BIRTH CONTROL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1930, Page 2

BIRTH CONTROL

ANGLICAN BISHOPS’ VOTE.

{(United Press Association—By Electric r Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, August 15

The “News Chronicle” says: “A ‘unholy . row’ is prophesied in conse qucnce of the Lambeth Conference’s approval of birth control. r l be ecclesiastics ' expected that the use of b’rth-control contraceptives would be banned, but, in a remarkable manner the episcopal mind ,* 4 has presented a new orientation of this subject. A strong party within' the Anglican Church two years ago .set itself to strengthen the 1920 Lambeth Conference resolutions in a toy da nee with the recognised Catholic tradition. Wire-pulling secured the appointment of a Committee favourable thereto. The 1920 'committee, allegedly, contained over many batbelor Bishops, while • this year> there 1 is a preponderance of married ones, on the Committee, whose report was stressfully. debated by the ’Lambeth Conference, particularly when; the minority recognised that the purely Catholic view was not acceptable to- a majority. A tense moment followed the disclosure that , the Bishops, by 193 votes to 67, had sanctioned birth control.

CONTRACEPTION SANCTIONED.

tl ,LONDON, August 14. r s. TJifci newspaeprs are giving, considerable; prominence to the. Lambeth Conference encyclical, and particular, emphasis is ‘laid on an important resolution passed regarding birth •; control, .which is as follows : “Where there is |a' deafly-felt moral obligation-to limit. *or,.avoid,-;parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse. As far as may he necessary, a life of discipline and self control is to be lived in. power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, in those cases where there is such; a dearly-felt moral obligation to limit, or to avoid, parent r liood, and where .there is a morally-

sound reason for avoiding 'complete

i .abstinence, .this Conference; agrees j that othe<r ‘methods may be nsed. pro-j]|Vided'lit’-is done, In the. light ;of the !) samfe Christian principles. This Con- ] j fsrene© \ {records its strong condeimia- ! i fiiSc/rtf ofj|tlie use of any methods of con- ' I tixiception from motives of selfishness, lj jiiixuVy, [ or. mere convenience . but jit | {there is a| good moral .reason* j jvay of abstinence should not be be folI lowed, we Cannot condemn :the;useriof * scientific ■ methods ?to prevent jconcep,-. lotion* which;are thoughtfully and con-;

scientiously adopted. This Conference also emphasised that another resolution is needed for education in all questions of marriage and sex. It is important that, before the TWisbiljd'ir etnotiona 1' reaction to 'Sex’ t.-is ii: definite information be • given in an atmosphere of simplicity ,a»}d' htaiity. The persons directly' responsible for this are the parents. This Conference is convinced that steps fp , ought to be taken to,.secure 'better W education of the clergy in moral the--Bfc?logy, and to establish, where they do Mjtiitlt exist, branches of the Anglican and Central'Councils for ' study •of the problems of sex from a Christian viewpoint/and to advise responsible authorities in the diocese or parish as. to ..methods of npproacn and lines of instruction.” j.The* “Daily Telegraph” editorial on the conference, dealing with birth control, states: “The Bishops have, with careful safeguards,, recognised . openly what has been tolerated;, secretly. . They will earn, by. their wise the gratitude of many troubled souls. : k ' ' •

SOME OTHER POINTS.

LONDON;' August 15

The newspapers in their .-'editorials' generally commend the conclusions of the Lambeth Conference,, though the writers are obviously embarrassed .with the variety of the topics covered. ?Tl.e “Daily- Telegraph” says that •the section of the encyclical dealing •with the .doctrine of God is a reassuring refutation of the charge of ob- • scurantism which is often brought ..against the Church.

,Tlie ..Telegraph adds: “Guarded .-though .the Bishops’ language is o-n the .question of Christian unity, it is clear that the day is not far distant when, the Greek Orthodox Church of the east will again he in< communion with that part of the church of the West represented by the Anglican communion. There is equally good hope that the Old Catholic churches of. Europe will also be brought again into communion with, larger bodies. This will probably mean that the Lambeth Conferene will be the last of its sort. It may he replaced, in future, by something approximately an Ecumenical Conference.

The “Morning Post” is of opinion that-the encyclinical constitutes the most important pronouncement on behalf of the Anglian communion , for hundreds of yeans.

The “Daily Herald” regards the Conference’s resolution on war as being outstanding progressive.

“THE TIMES” OX DISCUSSION.

LONDON, August 15,

“The Times” says: The desire to promote reunion between the Anglican Church and external bodies appears to be overshadowed by the no-less urgent need, for fostering unity within the church itself.”