BIRTH CONTROL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 260, 16 August 1930, Page 5

BIRTH CONTROL.

APPROVAL BY BISHOPS. MUCH OPPOSITION EXPECTED. United Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, August 15. The "News-Chronicle" says: An "unholy row" is prophesied by many bishops in consequence of the Lambeth Conference's approval of birth control. Ecclesiastics expected that birth control would be banned, but in a remarkable manner the Episcopal mind has presented a new orientation on tie subject. A strong party within the Church two years ago set itsclr, 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 it was alleged, contained too many bachelor bishops, while this year there was a preponderance of married ones on the committee. The report was strongly debated by the conference, particularly when the minority recognised that .the purely Catholic view was unacceptable to the majority. A tense moment followed the disclosure that the bishops, by 193 to 67, had sanctioned birth control.

THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION.

LONDON, August 14. The newspapers are giving considerable prominence to the Lambeth Conference encyclical letter. Particular emphasis is laid on the important resolution on birth control, which is as follows: — , "Where there is clearly, felt a moral obligation to limit or to avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse as far as may be necessary if a life of discipline and self-con-trol is to be lived in the power of the Holv Spirit. Nevertheless, in those cases where there is such a clearly-felt moral obligation to limit or to avoid parenthood, and where there is a morallv sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, this conference agrees that" other methods may be used, provided it is done in the light of the same Christian principles. The conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any method of contraception from the motives of selfishness, luxury or mere convenience, but if there is a good moral reason why the way of abstinence should not be followed, we cannot condemn the use of scientific methods to prevent conception which are thoughtfully and conscientiously adopted. "The conference emphasises that another resolution (is needed for education in all questions of marriage and sex. It is important that before a child's emotional reaction to sex ( is awakened that definite information should be given in the atmosphere of simplicity and beauty, and the persons directly responsible for this are the parents. The conference is convinced that steps ought to be taken to secure tlie better education of clergy in moral theology, and to establish, where they do not exist, branches of the Anglican Communion and central councils for the study of the problems of sex from a Christian viewpoint and to advise the responsible authorities in the diocese or parish on methods of approach and lines of instruction."