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.
