I appreciated the stress given in Footsteps 27 on population issues to recognising people’s freedom of choice and the need to discern God’s plan for humanity.
I’d like to make a few observations about the length of the female cycle. In the centre pages this is described as if it was equivalent to a month. This is far from being a general rule and causes problems for many women. Today the calendar is more and more often being used as a reference. ‘Why a month without a period?’ or ‘Why two periods in one month?’ are questions we were often asked in the Ivory Coast.
The diagram of the calendar beside the method of ‘The Safe Period’ reinforces this idea. This method is based on personal observations by the woman of her fertile times. The idea of a regular cycle of 28 days is very popular among college girls but has already caused countless disasters and academic failures.
I would also stress the need for medical supervision of all the methods of medical contraception, as many of these products are so accessible outside clinics and hospitals.
Jean-Daniel Peterschmitt, SCAR, CP 67, 1373 Chavornay, Switzerland.
