The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-11-27

his origin, freedom, RESPONSE
bility and destiny. They be-
lieve that the goods of the
earth were created by God for
the use of all men and that
men should not be arbitrarily
tailored to fit a niggling and
static image of what they are
entitled to, as conceived by
those who are more fortunate,
greedy or lazy. The thus far
hidden reservoirs Of science
and of the earth unauestion-
ably will be uncovered IN this
era of marvels and offered to
humanity by dedicated per-
sons with faith in mankind,
and not by those seeking
shortcuts to comfort at the ex-
pense of the heritage of their
own or other peoples.
United States Catholics be-
lieve that the promotion of
artificial birth prevention is
a morally, humanity, psyche
logically and politically dis
astrous approach to the pop
ulation problem. Not only is
such an approach ineffective
in its own aims, but it spurns
the basis of the real solution,
sustained effort in a sense
of human solidarity. Catholics
are prepared to dedicate
themselves TO this effort, al
ready so promisingly initiated
in national and international
circles. They will not, how
ever, support any public as
sistance, either at home or
abroad, to promote artificial
birth prevention, abortion or
sterilization whether through
direct aid or by means OF in~
ternational organizations.
The fundamental n
for this position is the well
considered objection to pro-
noting a moral evil-an OBJ
lection not founded solely on
any typically or exclusively
Catholic doctrine, but on the
natural law and on basic eth.
zeal considerations. However,
quite apart from the moral IS
sue, there are other cogent
reasons why Catholics would
not wish to see any official
support or even favor given
such specious methods of "as.
sistance."
SOCIAL. Man himself is the
most valuable prod uctlVf
agent. Therefore, economic
development and progress are
best prom oted by creating
conditions favorable to hi
highest development. Sucl
progress implies discip n e
self-control and the DISPOSE
ton to postpone present salts
factions for future gains. Thu
widespread use of ~contracep
tiyes would hinder rattle.
than promote the acquisition
OF these qualities needed 70
the social and economl
changes in underdevelopel
countries.
IMMlCRATIo NJ. Immigr;
ton and emigration eve.
within the same country
have their role to play in solN
ing the population problem
II has been said that MGR;
ton to other countries is n
ultimate solution because c
difficulties of absorbing POI
ulations into other economic.
But il is a matter of recor
that migration has helped
a solution. Sixty million PEE
pie migrated success S I II ]
from Europe to the Amerlc;
in the last $50 years. Whe
the nomadic Indians roame
the uncultivated plains
North America before Il
coming of these immigrant
the entire country with its e
imated Indian population
only 100000 and its shortai
of food, would have been I
garded as "overpopulated" a
cording to the norms of Il
opponents of Planned Parel
hood. Yet, the same plains |
day are being retired into
'land bank" because they a
overproductive in a land
| ITS millions. Ii is. therefor
apparent that To speak of
| population explosion in I
United States in these circu.
I stances is the sheerest XII.
of nonsense.
? POLITICAL AND PSYcH
! LOGICAL. The Soviets
Y their wooing of economical.
> underdeveloped countries
A not press artificial birth p