Several hundred people packed a lecture hall at the University of Toronto's medical science building Nov. 22 to hear Smith, a professor at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, speak about the evils of contraception.

Compass, a Catholic group at the University of Toronto, spent two years trying to book Smith, a PhD graduate in classical languages from the university. Smith started the university's pro-life group some 25 years ago.

"I suppose we thought there was just a need for it," said David Elliot, Compass event organizer. "Almost all peoples' opinions about what the Catholic Church teaches about sexuality comes from the secular media, which I think is unfairly biased. It's not that they even reject the teaching, they just don't know what the teaching is.

"We basically wanted somebody that could present it in a way that was compelling and true. A talk on the Eucharist or the priesthood just wouldn't have had the same appeal."

Smith proposes that contraception has made all forms of adultery more acceptable in society: lust, masturbation, fornication, pornography, prostitution, rape, homosexual acts.

Using overpopulation as a defense for promoting contraception is a misconception, said Smith. Too many pregnancies do not increase the population of industrialized countries. Women forgo starting their families later to pursue careers, which limits the number of children they have. In developing countries high fertility rates are countered by high mortality rates.

Smith said in the 1950s an average family had five children; now it's down to 2.5 kids.

The Catholic concept of sex between a man and woman in a loving, lifelong, committed relationship open to children is increasingly rare, said Smith.

Sex belongs in marriage. You shouldn't have sex unless you are in love and prepared for babies, said Smith.

"Don't do what my generation did because it didn't work in terms of a path to holiness and sanctity," said Smith, explaining that baby-boomers introduced the concept of casual recreational sex.

"Heterosexuals have launched us down the path of legitimizing homosexuality, polygamy and sodomy," said Smith.

Smith used articles, reports and statistics to back up her claims that contraception has led to a rise in single mothers, divorce, sexually transmitted disease, same-sex union and abortion rates. She cited some sources on a power point screen and other statistics she touted as "studies show..." without giving any specific references.

Smith fielded questions from the audience at the end of the two-hour presentation. One man proposed that critics might suggest poverty leads to problems of adultery rather than contraception leading to immoral sexual acts. He asked what kinds of controls are put on these statistics.

Smith replied that her research found abortion rates rise when use of contraception rises. But she did say it's hard to prove cause and effect relationships.

After the question period people swarmed Smith outside the lecture hall with more questions before she left to present that evening at Holy Family parish.