The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-03-19

troll The people who all for this evil thing
shal their ancient and shabby pleas and trot them
out numbering, like Tin G.K.C.'s phrase) so many
brokenkneed elephants"
The chief argument always appeals to economics
and ignores Christian morals. Babies notorious
consumers of food and therefore, lest perish
We must keep them out of the larder Since this is
an obligation practically impossible TO fulfill
for babies are tricky and will get at the food,-the
crafty economist accomplishes his great purpose by
keeping the babies out of existence.
Says one sapient correspondent People who
deeply love children want them to be born into
homes where they may have the opportunities of
good food clothing, educational advantages, and
means TO secure living in some chosen profession"
Now, on the face of the mattef,-and postp0ning
for the moment the real problem in economics
this is strange statement II seems TO say that
people who deeply love children more concerned
with the incidental advantages of human existence
than with children themselves. The statement
sorts but poorly with the statement of Christ that
the life is than the meat, and the body more
than the raiment"
II does seem bit odd that person who is
launching into the subject OF birth control and pro-
posing to Subsidze the family planning movement,
should talk about people who deeply love children.
That is to say ii looks queer to plan out system of
chiid-preyention the basis of childlOve. II is
as topsysurVy thing as the statement, We love
children deeply that don't want to have any
1t is true, OF course, that normal parents want
all possible advantages for their offspring. And if
the economists knew their business all material
advantages could De assured 10 children. This world
winch deems itself wise, Is VIGOROUSLY bunglng
and ineffective in managing its own affairs. The
rich and sufficient fruits Of the earth ioT example
might be made the support of all peoples. but the
ss14gFa nHtafF piaf
people starve in one part OF the earth wheat IS
burned up IN another part and endless tons OF pota
toes dumped into rivers. Because OF money
situation (Which is matter of greed and msman-
agement eombned) crops that would feed the
earths poor are ploughed under, and farmers are
limited TO restricted acreage Tor planting.
II is easier to solve the economists problem
and the politicians and the Socioogists and the
tycoons-by blocking out population than by using
coplously available OF taking of it. 1t
is easier TO prevent births than to spread the peo
pies of the earth over ifs ample and waiting areas
And the easier thing is what will be done always, by
the worldly wise.
For the fundamental fact is this babies and
poor people a bother. They distress the folk
who want 10 hold on like grim death to all they
grab. 1t hurts to give up cash and convenience be-
cause the neighbors are in difficulty Ii distresses
the prosperous to look upon the dire situation OF
the impoverished. Instead OF thinking what may be
done for the less fortunate part OF earths popu
laton, the birth controller and the family planner
thinks, How fortunate that these people should be
here at all if their parents had possessed the slight
est consideration for me, these bothersome people
would never have been born
Now before going further it may be wise to
note great fact that the birth controller simp-
ly brushes out of his view This the fact that there
nf alan and oIa
the control, not of conceptions or births but of
human conduct II is the control of biological
tendencies which meant 10 be regulated by rea-
and the grace Of God The process of human
generation is sacred and sacramental thing; IT
is not merely one type of animal breeding And
for those who choose,-que legitimately in the
married State,-to use this process, there can be
unnatural blocking out of It's normal effects.
II spouseS choose to abstain from what Is lawful
and holy because they are unable TO bear the bur
dens of parenthood they may do so. But if they
choose otherwise, If they use marriage, they must
accept its noble fruits
Now. this sort of explanation means nothing
whatever 10 the birth controller What he is after
is not control, but babies. The sacred character
of the marital relationship, the Christian meaning
and obligations of human generation are things he
has neither time nor inclination to consider Christ
is put aside Christianity Is denied, usually through
twisting and misnterpreting of its require
mentS. Man Is TO go right on lndulgng his Heshly
appetites, but he is to render them futile gnoble,
indecent, by reducing them to the plane of animal
pleasure And this sort of filth is supposedly the
prescription for properly populated world with
everybody well fed and clothed and no one at war
with his neighbor.
Says the editors correspondent "A great deal
of charity Is now being given by medical men and
hospitals to aid large families, but why in the
of common and public and national welfare
do so many seemingly intelligent and
fight those who trying desperately to help
these people in limiting their families !" 1t
would be interesting to know what this correspond
en means by charity" and by common sense
Is Il charity to teach people 10 act more ignoby
than beasts of the field? Is is common to trim
heads to fit hats
And, says writer. matter what you think
the more intelligent people spacing and limit
ing their children" Are they intelligent? Are
they really? Aren't they like the intelligent people
who scorned Christ and quietly set afoot the
ment that ended in the Crueifixion? The writer
obviously means not the really intelligent people,
but the more fashionable people the people more
hard and worldly. the people who instead of labor
inp tn save their souls want To make n mere "house