The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-21
BIRTH CONTROL
IS ENDORSED BY
Church GROUP
Federal Council Gives Its
Approval in Formal
Report.
MINORITY IS OPPOSED
Action First on Record by
Inter- UNCONVENTIONAL
Body.
MINORITY is OPPOSED

NEW YORK, March 21.-Birtf
control was approved, broadly
though conditionally, on grounds Of
health, economics and humanity il
a report today of the Fedora
Council of Churches of Christ in
America, representing many denom-
nations Of Christian religion.
The approval was said, In q
statement accompanying the report
to be the first such declaration
made by an inter denominational
body.
A minority recommended alb
stinence as an "ideaI' among mar
ried people who felt unable to have
children.
But all signed the report, and
they made an imposing list OF
churchmen and social workers
Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians
and Episcopalians were included
among the signatories.
Uphold Birth Control
Briefly, the report upheld birth
control because:
l. 1t may be morally right in
certain circumstances.
2. Some form of effective con-
troll" of families is necessary.
3. There should be sex union
between husbands and wives as an
expression of mutual affection,
without relation to procreation."
1t was. held that birth control has
become a fact, and that, therefore:
1. 1.-THE public, therefore, has
/. right to expect guidance from the
church on the moral aspects"
2. Whatever the final decision
of the church may be, it should
not seek to impose anti-birth con-
troll legislation, nor to seek to pro-
hibit physicians from imparting
information regarding use of con-
traceptives.
But in its tone the report seemed
to go beyond the bare statement
Of the facts as given.
Report After Study of Years
1t was a carefully prepared anc
reasoned document, of scholarly
composition.
In it's references to divergence be-
tween majority and minority groups
it showed mutual respect for The
view of the other side, and the mi
nority signatories said frankly, II
an inserted summary, that they
recognized their recommendation o.
abstinence instead of birth contro
as "a counsel of perfection"
The Rev. Worth N. 'Tippy, exec.
utive secretary of the church coun.
ellis social service commission, sale
in a statement accompanying the
report THAI it was the result Of &
continuous study of problems o.
marriage and the home, extending
over a period of years" Physicians
psychologists and social scientists
rhe said, had given counsel regard
ing its preparation.
Near Recognized Standard.
In its opening paragraph the re-
port said that use of contraceptives
is nearing the status of a recog-
nized procedure" and that the pub
lie is entitled to church guidance
regarding it.
Marital love, it was said, could
not be regarded solely as a means OF
procreation, but as a supreme ex-
preston of affection and comrade-
ship.
The hazards of pregnancy in GER
tain circumstances, it was said
must be accepted as a fact.
Economic conditions also enter
into the question, it was added, and
it was pointed out that very large
families tended to produce pow
erty, to endanger the health anc
stability of the family and to limit
the educational opportunities of the
children.
Furthermore, it was said:
1.-The problem of overproductior
while not an immediate one Sc
far as this country was concerned
must be taken into consideration.
Recognized by Doctors
"As to the necessity, therefore, ,
the report continued. "for som,
form of effective control OF the sizc
Of the family and spacing of chill.
dren, and, consequently, Of contro
OF conception, there can be no ques.
ton. 1t is recognized by al
churches and all physicians.
There is general agreement alsC
that sex union between husband:
and wives as an expression of mu.
tual affection. without relation tx
procreation, is right. This is recog-
nized by the scriptures, by al
branches of the Christian church, By
social and medical science, and By
the good sense and idealism Of
mankind.
Review Differing Views
"As to the method of control Of
conception, two ways are possible
One is the use of contraceptiveS, OF
methods other than abstinence
which may be classified as such
The other is seli-control or alb
stinence for longer or shorter
periods of time. Both may pc con-
sidered as forms of birth control. y
Here the report reviewed the dif-
ferent views, medical and social as
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