To the editor:

Recently an argument proposed that the Catholic Church is environmentally unfriendly for not endorsing contraception, thereby promoting over-population. Set aside the religious and moral reasons for not using contraception and the over-population debate and consider the facts about the effectiveness of Natural Family Planning and what contraceptives do to the environment.

Multiple worldwide studies consistently show 99-100 percent effectiveness of modern methods of NFP in avoiding pregnancy.

However, manufacturing products and packaging requires energy and produces waste byproducts polluting our air, water and land. The list of side effects on a package of contraceptives requires more pharmaceuticals and an increased burden on the health-care system to manage all the medical hazards of consuming artificial hormones.

Another deleterious effect of contraceptives is that artificial hormones pass through the body in urine and make their way to our water supply. The hormones do not break down, dissolve or get filtered when they enter the waterways, thereby contaminating the food chain and our drinking water.

Anyone interested in protecting the environment should consider eliminating contraceptives and learning Natural Family Planning, the more environmentally friendly option.

Terri McLaughlin,

Lawrence