St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-12-13
Minneapolis Clergy Join
Nationwide Demand for
Planned ParenthOOd Work

The demand for expanding
planned parenthood services in the
Minneapolis area, as called for in
a national resolution signed by
5000 Of the nations religious lead
ers, presents a challenge to all hos
pitfalls and health and welfare agen-
cies of this region, according to
Reverend Walter W. B. Schroeder,
Public Information Chairman Of
the Hennepin County League for
Planned Parenthood.
The resolution, whose signers in
Clude So Protestant and Jewish
clergymen from Minnesota, is spon-
sored by the National Clergymen's
Advisory Council Of the Planned
Parenthood Federation of America,
Inc. The document endorses the
position of the Federal Council of
Churches Committee on Marriage
and the HOme) on "the elementary
Importance of planned babies for
the health and security of the
family" and calls upon Protestant
and Jewish clergymen to exercise
a fundamental democratic right"
and insist that child-spacing serv-
ices be made available to all who
desire them. The signers include
clergymen from every State and
the District of Columbia.
"Clergymen and social workers."
said Rev, Schroeder, "are in accord
with the principle that healthy and
well-adjusted parents should have
their full quota of children. At the
same time we must agree with the
resolution of the clergy, that it is
a true expression of religious prin-
ciples to plan the coming of chill
dren, thereby insuring the health
Of the mother and providing both
adequate education and comrade-
ship within the family.
"The clergymen's manifesto rec
ognizes that minority religious OPP
position to planned parenthood,
through the use of medically APP
proved methods of birth control,
frequently prevents hospital boards,
nursing and welfare agencies from
making use of these essential serv-
ices. 1t is obvious that many mar
ried couples are thereby denied
proper guidance in the planning of
families and are driven to unpro-
fessional sources for aid that too
often brings harmful results. The
failure of the community services
to offer expert guidance and coun-
sci in planning parenthood is a
peril to community health and well
fare. This dynamic action of the
nations clergy is a call to action for
us in Minneapolis and in every COM
munity in the land"
Since its inception thirty years
ago when Margaret Sanger opened
the first clinic, the planned parent
hood movement has grown to fed
Grafton with 80 state leagues and
more than $50 local committees.
There are sos planned parenthood
centers and 7 states offer child
spacing information as part of their
public health services. The FEEDER
atoms services embrace medically
approved methods of contraception,
as well as treatment for childless
couples in order that they may have
children, and education for mar
riage and parenthood.
The Rev. Henry Sloane Coffin,
president emeritus Of Union Theo-
logical Seminary, is honorary
chairman of the Federation's Ma
tional Clergymen's Advisory Coun-
ell, sponsor of the resolution, and
its executive chairman is the Rev.
Emery Shipler, editor Of The
Churchman, oldest religious journal
Of the English-speaking world.
Clergymen from Minneapolis who
signed the resolution are: Rev.
George II. Carey, Bryn Mawr Pres
byterian Church; Rev. Ralph T.
Fulton, Vanderburgh Presbyterian
Church; Rev. NJ c. Robinson. Grace
Presbyterian Church; Rev. j.
Thomas Dixon, Ebenezer Swedish
Methodist Church; Rev. Henry H..
Lewis, Lake Harriet Methodist
Church; Rev. Nat T. Buckley. Com
munity Methodist Church; DR.. A.
Murray, Episcopal clergyman; Rev.
George f. Stickney, Director of
Religious Education, Congregation