The New York herald., 1921-11-21
BIRTH CONTROL TALK
INJURIES SRACE,SAYS
ARCHBISHOP HAYES
Sponsors Called IrrespOnsi-
BILE People With No Rep
utable Backing.
GODS LAW IS FLOU.TED
Asserts Church Condemns
Birth Control Unless It's
Self-COntrOl.
GODS LAW IS FLOUTED
ANSWER BY MRS. RUBLEE
Contends Church Opposes
Progress Of Woman, Tries to
Keep Her Moral by Fear.

Archbishop Patrick. J. Hayes issued
a statement yesterday defining the
attitude OF the Catholic Church against
birth control and protested against
the use of the public forum for such
propaganda. The Archbishop said
that birth control propaganda was
being preached by irresponsible indi-
viduals without the Endorsement Of a
reputable body of physicians or a
medical society. The statement ignores
the charge of the birth control ad-
vocates that il was at the instance of
Archbishop Hayes that the mass
meeting OF the first American Birth
Control Conference in Town Hall a
week ago last night was stopped by
the police before it had started.
In his statement Archbishop Hayes
declared "the Catholic Church's con-
demnation of birth control Except 1t
be self-control) is based on the natural
law which is the eternal law of God
applied to man. and commanding the
preservation of moral order. forbid
ding it's disturbance. and therefore the
church has but one possible thing to
do; namely. to accept and obey the
will of the Supreme Lawgiver."
In the absence from the city of Mrs.
Margaret Sanger, head of the birth con-
troll movement in this country, Mrs.
Juliet Barrett Rublec of 242 East Forty
Linth street. vice chairman of the con-
ference, answered Archbishop Hayes.
She said the movement is backed by
distinguished physicians and scientists
not only of this country but throughout
the civilized world.
Mrs. Rublee declared that the public
health committee of the Academy OF
Medicine of New York city approved a
bill that Mrs. Sanger endeavored to have
introduced at the last session of the
Legislature at Albany making it lawful
to disseminate information on the sub
ject.
The statement of Archbishop Hayes
follows:
"As a citizen and a churchman deeply
concerned with the moral wellbeing OF
our city, feel it a public duty to pro-
test against the use OF the open forum
for the propaganda Of birth control.
This do in no sectarian spirit bat in
the broader one of the common veal.
MY protest is made in the name of
ten national organizations Of women
with combined membership Of nearly
million, as well as in the interest OF
thousands of other indignant women
and distressed mothers who are alarmed
at the daring OF the advocates of birth
control In bringing out into an open,
unrestricted, free meeting a discussion
of subject that simple prudence and
should keep within the walls of a clinic
or only for the ears of the mature and
the experienced.
The Federal Law excluding birth con-
troll literature from the mails and the
New York penal law making it unlaw-
full to disseminate information on the
subject reflect the will of the people
most emphatically. The latter law was
enacted under the police power of the
Legislature for the benefit of the norals
and health of the community.' submit
that illegal information was given and
the law made a mockery OF by clever
evasion at the meeting held in Town
Hall October q under the auspices Of
the Voluntary Parenthood League. The
holding OF this meeting evidently has
been lost sight of BY the public.
Illegal Information Revealed.
THE stenographic report OF that meet
s..rr
on the subject that never had before.
Representative women OF this city. all
citizens and working for the social well
fare of the community, have requested
me to indorse their protest against
such future public expressions. do so
nov publicly.
The law OF God and man. science.
public policy, human experience arc all
condemnatory of birth control as
preached by a few irresponsible indivi-
duals without Endorsement or approval.
as far as 7 know. of a reputable BODY
of physicians or medical society. whose
province u Is to advise the public on
such matters.
The tenets OF birth control are in di.
rect opposition TO the opinion of most
distinguished scientists OF the world who
have been aroused to make serious
stouy W thc cduscb Oh the Impending de-
tertoration OF the race as foreseen by
well known biologists. At the recent
International Congress Of Eugenics held
In New York last September prominent
scientists in attendance emphasized tho
necessity. n the race was TO he better
born. Of the protection of homogeneous
marriage with limitation OF divorce;
more children in the families OF the well
to do as moral duty: earlier marriages.
a more sheltered life for mothers; bet
ter safeguards against the marriage of
imbccilcs and insane. and unseifish de-
votlon 10 the family as "A patriotic duty.
Major Leonard Darwin stated advise,llv
that there ought to be a great moral
campaign against the exaggerated re-
gard for personal comfort and social adj
Continued on Pare Four.