diseases and patients, the treatment not
being worse than the disease. Fertility is an integral part of the human person.
But it is the only function being always shared by two people. For that reason
dignity applies to both partners and as a man, or a woman you can’t claim the
right to make the spouse sterile for sexual pleasure.
At that time I
did not realise the arduous fight I was about to get to grips with.
Thanks to the
support of the German Arbeitsgruppe NFP, in the meanwhile Malteser Arbeitsgruppe
NFP[10],
our organisation could offer a specific didactic method[11],
rooted in and based on the method of dr. Flynn. We took part in scientific
studies, where we could prove the efficacy of this NFP-method, both to prevent a
pregnancy and to realise one[12].
Training and
updating NFP-teachers, writing articles, giving talks, building internet sites[13],
assuming telephone answering services, reading scientific articles, carrying out
studies, preparing congresses, developing information programmes, fills up more
than one day. And in the meanwhile looking for a way to propagate knowledge and
respect of men’s and women’s natural fertility.
But the
biggest problem today is the evermore direct medicalisation of fertility,
generously financed by means of the health insurance funds. Why can't the social
security and/or the health insurance funds finance an in-depth training for NFP?
As of the first menstruation adolescents get the pill for free without ever
having personally experienced the deep value of their fertility. This is a bad
medical solution for a social problem, encouraging sexual promiscuity among
young people. In the media but frequently also at home they are more and more
confronted with promiscuity of adults, an example eagerly being followed. ‘It is
prohibited to prohibit’[14]
and for this reason many doctors no longer dare to draw young people’s attention
to their responsibility. Instead they frequently offer them contraception
without objective information. It is of course very likely that this sexual
behaviour, deprived of moral values, is passed along through the further
marriage life or the consecutive monogamous relations, as a result of which man
and woman will have a much harder time to experience their fertility as an
essential element of their person.
4. Fertility
and Self-Consciousness
When nowadays
I look at the knowledge of teenagers and young people about sexuality, this is
quite a sad experience. In spite of the permanent sex education more and more
teenagers appear to become pregnant and end up with an abortion, as clearly
evidenced by the Belgian abortion evaluation commission reports. Some years ago
a Dutch cabaretier launched the sentence: “they know what is oral before they
know what is moral”. For centuries one was aware that sexual activity could lead
to pregnancy. The feministe Naomi Wolf writes: “Our development to womanhood
was additionally hampered because babies and sexual pleasure were very
unnaturally presented as two extremes on a scale called sex. (…) This meant that
we had not even to think linking those two aspects of ourselves in a holistic
way.”[15]
But it is
precisely this self-consciousness that correlates with the dignity of man and
woman. If that self-consciousness is not present, then the dignity of the human
person is subjected to injustice, in the same way as keeping someone illiterate.
The direct pill or condom distribution (for free) results in keeping someone
illiterate. But in the meanwhile of course a base for customer binding has been
laid.
5.
Fertility, Human Dignity and Human Rights
Fertility and
human dignity. Is that link not an artificial fabrication?
No, it goes
much further. As from the Germans to Mahatma Gandhi, the African and Indian
cultures human fertility was protected and highly considered. It is build in in
people. In 1948, the universal Declaration of Human Rights was written in the
same spirit. We know that continuing attempts are undertaken to undermine this
declaration, in spite of the fact that Article 30 clearly states: “Nothing in
this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person
any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the
destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.”
But let’s look
at what is of interest for us.
To assert the
sexual rights inherent to the human being in a decent manner Article 16 says
that
(1) "Men
and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or
religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to
equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2)
Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the
intending spouses.
(3) The
family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to
protection by society and the State.”
This means
that you should give man and woman sufficient time to found a family with
children so that they really can live their parenthood.
In Article 23
it is put that
(1)
"Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2)
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3)
Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring
for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and
supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4)
Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of
his interests.”
Here it’s
clear that a family income is necessary and not an individual income, so that -
like more and more in Europe - people are forced to earn two incomes to live. We
know in the meanwhile how difficult it is for working couples to bear children.
This is confirmed once again in Article 25:
(1)
"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and
well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and
medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the
event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of
livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2)
Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All
children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social
protection.”
If the mother
is forced to return to work a few weeks after birth, because otherwise she is
deprived of her income - and therefore an important part of the family budget -,
you can hardly speak of respect of fundamental human rights. But apparently few
people feel concerned.
There is
however still more involved than that. Article 26 declares that
“(1)
Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the
elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory.
Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and
higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2)
Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and
to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It
shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial
or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for
the maintenance of peace.
(3)
Parents have a priority right to choose the kind of education that shall be
given to their children.”
It seems clear
that fertility awareness, just like literacy, is part of that full development
of human individuality. But if you know nothing concerning your own fertility
how can you then pass this on to your own children? That’s the reason why
alphabetization of adults, concerning fertility awareness is necessary.
“Alphabetization gives the beneficiaries the knowledge, habilities and tools
needed for their complete integration in society”[16].
