Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-15

reaching statement giving the der
planned parenthood and divorce.
The 4,000-word study. unde
board Of social missions, ranges
widely in its discussion of Chris
tan marriage.
Among the other issues to be
voted upon today by the TOO
delegates Of the 2,270,000-mem-
Der church are a proposal to
broaden the denominations APP
proach for unity with other
Lutheran Church bodies and an
appeal to extend its Nation
wide evangelism drive through
1883
Key Points In Study
Key points in the study on
marriage include:
/. Planned parenthood. The
church believes misuse of con-
ception control does not neces-
sarily imply that it is in itself
improper. by freeing the wife
and mother from the fear of
too frequent pregnancy and by
limiting the number of children
In accordance with the ability
of the family to rear and nurture
their children properly, concep-
ton control may contribute posi-
lively to the well-being Of the
family"
2. Artificial dissemination. I'm
der certain carefully regulated
circumstances, the church has
mo valid objection" to this
method of achieving conception
where husband and wife cannot
otherwise overcome infertility.
8. Family disintegration.
Pointing out that there is ap-
proximately one divorce for
every four marriages today, the
study warns this indicates a
breakdown in the Christian view
Of family life.
Christian Insight Lacking
Asserting that the divorce in
crease may be traced to factors
including the evolution Of Amer
lean society from rural to. urban
living, the economic independ-
ence Of women. and the growth
Of slums. the statement said
probably the main cause lies
''in the changed and now pre-
vailing attitudes towards sex and
marriage" These are "unin-
formed and unsupported by the
1nsights Of Christian faith"
4. Divorce and remarriage.
Declaring the Scriptures recog-
nize the possibility of separation
and divorce. it states that ire
marriage. while violating the
order of God, may in some
instances be in accordance with
the will of God. The evan
gel1cal view would also allow the
remarriage Of divorced persons
on the basis of genuine sorrow
and repentenance and a chas-
tened attitude toward the new
marriage"
But the study warned that a
second marriage by divorced per-
sons might result in another
failure since personality traits
and ethical attitudes which de-
stroyed one marriage may i'm
perial the second. A divorced
person contemplating marriage
should seek help" The final de-
cision on whether to marry a
divorced person must eventually
be decided by each pastor ION
its own merits
Mixed Marriage Opposed
5 Mixed marriages. The mar
riage of Protestant to a Roman
Catholic was opposed because
the Roman Catholic must try
to convert the non-Roman and
the latter must promise not to
interfere in the religious prac-
tices Of the former. Such prom
Uses would violate a Protestant's
conscience. for they involve de-
NAL Of his responsibility towards
his children, keeping silent about
his own faith, and accepting the
ministry Of a church in which
he does not believe"
The study added that marri-
ages with Jews present great
difficulties also and involve COM
promise Of evangelical faith"
In general. the statement
warned that "the heartaches
growing out Of religious differs
ences can be q real source Of
disruption in family life, lead
ing to more frequent breakdowns
than in religiously united homes. %
Offer to Merge
The special commission on re-
lations to American Lutheran
Church bodies will recommend
today that the denomination in
form "all Lutheran bodies in|
America the desire to merge with
all or any Of them in organic
union
At present the United Luz