THE SACREDNESS OF LIFE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 245, 15 October 1937, Page 6

THE SACREDNESS OF LIFE

MODERN PRACTICES CONDEMNED MINISTERS’ ASSOCIATION URGES GOVERNMENT ACTION The Ministers’ Association of Wanganui recognise and appreciate the public service that has been rendered by the recent Commission which has disclosed the serious prevalence ot criminal abortion in New eZaland. We see, in the disclosures regarding criminal abortion in New Zealand, laxity in the relation of the sexes, an urgent need to recall people from false ideas and damaging indulgences, to that which is true and right in sex-life. Therefore, we set forward the following considerations* A Sacred Gift (1) The sex instinct is a sacrea gift from God, acting as a powerful urge to bring men and women together in a joyous, yet responsible life-long union, within which they may become partners with God Himself in the procreation and nurturing of life, and thus the maintenance of the race. The sex urge, finding expression in this way, is beautiful, pure and good. Fulfilling its intention as the supreme expression of the love of man and woman in marriage, it serves at the same time to strengthen comradeship as between husband and wife, and to foster reverence for each other, in their mutual relationship to the new life that may be born to them. (2) All sex relationships falling below this standard fail to attain the loving and wise purpose which God has for human life. Hence such sex relationships are bound to be unsatisfactory, and increasingly prove so to be. Creative Work (3) While sex impulse is one of the most insistent forces of our nature, wc need to realise that it is only one expression of the life force and creative impulse that stirs within us. If the normal satisfaction of the sex impulse in marriage has to be delayed, or ultimately denied, other ample channels for creative work do exist, and it is quite possible to adapt ourselves to the conditions of our life so that the urge of our nature can find satisfying outlet in these ways. (4) Viewed beside the Christian standard, criminal abortion is a loathsome offence against the sacredness of life. It is a self-interested evasion of the privilege and responsibility in parenthood as appointed of God. It is close akin to murder; and when widely practised, it manifests the deterioration of healthy national life and threatens the decline of the race. Positive Measures In view of the recent disclosures regarding the prevalence of criminal abortion in New Zealand, this Ministers’ Association urges the Government to take positive measures: (a) To investigate further the underlying causes, whether economic, educational, or spiritual, contributing to the wnoie.-:ale practice of criminal abortion; and in the light of such investigation to promote any legislative amendments or enactments as are deemed necessary, with a view to combating this evil. In an investigation of this kind ministers are willing and anxious to co-operate. (b) To prohibit the present unrestricted advertisement and sale of contraceptives.

(c) To exercise a more stringent and effective censorship upon motion picture film releases, and also upon the importation and sale of certain gross literature, which, is the hands of youth especially, can only lead to mental and moral disharmony.