NFP Isn't "Catholic Birth Control": Dr. Gregory McKernan on Natural Family Planning – 07/20/2026

Why NFP Isn't "Catholic Birth Control" Dr. Gregory McKernan, a family medicine physician at Vitae Family Health Care in West Des Moines, joins the show for National NFP Awareness Week (July 19–25, 2026) — timed each year to the anniversary of Pope St. Paul VI's 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae. Dr. McKernan pushes back on the idea that natural family planning is simply "Catholic birth control," explaining that a fertile body is a healthy body, whether or not a couple is trying to conceive. He walks through how Vitae evaluates and treats fertility for both men and women — including precise cycle charting, targeted hormone testing built on Pope Paul VI Institute lab standards, and fertility-sparing surgical options — rather than treating fertility itself as something to shut off. About Vitae Family Health Care Vitae Family Health Care (the name draws on both "life" and Humanae Vitae) is located at 1355 50th St., Suite 100, in West Des Moines. The clinic can be reached at (515) 225-3261 and is also active on Instagram and Facebook. This Year's NFP Awareness Week Theme "Natural Family Planning: Designed by God. Guided by Love. Open to Life." — USCCB, 2026 Learn More Vitae Family Health Care USCCB: National NFP Awareness Week Pope Leo XIV's July 2026 Prayer Intention: For Respect for Human Life #NaturalFamilyPlanning #NFPAwarenessWeek #HumanaeVitae #CatholicFertility #ProLife #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio 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.