Pope’s Strong Attack On Birth Control

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28492, 23 January 1958, Page 11

Pope’s Strong Attack On Birth Control

(Rec. 8 p.m?) VATICAN CITY, Jan. 21. Birth control is one of the most deplorable aspects of modern society, the Pope said in a speech published today.

Talking to the Italian Association of Large Families, whose members he received 'in audience yesterday, the Pope declared:— “Among the most bsyMui aberrations of modem society is the opinion held by some people' whb dare to define matrimonial fecundity as a social Illness of which stricken nations should make every effort to cure themselves. “From this opinion emerges the propagandising of so-called ’raL I lofial birth control’ by persons and

institutions authorative for other reasons, but in. this respect deplorable." The Pope said that large families, far from being a social illness. were a guarantee of the physical and moral health of a people. “Over-population is no valid reason tor the spreading ot illicit birth control practices. “It is the pretext put forward to legitimise the avarice and egotism both of nations which tear that the expansion of other nations will threaten their political hegemony and tenor of Ute, and ot individuals who prefer to enjoy the goods of the earth rather than the merits of introducing new lllfe,” he declared. U

Instead ot preaching birth control. modern society should apply itself more resolutely and universally to correcting its own conduct and removing the causes of hunger in depressed and overpopulated regions, the Pope said. "This can be done with a more active use. for peaceful purposes of modern discoveries, policies of closer collaboration and exchanges, and more far-sighted and lem nationalistic economies.”