​WARNING: May act as Abortifacient!

A couple of winters ago I was pulling out of my driveway attempting to convince myself that arriving at the gym instead of Chic-fil-a was a much better start to the day.
 
In the midst of my inner debate, catholic radio caught my attention.
I ignored the fight going on between #3 and #4 in the back seats and turned up the volume.
 
The program host was interviewing a doctor that used to perform abortions back in the day. He was sharing his conversion story and I came in when he became emotional while recalling all of the abortions he had been a part of.
You could hear the pain and disgust for himself in his heart as he spoke.
 
I turned up the volume some more.
What I heard next completely threw my world into a whirl.
 
The doctor began to talk about how he hadn’t just been a part of the abortions that occurred in his office, he had been a part of possibly thousands.
 
Huh? Without knowing? What do you mean?
 
Doctor: “ I realized that I had been an active participant in all the abortions that occurred through my prescribing of birth control. I was sick. I had to get to confession.”
 
Me to car radio: “What is he talking about?!”
 
Then the radio host and doctor start talking about how birth control can act as an abortifacient but people are not aware of this facet. Then they dove deeper into the details of how the pill actually works.
 
It was then my turn to feel sick.
I had never heard this before.
In all of my life, I had never heard that birth control could act as an abortifacient until I turned on my radio that morning. I was shocked and disgusted with myself.
 
My husband and I had been on and off the pill in between kids.
We always felt guilty, we always knew better. But, it was so much easier than any other option!
We’d use it for about 6 months and then decide we were either too guilty to stay on it or ready to be open to another baby. 
 
Yes, everything I knew about Catholic teaching on contraception should have been enough to make us dedicated NFP-ers.
The problem was, I could not trust God with all of it. I just couldn’t.
(I still have trouble with this, PS. But am relying on His grace day by day.)
 
I had very recently thrown away my birth control because I couldn’t stand going against God anymore. But after hearing that radio segment, there was no way I could go back to using the pill.
 
So, all of this brings me to…why aren’t the words “WARNING: The pill can act as an Abortifacient!” seen all over the place? They should be on billboards and all over social media! Shoot, why isn’t it in bold red letters on birth control packets?!
 
It’s one of the best kept secrets of our time.
Doctors will fight you on the truth of the pill. Many are not even aware themselves of how it truly works.
I’m telling you, best kept secret.
 
Should it be the one fact that keeps Catholics away from using the pill? Nope. However, for those stubborn ye of little faiths (ME) it could be just the thing to turn them back to living the faith.
 
I have to tell you, ever since this conviction came and God gave my husband and I the grace to be obedient to His desires, our life has changed immensely.
Is NFP challenging and hard and sucky at times? Yup. But, it has opened our hearts to hearing God like we never have before. I feel so much closer to my husband and I feel so much closer to Jesus.
 
Guess God knows what He’s talkin’ about after all. 

​Text Copyright 2017 Stephanie Stovall