Comments on: Zero Population Growth

By: Tweets that mention Zero Population Growth | The Integrated Catholic Life -- Topsy.com

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:32:39 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by A Verdade Ilumina, ICL – Catholic eZine. ICL – Catholic eZine said: Zero Population Growth by Cheryl Dickow on ICL today http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/07/zero-population-growth/ [...]

By: Terry8

Terry8 — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:28:35 +0000

As a mother of 8 children, ranging in age from 22 to 7, I can tell you that not all of the negative criticism we have endured over the years comes from strangers in the grocery check-out or from colleagues at work. We have heard plenty of negative comments over the years from fellow parishioners whom we see weekly and from parents and kids at the Catholic schools my children attend.

I agree, Cheryl, that bottom-up and top-down Catholics have to work together to explain, reinforce, encourage the Church’s teachings and wonderful history. Those of us with large families also have a responsibility to show society, humbly, and always for the glory of God, that raising a large family, while extremely challenging, can be done well and with much joy, by the grace of God. Most importantly, we have to raise our children so that they will look back on their childhood and believe that being one of many siblings is the way life should be.

Of course, not all comments about the size of our family have been negative. We have been blessed with much support and kind words over the years as well. Perhaps that is another important consideration. I think we have to go the extra mile and encourage the young mother or father in the pew who is struggling with toddlers and crying babies. Show them your support, even with just a friendly smile. I can tell you from personal experience, gestures like that certainly helped me and my husband.

Terry McDermott
Toronto

By: ChrisC

ChrisC — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:12:25 +0000

Awesome, ground breaking, beautifully penned. I truly find Mrs Dickow’s writing so poetic. Yet her message of urgency in adhering to the Faith is in the forefront. I will be rereading this several times to absorb fully, not only the eloquence, but the deeper meaning for all of us as Catholics. I learn so much from Mrs Dickow’s writing as well. The information that I glean from her work is so appreciated. Yes, I went to Catholic school from k-12 and through college and grad school too; yet I find little gems that I never knew, sprinkled throughout her articles that teach and inspire.
Thank you for sharing this.

By: Randy Hain

Randy Hain — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:09:06 +0000

Cheryl-I enjoyed this article and appreciate how you point out that we have become increasingly influenced more by the world than the teachingsof our Catholic faith. One only has to look at the declining populations in Japan and Western Europe to see one of the horrible impacts of easy access to abortion. I was recently encouraged by an interview I did with Fr. Frank Pavone (the interview will be featured on ICL this Thursday) when he shared the great momentum pro-life forces are seeing in this country.

Thanks for this powerful and needed article today which will likely have a significant impact on those who read it.

God bless-

Randy