Evening star., 1945-01-30
Bishop Charges
Army Failure
In Moral Duty
Catholic Conference
On Family Life
Opens Sessions

Inc opening session OF the Sec
ond annual Family Life Conference
at Catholic University today heard
Bishop Joseph P. Hurley of St.
Augustine charge that Americas
military chiefs "are failing to care
adequately for the moral, religious
and national family life prob
lem of servicemen."
The conference, sponsored by the
Family Life Bureau in cooperation
with the National Catholic Welfare
Conference, will continue through
Friday. There are morning, after
noon and evening sessions each day.
The Rev. DR.. Edgar Schmiedeler,
director of the Family Life Buerau,
is in charge of the conference.
Bishop Hurley told the delegates
that the immense moral problem of
10, 100000 servicemen lis not dis
cussed with those who are best quail
ified to deal with it," He also
criticized instruction under mill
tary compulsison" in the prophylac-
tic practices as leading to what he
called undesirable promiscuity and
birth control.
Can't Do Best Work.
He said Catholics are denied sex
elusive use of chapels with the
reservation of their blessed sacra-
ment" and that chaplains are not
allowed to wear any mark distin-
gushing them as Catholic priests.
1--WE are hedged in by SO many
unnecessary restrictions" he de-
clared, that we cannot do our best
work"
In welcoming the Catholic con-
ference to the university, the Right
Rev. Patrick j. Mccormick, rector
of the university, expressed the
hope that the meeting would bring
to the public "a better conception
of the Catholic position about the
stability of the family as q basic
element in our democratic life"
The Rev. Francis j. Connel, c. S
is. r., associate professor of moral
theology at Catholic University, told
the meeting that the primary "ob-
jective of the married state is the
generation and the rearing of chill
dren" He said that a secondary
aim of marriage may be the Joy of
mutual love of loyal husband and
wife"
Father Connell added that vari-
Gus subjective ends may legitimate
ly motivate particular individuals
to enter marriage. He cited as ex-
amples the case of girl marrying
for security and a good home, and
also used as an instance a man
and woman deeply interested in
scientific research marrying so as
to pursue their study more effec-
lively.
Raps Birth Control.
The Rev. DR.. Thomas j. Riley of
st. Johns Seminary, Brighton, Mass.
declared that IF birth control had
not been recently the cause of de-
population and racial degeneration,
it's moral evil would not rave been
so emphatically denounced by the
church and her thealogians. He
said that the church has not >nly
forbidden birth control, but has de-
clared consistently that the practice
Is intrinsically wrong"
Father Riley asserted that fam
lily without children lacks 'objec-
tive completeness" He added that
''the absence of children may have
harmful effect both on the physical
wellbeing and emotional stability OF
married couples
The session this afternoon will
hear Mrs. Franz H. Mueller, ST. Paul
Mimi, discuss Christian Marriage:
Way of Salvation" Mrs. John S
Reilly of New York City, and the
Rev. Louis F. Miltenberger, assist
ant pastor of st. Martins parish
here, will talk on Christian Mar
riage and the Pursuit of Happiness
and Promoting Catholic Marriages,
respectively.
Will Discuss Overpopulation.
DR.. Constantine Mcclure, consult
ant economist, tonight will discuss
What Is Overpopulation?" DR.
Oliver E. Baker, professor of eco
nomic geography, University OF
Maryland, will talk on THE Amer
lean Birth Rate and the Religious
Factor"
Twenty-three papers are scheduled
to be read during the four-day con-
ference. The meeting will close Fri
day afternoon with a workshop and