Challenge To Papal Authority

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31801, 4 October 1968, Page 11

Challenge To Papal Authority

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 3.

The widespread criticism among Roman Catholic laymen and priests of Pope Paul’s ban on artificial birth control has presented the Vatican with one of the most serious challenges to Papal authority since the Reformation.

In several European countries, Catholic bishops have not hidden their dismay at the Papal ruling, issued in July as an encyclical entitled “Humanae Vitae.”

In West Germany, where about half the population is Roman Catholic, opposition to the encyclical has reached such a level that even leading bishops, themselves in favour of a change, are disturbed by the degree of dissent. Vatican City.—The Vatican’s campaign for support of the birth control ban has become a stern fight for the absolute obedience which the Church'

demands of its members. Dissenters have been branded by a leading Vatican theologian, Monsignor Fernando Lambruschini, as “scandalous, fool-hardy, and wrong.” Week after week the Vatican newspaper “Osservatore Romano" has marshalled its best scholars to answer criticisms with arguments that the Pontiff alone has authority from God to make such a decision, and no-one has a right to challenge it. Arguments that the decision was not infallible were dismissed with the reply that even Papal teaching which is not “ex cathedra” is binding. The Pope himself has been more generous with his critics than has his staff, but nevertheless has insisted repeatedly that his authority may not be challenged. The Italian hierarchy has given him unqualified support. Brussels. Bishops in staunchly Catholic Belgium declared after a special meeting last month that the encyclical was not infallible and responsible Catholics were justified in disobeying it if they arrived I at other conclusions after seri-

ous considerations before God. But the Belgian bishops rejected charges that the encyclical was a negative document, and praised its vision of mankind.

Vienna.—Austria’s Catholic bishops have said the birthcontrol pill could be no substitute for the conscience, but added that those Catholics who genuinely rejected the encyclical should not feel bound to confess It They said those who genuinely disagreed with the Pope on birth control should not feel cut off from God.

Paris.—Frenchmen, already in the habit of consulting their consciences first on such questions, have remained relatively indifferent to the Papal pronouncement and there has been little public debate. Cardinal Joseph Lefebvre, head of the French episcopal conference, and Archbishop Francois Marty of Parts have called for obedience to the Pope and no-one in the French hierarchy has launched any challenge to them.' Bonn.—West German Catho-

lic opposition to the ban reached its peak at a stormy congress of Catholics at Essen last month at which more than 3000 delegates voted overwhelmingly for a revision of the encyclical in spite of a message from the Pope urging Catholics to conform. Cardinal Julius Doepfner of Munich, himself one of the strongest advocates of change in the Catholic stand on birth control, admitted after the congress that he had been rather saddened by the massive rebellion. West German bishops said after an extraordinary conference in August that the encyclical was authentic but not infallible. Madrid.—Spain's conservative Catholic bishops have strongly backed the Pope's ruling and expressed “profound sorrow" at opposition to it.

Lisbon.—Both the Catholic hierarchy and the Portuguese Government have sided wholeheartedly with Pope Paul's views. London.—Roman Catholic priests throughout Britain are holding private meetings this

month at which those troubled by the encyclical will be free to speak their minds. The meetings were authorised by a recent conference of bishops in London which defended the Pope’s ruling but took a tolerant line towards couples already using artificial contraception. Rio de Janeiro.—Brazil, the world’s largest Roman Catholic country, has given official Government backing to the encyclical, and Cardinal Dorn Jaime de Barros Camara of Rio has warned priests in a pastoral letter that they face disciplinary measures if they publicly criticise or contradict it.

New York.—The American bishops, known for their conservative attitude on theological questions, have insisted the encyclical be obeyed to the letter—in spite of widespread protests by priests and laity.

Winnipeg.—Canadian bishops attending the bi-annual Canadian Catholic conference last month, called for further study and “more research and dialogue” on the encyclical.