S
sainthumbert
Guest
Where can I find the full text from which this statement comes from? I found the statement in Fr. John Hardon S.J. Chapter VII Birth Control (therealpresence.org/archives/Moral_Theology/Moral_Theology_007.htm). The statement was from Vatican Secretary of State under Pius XII.
“We may wonder if nowadays too much interest is not shown in this question (of periodic continence) and if, in this way, we are not trying rather to encourage the limitation of births than their natural coming to light. We should speak more about their increase and less about their limitation. Too often selfishness tries to justify the reasons for limitation. And yet selfishness is what extinguishes life, fertility and love. We should like to see the Catholic family do its utmost to preserve its nobility as a source of fertility, where the children brought into the world are at once a tribute to the virtues of the parents and a sign of their role as procreators of life. A large number of children will proclaim their parent’s fidelity to one another, their love of God and faith in His providence, and their affection for the offspring which He gave.”
Thank you.
“We may wonder if nowadays too much interest is not shown in this question (of periodic continence) and if, in this way, we are not trying rather to encourage the limitation of births than their natural coming to light. We should speak more about their increase and less about their limitation. Too often selfishness tries to justify the reasons for limitation. And yet selfishness is what extinguishes life, fertility and love. We should like to see the Catholic family do its utmost to preserve its nobility as a source of fertility, where the children brought into the world are at once a tribute to the virtues of the parents and a sign of their role as procreators of life. A large number of children will proclaim their parent’s fidelity to one another, their love of God and faith in His providence, and their affection for the offspring which He gave.”
Thank you.