Heroism v. Sex

The morality of sex has never been simple--but the Catholic rule about sex has always been definite. Modern developments in contraception, surgery, psychology and artificial insemination have never changed that rule. Last week, in a 9,000-word speech to the Italian Catholic Union of Midwives, Pope Pius XII freshened up the signposts along the Roman Catholic road. His main points:

P: Any interference with the normal processes of conception and birth, whether by contraceptives or abortion, is forbidden to Catholics.

P: If doctors and nurses have to choose between mother & child, they must remember that "it is illicit for the sake of saving a mother's life to sacrifice the life of her offspring."

P: The "ever more practiced" method of birth control popularly called "rhythm" (limiting intercourse to woman's periods of infertility) is permissible only "for grievous reasons," e.g., medical reasons. Rhythm is not permissible if the motive is simply "to satisfy sensuality" and "avoid the fecundity of union."

P: "God compels a married couple to abstinence if their union cannot be carried out naturally . . . Do not let yourself be confused when they talk to you of the impossibility of abstinence . . . It is not wrong to expect heroism from the men & women of our times."

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