SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 40, 26 November 1937, Page 3

SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE. METHODIST SYNOD VIEWS. (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 25. The Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu Synod of the Methodist Church, following the receipt of a special report on divorce .and remarriage with control of abortion, adopted the following resolution: That a minister may remarry a divorced person or persons if he is satisfied, alter consultation with both parties to the proposed remarriage, that in entering into the same they have a sincere and honest purpose and an attitude ol: mind which is in conformity with the Church’s view of what marriage should mean and stand for. On birth control, the Synod adopted the conference’s special committee’s resolution stating: “Whereas wo believe that marriage was ordained of God for tho procreation in nature of children and that parenthood within the married state is one of the greatest human privileges, wo regard as morally wrong any limitation of families that is prompted by selfishness or by a callous refusal to accept the responsibilities of parenthood or by the indulgence' of sex instincts: We are well aware that many factors, social, economic, and even physical, are involved in the problem presented by limitation, but are of the opinion that an immoral cause is the chief root of the practice, which threatens tho nation and the race with suicidal.depletion. “We therefore express unhesitatingly our approval of the investigation undertaken by the Government Commission as far as it has been carried, and urge the appointment of a Royal Commission, to consider all the matters arising from the former Commission’s report. “Without presuming to dictate particulars of the courses of action, we ask for consideration of tho following: Legal provision that any justifiable termination of pregnancy be under adequate control; the strengthening of the operation of the law against criminal abortion ; the prevention of easy access to contraceptives, abortifacients, morbid literature, or other incitements to sexual vice; the suppression of advertisements calculated to intensify the present evil; the creation of some means to lessen the medical expenses of confinement; to provide, in needy cases, for the care of young children during the confinement of mothers, and to lessen the risks now attendant on childbirth.”