6. Fertility
and The Human Dignity In Belgium
The national
abortion evaluation commission in Belgium states[17]:
“Specifically for young people, both boys and girls ,fertility awareness
should be stimulated and they should learn how to become fully responsible for
their fertility.”
But how can we
presently put this recommendation into practice?
The Belgian
patient rights legislation[18]
prescribes:
• sound instruction and unfiltered
information,
• given by a doctor without prejudice,
• presented with all scientific facts,
including advantages and disadvantages, reliability and risks of all suggested
methods,
• in the first place the alternative without side effects.
As for birth
regulation (contraceptive or conceptive) this practically means that the patient
should be offered informed choice and objective information about side effects
of artificial contraception and reproduction[19].
It would appear to be normal that the health insurance organisations in the
first place finance NFP-teaching and training. Men and women have indeed the
right to know thoroughly their fertility and to make an informed choice, based
on this knowledge, what probably will stimulate the motivation to apply the
chosen method correctly and consistently, resulting in an improved prevention of
unintended pregnancies. Fortunately similar thinking seems gradually to invade
the medical sphere. Lately, both in Flanders and in the Netherlands I see a
growing interest for NFP among midwives. A most important breakthrough is the
recent recognition at the academic level of the natural method of birth
regulation due to the scientific evidence of the efficacy of the method, as
proved by abundant sound scientific international research. This became
especially evident last year during our International Congress in Antwerp:”Fertility
Awareness: the missing cornerstone”[20],
with active participation of several experts from both national and
international universities.
Both in the
field of birth regulation and infertility treatment the interest for NFP grows.
Many fertility doctors are interested in obtaining for their patients a
pregnancy in a natural way, where possible[21].
This is indeed much cheaper, without risks for both mother and offspring and
neutralizes the increased risk for multiple pregnancies itself a tremendous
financial and medical care burden.
There is a
huge task put aside for NFP-teachers. A beautiful example is the MFM-projekt of
Elisabeth Raith-Paula in Germany[22].
A simple project, aimed at young girls prior to their first menstruation. It’s a
kind of transition ritual, but based on pure scientific cycle knowledge and
adapted to the modern world. The European Fertility Management Program[23]
is another example. From my own experience I am convinced that overhead
financing is necessary but this is far from obvious.
7. Fertility
and Human Dignity In Developing Countries
It is not up
to me, a western person, to say what developing countries must do or think. To
often already are we doing that. Nevertheless I would like to suggest possible
thoughts, from my limited Flemish life experience. Perhaps could other
continents learn from the previous European experiences.
Concerning the
myth of overpopulation have many others already made declarations. In fact is it
a political problem and a problem of honest world trade. In 1994, at a congress
in Lublin I had a conversation with dr. René Saint Mart of Mauritius. At that
time this small island of 1865 km ², 880 km from Madagascar in the Indian Ocean
was a prosperous island with a population of 1.2 million inhabitants. According
to René Saint Mart the population would even have to increase to keep the
prosperity level, hence the many migrant workers on the island. Ten years prior
to this, when the island numbered less than 900,000 inhabitants, was the island
obviously over-populated, because of the poverty. Overpopulation is clearly a
subjective notion, but our world for sure can still tolerate and feed many
people. When I travel by train in the Netherlands, do I not have the feeling
that I am in one of the most densely populated countries in the world. To be
clear, I do not think that drastic birth restriction is a solution of the
problems. Everywhere in the world families should get the possibility to live
their fertility and to determine themselves how many children they can educate
in human dignity.
Healthy
nutrition, hygiene and housing are basic conditions in decreasing infant
mortality. But on top of this we must provide the possibility for education by
the natural parents – in particular give a chance to the physical and
psychological presence of the mother. Of course this means that we will be
respecting and protecting our natural fertility.
The main
protection is a healthy sexual life in a lasting relationship: for Europe
certainly the traditional monogamous family. Strong families are indeed less
disease-prone, have more children, are healthier psychosocially, support the
society, provide free care 24/24 hours, 365/365 days (and nights) and care for
social security and pensions. If these functions would be paid for, each 24/24
hours care rendered matches a 5.5 Full Time Equivalent. Hence outside nursery or
elderly care is priceless and invaluable. Only family care offers a way out. The
European Values Study[24]
again and again confirms that young people are longing for a traditional family
with a faithful partner. Faithfulness and mutual respect are especially
reinforced if those youngsters are well informed about their fertility and if
they can enter in dialogue about this topic.
The only
successful model of the fight against AIDS so far is to be found in Uganda[25],
due to a national campaign promoting a monogamous and faithful marriage at an
age when people can make a mature choice, the ABC-approach[26].
That choice is only possible following adequate education and therefore Uganda
propagates marriages after completion of high school. Furthermore is the accent
put on faithfulness and on adequate care for mother and child. Good obstetrical,
pre-and postnatal care in hygienic circumstances can also strongly decrease the
maternal mortality and should not be expensive.
The family in
her concrete situation should be able to judge how many children they can afford
and educate, without compromising their natural fertility.
