Science, Birth Control, and the Roman Catholic Church

Abstract

Several examples of essentially scientific but now political situations introduce the discussion of another situation which many consider the most serious facing humankind i.e. the bomb. Discussion focuses on the statistice the rational escapism explanation the conflict between science and the Roman Catholic Church the cause for concern in the academic community about the birth control encyclical Roman Catholic political interference the theology of Humanae Vitae the position of the Catholic scientist and prevention of some of the tragedy and misery which will result from the Humanae Vitae. