SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Evening Star, Issue 22816, 26 November 1937, Page 16

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

DIVIDE AND REMARRIAGE METHDOiST CHURCH VIEW (Per United Press Association) PALMERSTON N., Nov. 25. The Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu synod of the Methodist Church, following receipt of the special report concerning divorce and remarriage and the control of abortion adopted the following resolution:—“That a minister may remarry a divorced person or persons if he is satisfied after consultation with both parties to the proposed remarriage that in entering into it they have a sincere and honest purpose and an attitude ,of mind which is in conformity with the church’s view of what marriage should mean and stand for.” Concerning birth control the synod adopted the conference’s special committee’s resolution, stating “ That whereas we believe marriage was ordained of God for the procreation of children and that parenthood within the married state is one of the greatest human privileges, we regard as morally wrong any limitation of families that is prompted by selfishness or by callous refusal to accept the responsibilities of parenthood. We are well aware that many factors, social and 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 the nation and the race with suicidal depletion. We therefore express unhesitatingly approval of the investigation undertaken by the Government Commission as far as it has been carried out, and we urge the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider all matters arising from the former commission’s report. With-

out presuming to dictate particulars or courses of action we ask consideration of: (1) Legal provision that any justifiable termination of pregnancy be under adequate control; (2) strengthening the operation of the law against criminal abortion; (3) the prevention of easy access to contraceptives, abortifacients, morbid literature _or other incitements to sexual vice; (4) suppression of advertisements calculated to intensify the present evil; (5) the creation of, the 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.”