Dr. Gregory McKernan: NFP Isn't "Catholic Birth Control" (+ more) | The Catholic Morning Show - 07/20/2026

NFP Awareness Week with Dr. Gregory McKernan National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week runs July 19–25, 2026, timed each year to the anniversary of Pope St. Paul VI's encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25, 1968). This year's USCCB theme, "Natural Family Planning: Designed by God. Guided by Love. Open to Life," lines up with Pope Leo XIV's July prayer intention for the respect and protection of human life. Dr. Gregory McKernan, a family medicine physician at Vitae Family Health Care in West Des Moines, explains why NFP isn't "Catholic birth control" — it's about restoring a couple's natural fertility and health using tools like the Creighton Model FertilityCare System and NaPro Technology. Local Winners at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards Anne Marie Cox of the Diocese of Des Moines stops by to celebrate four Catholic Mirror contributors honored at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, presented by the Catholic Media Association at its June conference in Atlantic City: Bishop William M. Joensen — 1st Place, Bishop's Column in a Diocesan Newspaper Dr. John Huynh, D.Min. — 2nd Place, Scripture/Theology ("Jubilee of Hope") Monica Pugh — Honorable Mention, Spiritual Life ("On Prayer") Deacon Randy Kiel — Honorable Mention, General Commentary ("Let's Get Psyched") Cox also shares how the Catholic Mirror's move from a newspaper to a bimonthly magazine is changing how Catholic news reaches central and southwest Iowa. Listen Live The Catholic Morning Show airs weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on the Catholic Radio Network. Stream anytime at IowaCatholicRadio.com or on the Iowa Catholic Radio app. Learn More USCCB: National NFP Awareness Week Vitae Family Health Care The Catholic Mirror — Digital Edition Subscribe to the Catholic Mirror Newsletter #CatholicPodcast #NaturalFamilyPlanning #NFPAwarenessWeek #HumanaeVitae #CatholicMediaAwards #DioceseOfDesMoines #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicRadio   Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm. ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show. 🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.