oNE of the aims of the Union of Catholic Mothers is to offer love, sympathy and practical help to the family in difficulty, and in my capacity as public service officer to the union, I am writing in a sincere effort to bring hope and comfort to those who are deeply distressed following the publication of Pope Paul's encyclical. I have been teaching the rhythm method for 12 years, because of my firm conviction that this is the right approach to fertility and because I believe that people need help to achieve responsible parenthood. It has been my experience that the rhythm method can be made to work provided the advice given by a doctor who understands the method is fol lowed faithfully. This advice may be obtained at Catholic Marriage Advisory Council centres throughout the country. Research into the ihythm method is taking place at the present time. and the Pope asks in his encyclical for further studies to be made by the medical profession and by men of science. It is iny opinion that the future for Catholics in this sphere is not as gloomy as many would have us believe. Education in the true meaning of marriage and love plays a vital part in the prevention of the social problems jhat responsible people cannot ignore, and now that the period of doubt in the Church's teaching is over, hope that there will be a constructive drive to ensure that married life can be lived happily in accord with God's plan by all those who so desire.
Patricia Neville, M.D., Ch.B., Public Service Officer, Union of Catholic Mothers. Hale, Cheshire.