MARRIAGE AND SEX

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 241, 1 June 1932, Page 5

MARRIAGE AND SEX

(Press Assn.-

church discussiqn bishgp says repqrt sjrrked issue of birth cqntrol FIRM TONE QUALIFIED

— By Telegraph— Copyright.)

Rec. May 31, 7.55 p.m. LONDON, Tuesday. The 1930 Lambeth Conference resolutions on marriage and sex are critically discussed in a report wbich the Arcbbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Lang, is presenting ' to the Lower House of Convocation this week. Referring to birth control, the report notes that the firm tone of the previous Lambeth Conference had been progressively qualified. since the 1908 Conference, and described all artificial means of restriction as demoralising to character and hostile to national welfare. While welcoming the 1930 Conference's condemnation of conception control from motives of selfish luxury and convenience, the report regrets that the majority of the Bishop's statements were to the effect that other methods than abstinence may be usable in some circumstances. "We depreeate this admission," the report says, and ask the House clearly to recognise what this change involves. "It is true we interfere with nature at every point, but birth control belongs to the moral sphere and essentially affects man's progress in good."

Christian Disciplme "If the church is to give public direction in sex matters, the ideal of Christian life as one under discipline, must be upheld at all costs." Referring to divorce, the Committee regrets the inconsistency which contemplates the admission to communion of an innocent party re-

married under civil sanction. The committee, comprised Deans Earford and Chichester, the Bishops of Kingston on Thames and Malmesbury,Canons Kidd, Freer, Drawellstone and Hea zell, Prebendaries Briscoe and Harris and Professor Belton. Dean Chichester declares that the report shirked the fundamental problems of birth control. The limitation of families is now regarded as a normal procedure in educated circles, and a fresh moral theology must be worked out thereon. The Bishops of Kingston on Thames : and Malmesbury agreed with the Dean and added that it cannot be assumed that the use of artificial methods is immoral in itself.