The Pope and Married Life
SIR,—In discussing a delicate matter such as this, which bristles with difficulties, the first thing needed is accuracy ; opinion can only be founded upon facts. Your correspondence columns last week reveal two inaccuracies which ought, I think, to be corrected.
Your correspondent, the Rev. A. H. Simmons, attempted, quite rightly, to correct your bald statement that "the Church of England regards the use of contraceptives . .. as completely right and Christian." Your answer to him is to quote the Lambeth Conference of 1930:A correct reading of that much-disputed resolution would give only a very guarded approval, and it does not leave the decision to the couple concerned. It says: "Where there is a clearly felt obligation," but does not say by whom that obligation. is felt. It may be by the couple, or the doctor, or the priest, both of whom they would presumably consult. It is badly worded, as many would admit ; but even so it does not give the unquali- fied approval which you suggest. You add that "it is safe to assume opinion among the Bishops has developed since 1930." Possibly ; but in which direction? An assumption like that proves precisely nothing as to the attitude one way or another of a Church.
Secondly, your correspondent, Canon Howard Dobson, assumes by implication that the Papal pronouncement is an ex cathedra and infallible pronouncement. But is it ? Many Roman theologians would be most unwilling to admit that any ordinary Papal pronouncement, even an encyclical, would come under, that heading. Conservative Catholic theologians would say that in all history there have been only some five or six such pronouncements ; and certainly not such as these -That they do come under the heading of the Pope's ordinary magisterium, and are, therefore, of very great weight, is a totally different matter. Many Catholic theologians can be found who will say unhesitatingly that, while their Church's ordinary teaching is against' the use of contraceptives, yet there is no infallible ex cathedra statement on the subject, and never has been.—Yours sincerely, WILLIAM P. WYLIE.
Rush vale, Post Office Lane, Kernpsey, Worcester.
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