Religion: A Change on Birth Control?

• Share

At least four-fifths of the 76-member pontifical commission on birth control favors a change in the Roman Catholic Church's traditional prohibition against mechanical and chemical methods of birth control. Ending three years of study on the question, the commission last week presented its findings to Pope Paul VI. Although its precise recommendations remain secret, the commission majority concluded that since the love and affection of marriage partners is as important as procreation, they are entitled to practice contraception when there is good and sufficient reason to limit the size of their families.

This argument, which was approved by the commission's key subcommittee of theologians and even by the generally conservative Italian members of the Pope's blue ribbon panel of experts, represents a new direction in official Catholic thinking on marriage problems. For that reason, a dissenting minority has objected strongly and urged that the only concession be approval of the pill to help regularize the female menstrual cycle, thus making more reliable the rhythm method of birth control. The final word on the problem is up to Pope Paul, who has categorized the decision as "agonizing" and is unlikely to issue his decree before September.