MARRIED LIFE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 19, 2 November 1938, Page 2

MARRIED LIFE

DUTIES OF PARENTHOOD. VIEWS OF BAPTIST UNION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 1, The attitude of the New Zealand Baptist Church toward birth control, marriage and divorce, sex education, and the place of religion in family life, was defined by the New Zealand Baptist Assembly in Wellington to-da.V, when it adopted as the opinions of the assembly the following clauses of a special report prepared by the public questions committee:

“One of the chief problems facing our generation is that of the limitation of families. On the parents rests the responsibility of deciding the size of their families, but many homes are impoverished through deliberate refusal to undertake the privileges and responsibilities of parenthood. Where the motive for restriction is a selfish desire for pleasure, the limitation must be condemned, hut where there is economic distress or physical disability, limitation may be defensible. “Recent inquiries have shown how prevalent is the practice of abortion in New Zealand. The sacredness of all life, even unborn life, lias been one of the controlling principles of Christian ethics. The Church urges prompt and adequate legislative action, designed to remedy this evil. Further, the Church protests solemnly against the unrestricted sale of contraceptives.

“As for sex education for married people, the assembly firmly believes that the beginning of much sexual abuse, which results in marital unhappiness, is the result of ignorance. Plain teaching, reverently given, regarding the sacredness of the body, and of sexual relationship, is necessary. The Christian ideal for the unmarried is chastity. There can be no distinction drawn between men and women, young or old. At the same time, parents and the Church should realise that chastity demands great self-control and self-dis-cipline. Young people should have every assistance in their fight for purity. Education concerning the most intimate matters of life should be given to all. This is essentially the task of parents and the Church. “Marriage in one of its form is the central feature in all society with which we are acquainted. It is one of the natural and desirable events in normal life. Unhappily, many marriages are hindered by economic factors, and some readjustment of society is needed so-that early marriage is possible for all. More attention should be given by parents and the Church to setting before young people the Christian ideal of marriage. ‘‘Divorce and Remarriage—While the Christian view of permanence in marriage remains ideal, the New Testament does not teach indissolubility of marriage. Two grounds for divorce seem to bo recognised in the New Testament —adultery and desertion. Christian opinion is sharply divided on the question whether there are ojher valid grounds for the dissolution of the marriage tie. A wide divergence of practice is highly undesirable, and the assembly hopes our churches will endeavour to arrive at some uniformity of procedure.

“The assembly is strongly of opinion that ministers should regard an interview with persons desiring marriage as an opportunity for instruction in the Christian ideal.”

The assembly decided to urge the Government in introduce legislation to encourage a natural increase in .the population.