Besides the
ordinary literacy is nowadays fertility literacy undoubtedly an aspect of human
rights which also applies to the developing countries. Natural fertility control
is free of charge, reinforces the dignity of women and the responsibility of men
to the point that mother- and fatherhood are rightly promoted through mutual
dialogue. The German method we are spreading in Belgium and the Netherlands,
offers an efficacy similar to the efficacy of hormonal contraception[27].
Such a high efficacy can be necessary in specific situations, but every family
should decide for herself.
But to realise
this dream a mentality change especially in the West is necessary. The West
should allow and help the third world to develop itself economically, invest
more in basic health care, hygiene and education and return natural fertility to
the couples instead of linking aid programs to massive artificial contraception.
Fertility awareness should become a must within each faithful man woman
relationship.
Conclusion
Knowledge and accountable use of natural
fertility are essential in the perception of the dignity of the human person and
are an integral part of human rights. This perception is only possible when the
equivalence between man and woman, in dialogue, is lived within the family,
assuming both in the west and in the developing countries a fertility awareness
literacy campaign, as from the age of awakening fertility. This should surely be
stimulated when a permanent commitment between men and women comes about
thriving to the joy of mother-and fatherhood. For this reason adequate financing
by the government is mandatory.
This is a fundamental claim for
solidarity between generations, where the elderly should cherish their
grandchildren and where the children should not desperately be confronted with
an impossible demographic ageing. Our European contraception model is no option
for the developing countries. Within an honest trade context the developing
countries should set up a social security system adapted to their own culture,
supporting healthy families including their natural fertility, as to reach
further blossoming of their current family solidarity.
Endnotes:
[1] Germaine
Greer: The female Eunuch,- 1970
[2] Jef
Geeraerts: Gangreen 1. Black Venus,- 1968
[3]
Publicity for Belgian IVF-clinics, broadcasted on Friday July 24th
France Inter
[4] Ingrid
Trobisch: The Joy of Being a Woman,- 1975
[5] Dr
Michèle Guy, co-founder of Cler in France (www.cler.net)
[6] Dr André
Devos, founder of NFP-Vlaanderen 1984 (www.nfp.be)
[7] Dr Anna
Flynn†, autor of many articles in The Lancet and other peer reviewed
reviews in the 1970s-1980s
[8] Weg met
de pil,- In: Intermediair, February 1st 2005
[9] Shere
Hite in: De Morgen, May 14th 1988
[10]
www.nfp-online.de
[11] Gerhard Döring (red.): Natürliche
Methoden der Familienplanung. Modellprojekt zur wissenschaftlichen
Überprüfung und kontrollierten Vermittlung,- Schriftenreihe des
Bundesministers für Jugend, Familie, Frauen und Gesundheit, Band 239,
1988 E.Raith, P.Frank en G.
Freundl: Natürliche Familienplanung heute,- 2008
[12] C.
Gnoth et al.: Time to pregnancy: result of the German prospective study
and impact on the management of infertility,- In: Human Reproduction
2003/18(9): 1959-1966, Frank-Herrmann et al.: The
effectiveness of a fertility awareness based method to avoid pregnancy
in relation to a couple's sexual behaviour during the fertile time: a
prospective longitudinal study,- In Human Reproduction.
2007/22(5):1310-1319
[13]
www.nfp.be,
www.nfp-nederland.nl,
www.nfp-europe.org
[14] Main
sentence of the May 1968 revolt in Paris, inspired by Jean-Paule Sartre
and Simone de Beauvoir
[15] Naomi Wollf, Promiscuities, 1997
[16]
Abdelaziz Abid (Unesco): Apprendre à apprendre: maitrise de
l’information et apprentissage tout au long de la vie,- lecture at the
Brussels Royal Library Albertina, April 30th 2009
[17] Nationale Commissie voor de
evaluatie van de wet van 3 april 1990 betreffende de
zwangerschapsafbreking: Verslag ten behoeve van het Parlement 1 januari
2005 – 31 december 2007
[18] Wet betreffende de rechten van de
patiënt KB 22 augustus 2002
[19] E.g. Kahlenborn: Breast cancer.
Its Link to Abortion and the Birth Control Pill,- 2000
[20]
www.nfp.be/congres
[21] I.
Brosens: Managing infertility with fertility-awareness methods,- In:
Sexuality, Reproduction & Menopause, 2006/4(1):13-16
[22]
www.mfm-projekt.de (in German) and
www.jijenik.be (in Dutch)
[23]
www.fertilitymgt.eu
[24]
www.europeanvaluesstudy.eu
[25] Green
et al.: Uganda’s HIV Prevention Success: The Role of Sexual Behavior
Change and the National Respons,- In: Aids and Behavior 10/2006: 335-346
[26]
Halperin et al.: The time has come for common ground on preventing
sexual transmission of HIV,- In The Lancet 2004/364: 1913-1915
[27] Frank-Herrmann et al.: The
effectiveness of a fertility awareness based method to avoid pregnancy
in relation to a couple's sexual behaviour during the fertile time: a
prospective longitudinal study,- In Human Reproduction.
2007/22(5):1310-1319
| 
