Mrs Castle, Social Services Secretary in the present Government, announced that from the 1st of April family planning would be open at National Health Service clinics to all who asked for it, irrespective of age or marital status. Until the introduction of this new measure most clinics refused to supply contraceptives to teenagers without parental permission or a doctor’s recommendation.
It may be that the Government, well aware of the alarming increase in the number of pregnancies among school-girls, think that this new concession will do something to alleviate the situation. If so, how blind the Government must be to the devastating effects of immorality on the life of the nation. Instead of providing sex-education classes in schools and contraceptives for teenagers, how much better would the Government be employed in trying to restore proper religious and moral education in the schools so that children might be instructed aright in the requirements of the divine law and of its function as the only proper basis for moral judgments.
The Pope and the Rich
The Pope is of the view that the solution of the population problems facing the world today lie in improving social justice and by the wealthy sharing the earth’s riches more equitably with the poor. As the man in charge of the wealthiest organisation in the world, let him begin then to part with the Vatican wealth for the relief of the poor.
Roman Catholic Church and the B.C.C.
The Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales decided not to apply for membership of the British Council of Churches, the organisation that is allied to the World Council of Churches. The Roman Catholics, however, intend to continue to collaborate with the Council. The Roman Catholic bishops were of the view that full membership would create more difficulties and lead to misunderstanding within the Roman Catholic community. The Roman Catholic Church is very wary of the relationships it establishes and is not likely to strike out on a new course unless assured that it will derive great advantage to itself by so doing. Meanwhile the bishops urge Roman Catholics to renew their efforts to achieve the unity of all Christians — meaning, of course, the subjection of all Christians to Rome.