Posted on 10/10/2009 3:06:34 PM PDT by reaganaut1
Families with more than 10 children are becoming the norm among a group of traditionalist US Christians. The so-called Quiverfull families believe they are carrying out God's work, and providing a new generation of moral leaders. The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott went to Illinois to meet some of them.
The way Psalm 127 talks about children has an almost military sound.
It describes them as "an inheritance, and arrows in the hands of a mighty warrior," adding, "happy is he whose quiver is full of them".
Many Quiverfull families do indeed sense looming battles for Christians, and often see their children as potential future leaders in fighting them.
Rev James McDonald has 10 children, aged between four and 26 - an extraordinary fertility motivated by obedience to the Bible.
"We believe that they are blessings… to be raised up in the worship of the Lord and they will be used by him in whatever way God will call them, to fulfil the Great Commission which we find in Matthew Chapter 28," he said.
The "Great Commission" - the duty to spread the Christian message throughout the world - is among a number of challenges Mr McDonald sees facing his family.
Among others, he cites divorce, adultery, abortion and internet pornography.
"The societal ills that we have, the challenges we have... we have rampant disease and bankrupt health systems because we don't know the truth of the Bible. But as these truths are lived out in the lives of God's people, society changes," he said.
Declining congregations
The McDonalds are being joined in the battle by a growing number of very large traditionalist Christian families equally committed to promoting Biblical values.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Unfortunately they do not make up for the zero growth people. All western societies are below replacement birthrates and are declining, and will be replaced by immigrant societies. France will be muslim in 20 years. Britain is not far behind. America is not going to be “America” very much longer without a stunning and historically unprecidented turnaround in the direction of birthrate. Western culture is committing suicide.
I’m surprised people in your parish even hit four kids. Twenty years ago, upper middle class Catholics had two kids. Although lately, they’ve been having three kids, four is rare. Also, many of the women have their tubes tied after their second or third child.
You’re welcome! It’s a lot of fun, actually.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.