Actually, this is not my only experience with secular press photographers. I have found that they are this way everywhere.

But you’re right about some church photographers. One of the things that I’ve learned is never to use flash to take photos during the consecration. I also try not to cut across the front of the congregation, and to walk the long way around the back if there is room to move.

God bless,
Catholic Writer

P.S.: Thanks for the compliment and the link!

The photos you captured during the funeral Mass that were posted in your blog was indeed a nice sharing for those who were unable to be present.

On your question if press photographers were rude during such a solemn occasion, I guess it boils down to photographers having a need to understand what is the occasion and some simple Do’s and Don’ts. Perhaps some preliminary briefing could be done especially when it comes to religious celebrations and events. Not confining to press photographers who are non-Catholics, sometimes even photographers, who are Catholics, which I have observed during celebrations like the Sacrament of First Holy Communion or Holy Matrimony, and with the ID tag bearing the words “Official Photographer” which they wore, somehow seems to make them feel that they can move around freely during the liturgy without the need for solemn observation of what’s happening and not realising they are actually causing a distraction to the worshippers. I’m sure telephoto lens can minimise all those unnecessary movement with the need arises without having to walk up and down the aisle and acros the Sanctuary in full view of the congregation. A need to be more in tune of what’s going on while capturing your photos.

Ordinary Guy

God bless,
Catholic Writer

ASimpleSinner

Like you, I believe in correcting errors. While it is true that birth control pills lower the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, it is also been proven that they increase the risk of breast cancer (in a logical way as well).

The Billings Ovulation Method (or NFP as used in this context) has less than one percent failure rate, and this has been proven by multiple trials (usually by those who originally wanted to debunk it), including by the World Health Organization. That’s as good a rate as the best birth control pill, without any health risks involved.

Regarding your patient’s case, periods do not wash out sperm as the sperm can remain inside so long as the mucus indicating fertility is present. Also periods do not indicate that a woman is infertile, for it has been shown that women can get pregnant even while having their period, especially when they have a short cycle i.e. ovulation takes place before bleeding stops.

If the patient has been found with sperm swimming in the cervical mucus, then we can definitely conclude that the patient is fertile. This is because fertility is measured by the type of cervical mucus, not whether she has ovulated or not.

For example, if a woman has ovulated, but there is no stringy and lubricative mucus (the kind that facilitates sperm transport and maintains the sperm’s fertilizing capacity), then the woman is infertile, even though the egg is present.

Fertility does not indicate that the patient will definitely get pregnant, but that the possibility for pregnancy is there. All evidence indicates that the stringy and lubricative mucus is essential for conception to take place.

The Billings Ovulation Method enables any woman to tell whether she is fertile or infertile by observing the signs in her mucus. It is also advantageous in the sense that all that is required is education and awareness, which makes it the perfect method of family planning to be taught to poor families who cannot afford artificial contraception, and cannot afford to use unreliable natural contraception.

It’s a shame that not many people know about this method and the benefits its use brings.

God bless,
Catholic Writer

Oh, I believe in observing reverence for the Eucharist, but I just don’t see how receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is any more reverent than receiving it on the hand. After all, I do believe that a person commits more sins with his tongue than with his hands. Is there something wrong with receiving the Eucharist on the hand?

Oh, and I would appreciate it if you didn’t impose Pope Benedict’s preference on me.

Thanks and God bless,
Catholic Writer

The medical risks of IUDs are obvious, but before slapping a broad “risks” label on birth control pills, remember that back in the Dark Ages when birth control pills were deemed dangerous, they contained 90-180 mcgs of estrogen. Pills today contain, on the average, 20 mcgs. Health benefits include significant, proven (& frankly, logical) decrease in ovarian & endometrial cancer risk as well as healthier bone marrow stores (less bleeding) & preservation of fertility (basically, they save a woman’s eggs.).

I’m not writing this response to promote use of birth control pills. I have this obsessive-compulsive need to try to correct errors. Also, I’d hate to see a young family having children they’re not ready for. I’ve seen it once, & I’d never want to see it again.