Sanctity of Life

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 18, 14 October 1937, Page 4

Sanctity of Life

AB0RTI0N PR0BLEM Tendency to Enjoy a Softer Life BISHOP OF WAIAPI^ VIEWS — i The sanctity of life with partiquiar reference to the pfoblem of abortion was one of the phases of an address by the Bis&op of Waiapu at the opening of the 27th | Synod of the Diocese this afternoon. I ! His Lordship said that tho report made bythe Parliamentary Committee un, the subject of abortion discloged a state of att'airs which' all right thinking people couid only regard as most serxQus and deiJlorable, lt was not uecessary to go into the details of the report. It was sufficient to say that maxing a very conservative estimate, uased upon the evidence it had collected, the committee found that tho practice of abortion was aiarmingly prevaient in New Zealand among expectant mothers, both married and unmarried. • "The committee points out," said the Bishop, "what is nnfortnnately oniy too well known, that the law, foi obvious reasons, is almost powerless to eheck tlie evil. Suggested amendments to the law are discussed and fottnd to uivoive serious difficulties, The committee, therefore, goes tbe root of the matter, and probes tho reasona foj this prevaient resort to abortion It iinds them in (1) economic and domes tic hardship, (2) changes in social and moral ontlook, (3) pregnaney among ihe unxnarrjed, and (4) in a small proportion of cases, fears of child birtb. The only remedies the committee can suggest are (I) the direction of birlh control knowledge through more responaible channels, and (2) to appeal to the womanliood of New Zeaiand.' msof'ar as selfish and uiiworthy motives entered into our family life, to conSid* er the grave physical and moral dangers of race suicide which are invoived. ' ' Widespread Beluctance The first of these suggested remedies in voived, said his Lordship) tho lmpiication that abortion was resorted to owing to faiiure in misguided attempts at birth-control. There could ue no doubt that there was a Widespread reiuctance to snouider tho responsibiiity and priviiege oi pureutiiood, due in part to economic and domestic hardship, and in part tb social aud moral outiook, "The church can take no activo steps in nieuding the economic system," he said, ' ' but in view of thp fact that the habit of small famiiies is largeiy prevaient with the well-to-do,. it ; Is.difiiculL to avoid the conclusion that economic prUdence is often pleaded to covqr a desire to maintain certain social ploasures rather than practise the self-discipline which would make the maintenance of a larger family possible. The regulation of the social and moral outiook is undoubtedly the Church 's task. In this connection she teaches definitely that oue object of marnage is that children ehould bo born and brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his Holy Nawe. To. enter into marnage with the deliberate intention of having no children is fiot normally in accordanee with God's institution, Sexual desire can be kept under spiritual control by "the unmarried, in spite of psychological arguments whit'h are sometimes urged to thq contrary, and the same may be said for the occasional cases of married persons who feel that they can serve God better by not having more children. "Resort to the use of contraceptives cannot be recommended, and certainly when couception has takeu place, the destructiqn of tho new life must bo regarded as sin, The committee was on sound ground when it warned woihauhood against selfish and unworthy motives, and it might have. inclnded rnanhood in the warning; for they ar6 both involved, they share the responsibiJity and should mutually support oue another in resisting sellish and unworthy motives. The tendency is noticeable in all classes of society to yield to the desire to enjoy a softer life and the free pursuit of pleasure, Heflonisin is a real danger to the character of the individual and the nation. The attainment of a higher standard of living is constantly urged as a desirable goal, but the standard is almost invariably measiired by luxury and amusement -"tlier than by spiritual and elhical development. The latter can only be achieved by self-mastery, which St^ Faul callg enkrateia — - inadequately translated 'tempCrance' in the list of fruits of the Spirit."