And Whose Business Is It Anyway?

The Catholic Sistas has an interesting article about the Duggars and the animosity against them (which I personally experienced viewing a vicious video on YouTube). Are you familiar with their family? The parents, Michelle and Jim Bob, are unabashed Christians who are expecting their 20th child and, yes, each and every one is their biological offspring. They offer tremendous witness to a world that sees children as doll objects -- valuable if you want them, trash if you don't. They are certainly counter cultural.

But they weren't always.

Jim Bob and Michelle started marriage like many couples -- contracepting. After four years they decided it was time to have a baby. After his birth, Michelle went back on the pill, but became pregnant again and then miscarried. At that point, with the witness of a pro-life doctor, they read the pill packet insert and realized its potential to kill children. They repented, put their family and the number of their children in the hands of God, and the rest is history.

It's amazing how many people judge and condemn the Duggars for no other reason than the size of their family. "They're insulating their children from the world, they don't believe in 'diversity,' they only associate with people who think like they do, they homeschool so they must be nerds." And, of course, they are irresponsible for having so many children! You would think these critics were supporting this family, but instead the Duggars work hard, built a 7000 square foot home debt free, and they're children are hard workers as well. There is no welfare mentality in this home! And they give all the credit for their beautiful family to the Lord.

I love the Duggars! They remind me that St. Catherine of Siena was the 21st child in her family, that large families who love God and put Him at the center create fertile ground to make saints. It makes me appreciate the beautiful families in our parish who take up an entire pew on Sunday. May they prosper and grow in love.

Visit the Duggars' website and take a look at their latest book, A Love that Multiplies. Check out this video relating how the oldest Duggar son helped save the life of a little girl. And now -- If you haven't met the Duggars...here they are.

Condemning the Generous

I'm not into reality shows, but I recently read about a couple who's in one, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar. They live debt free in a house they built, but that's not enough for the "tolerant" of the world because this couple has committed the unforgivable crime: they have "too many" children. Michelle Duggar gave birth to their 19th child last winter when little Josie was born prematurely by C-section. Read more about this amazing couple and their attitude toward life by clicking on the hotlink. You can also read the vitriolic comments from "liberals" whose liberality does not extend to being open to life and welcoming children with open arms. They call the Duggars "selfish." These are the same folks who celebrate the murder of little "unwanted" babes in the womb. They remind me of the mother in the Solomon story who wants the living baby killed. Their name is Legion.

The Bible and the tradition of the Church teaches us differently. A child, the Bible says, is like an arrow in the quiver. Blest is the man who has a quiverful. Many saints learned the gospel in the school of the large family. St. Catherine of Siena, I believe, was the 21st.  God bless the Duggars! May their positive attitude toward children spread. And may we all be open to God's will: the parents of many children, the parents of few, the parents who  mourn like Hannah because they have none. Conforming our hearts and minds to the Lord is the key to happiness. My prayer for the Duggars is that they find the fullness of the faith in the Catholic Church. Imagine all these young ones spreading the Eucharist far and wide.

For more on this Christian family visit their website.