Ell vs the Birth Control and Catholic Church Board

The “BoardIlovetocommenton” i.e. The Birth Control and Catholic Church Message Board is closing down. Here’s the notice.

I have decided to close this discussion board for awhile for two reasons. The first is just a lack of time to keep up with it, and even though I’ve had great help from Lily and Mod, I still feel an obligation to be informed and involved with what happens here.

I feel like I just played David to that board’s Goliath with the same result! The truth is, I went on that message board in April, really the sole defender of Humanae Vitae and John Paul II’s reiteration, with little going for me besides an understanding of the teaching and a passion for the topic. When I didn’t know something, I looked it up, if I didn’t understand something, I asked for help. I never wavered in my belief that the church was right on this moral teaching and that the opposition on this board, regardless of their sophistication, education, and rationalization was in error.

Last summer, after I had been banned, the “anonymous theologian” came up with a list of “fallacies” used by the pro-church debate. I took that time off and learned as much as I could about logical fallacies and then I took each one of the alleged fallacies and tried to debate them within the criteria of whether or not it was a logical argument. I took time in the evenings and weekends. I discussed it with my husband and my mother, and any friends that were interested enough to listen and I got their feedback. When the board opened again this fall, I was ready and alone.

My first prayer intention was that I could make my arguments persuasive and wise. In time it became clear that Solomon himself could have been debating there and it would make little difference, because it really isn’t about the truth of the teaching and it never was. But if I couldn’t change hearts and minds or even persuade them that the church’s position has merit, then it is certainly the next best thing to have the forum close and I’m really glad to see it. If one person, with the strength of their conviction, stands up for authentic Catholic teaching, they really can make a difference.