The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-09-26
AROUND the WORLD
Hit City Hospital
Birth Control Vote

NEW YORK The de-
cision of the Board Of Hos.
pitfalls here to provide birth
information and de.
vices in city hospitals has
been termed "a deterioration
of moral life"
A statement issued jointly BY
the Archdiocese OF New York
and the Diocese Of Brooklyn
said in part:
Catholics are rightly dis
fressed ut this decision OF the
Board. II is deterioration
Of moral life in that such .
policy introduces an inmorsl
practice in our hospitals that
perverts the nature and the
dignity OF man."
The statement reminded al
Catholic personnel in city hos
pitfalls "of their grave obliga
tons in conscience to, in nj
way, cooperate with such pro
cedure."
1t also charged that the pol
icy uses public funds for cor
rupt purposes contrary to thu
manifest will of a large mum
Der of the taxpayers"
The Board Of Hospitals had
said In . resolution that
when there are clearly de-
fined medical conditions in
which the life or health Of q
woman may be ieopardized
by pregnancy, 1t is generally
recognized by the medical
profession that eontraeepfive
measures are proper medical
practice.
Municipal hospitals shoul'
provide such medical advice
preventive measures and devit
es for female patients unde
their care whose life and healtl
in the opinion of the medica
staff may be jeopardized b
pregnancy and who wish t
avail themselves of such healtI
services"
The Board also said "Physi-
clans, nurses and other hospi.
tai personnel who have reIig-
ious or moral objections
should be excused from par
ficipsfion in eontrseeptive
procedures"
The joint statement of tn
Archdiocese of New York an
the Diocese of Brooklyn chars
ed that the Board, by this d.
cision, departed from a Ion
established and accepted mora
standard" rejected traditions
morality, the teaching of a,
Christian and Jewish belief, ur
til recent times"
The natural law, resffirm-
cd from Scripture, the sfete.
ment added. makes clear
that in marriage, from the
will Of the Creator, the prim-
airy end is the procresfion and
education Of offspring. This
does not deny secondary pUr.
poses for the exercise Of the
s~enerative faculties Of men.
as the expression Of love be-
tween husband and wife,"
ITO state these truths" II
Catholic statement continue
lis to affirm the will of Ge
and the dignity of mans n
ture. 1t does not deny mar
freedom, for these truths al
not the exclusive possession
any Church, but the law obi
ing all men,"
The statement objected tn
there have been many ''misre
, reservations of Catholi
thought, the impltation of u
due pressure, the assumptit
that the Church is indiffere.
to the physical wellbeing
mothers and the social needs
our community"
II pointed out the chvrcl
"has warned against child
birth when . mothers heaItl
! is in jeopardy" and tina
when medically necessary
she has advised absfinene,
from the exercise Of the ma
tvrsI faculty "A practice,
is true, that requires heroisn
| - but one within The esps
bilities Of man and more en-
nobIing to him."
t 1t said that the Church al
seeks those social and medic
i. means that preserve the ply
{ cal w~ell-being of the mothe
t the adequacy of family housin
the necessity of a living wae
the use of all social agenci
: to preserve the sanctity of ma
: riage, the integrity and digni
, of the home, the blessedness
: children, the preservation of {
ciety." e
A statement issued by sI
official Of the Proiestan