BIRTH CONTROL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 203, 16 August 1930, Page 3

BIRTH CONTROL

LAMBETH CONFERENCE APPROVAL UNEXPECTED PRONOUNCEMENT. •‘UNHOLY LOW' PREDICTED. (United Preus Asbociatiou—By Cable— Copyright.] London, Aug. 15. Th© “News-Chronicle'’ bays an “unholy row” la prophesied by many bishops in consequence of the Lambeth Conference's approval of birth control. Ecclesiastics expected that birth control contraceptives would he banned, but in a remarkable mannei the episcopal mind has presented a new orientation on the subject. A strong partv within the Church two years ago set itself to strengthen the 1920 Lambeth resolutions in accordance with recognised catholic tradition Wire-pulling secured the appointment of a committee favourable thereto. The 1920 committee allegedly contained over-manv bachelor bishops, while this year there is a preponderance of married ones on the committee, whose report was stressfullv debated by the conference, particularly when the minority recognised that the purely catholic view was unacceptable to the majority. A tense moment followed tho disclosure that the bishops, by 193 to 67, sanctioned birth control THE RESOLUTION. The newspapers are giving considerable prominence to the Encyclical. Particular emphasis is laid <m the important reso.ution on birth control. which is as follows: “Where there is clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary ob v'ous method is complete abstinence fiom intercourse as fai as mav bo necessar- In a life of discipline self-control i> to be lived in the powei of th • Holv Spirit. “Nevertheless, in those case., whe* there is Mich a clear y felt moral oh ligation to hunt and avoid parentb»>d and where there is a moral!' sound , reason for avoiding complete abstinence, this conference agrees that other methods m:w be used, pro vided it is done in the light of the same Christian principles. I he con ference records strong condemnation of the use of any methods of contraception from motives of t>elfisbnti>A,

luxury or mere convenience, but i 1 there is a good moral reason why the way of abstinence should not be followed we cannot condemn the use 01 scientihc metnods to prevent conception winch are thoughtfully and conscientiously adopted. “fhe conference is convinced that steps ought to be taken to secure better education of the clergy in theology and estab.ish where they do not exist branches of the Anglican communion and central councils foi the study of problems of sex from the (■hristian viewpoint ami advise the responsible authorities in a diocese or parish of methods of approach and linens of instruction.” NEWSPAPER COMMENT. Editorials ~eneially commend the conclusions of the jConfeieuce, though w Titers are obviously ainbarrassed with the variety oi topics jovered. The “Daily Telegraph” says that that section of the encyclical dealing with the doctrine of God is a reassuring refutation of the charge of obscurantism which is often brought against the Church. Dealing with birth control, the paper states: “The bishops have with careful safeguards, recognised openly what has been tolerated secretly. They will earn by their wise guidance the gratitude of many troubled souls. Guarded though the bishops’ language is on (lie question of Christian unity, it is deal that the days is not far distant when the Greek Orthodox Church of the East will again be in communion with that part of the Church of the West represented bv the Anglican communion. 'I hero is equally good hope that the old Catholic Churches ol Europe will a.so be brought again into the communion of the hugei bodies This will probably mean that the cunference will be the last oi its sort. It may be replaced in future by scinething approximating the ecumenical conference.” The “Morning Post” is ol opinion that the encyclical constitutes the most important pronouncement on behalf of the Anglican communion for hundreds of years. The “Daily Herald’’ regards the re solution on war as outstandingly progressive. “Tho Times” savs the desire to pro- , ute reunions between the Anglican Chnrch end external bodies appears uverJmdnwod bv the no less urgent need for f- ‘'ring iimtv within the Church it:df.