Episode 10: Theresa Notare on Human Fertility (October 28, 2025)

In this episode of The Social Doctrine of the Church, Michael Vacca and Robert Fastiggi talk with Theresa Notare, Assistant Director, NFP Program Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth I United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.How do questions of human fertility relate to the social doctrine of the Catholic Church? Some people might be surprised to learn that the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2005) touches on questions of human procreation in nos. 230–235.What are the basic teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage, procreation, and the regulation of births? What are the sources for these teachings?Why was there significant opposition to St. Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae? Was the resistance due to the “sexual revolution” underway at that time or were there other factors? Do you think some bishops and theologians contributed to this resistance?How did St. John Paul II help to explain the wisdom of the Church’s teachings on procreation and marital love?What is natural family planning and how does it differ from contraception?Why do you think many Catholics are not familiar with natural family planning?How does natural family planning contribute to marital intimacy, communication, and love? 8. In your years working with the USCCB on questions of fertility what have been your greatest challenges and greatest blessings?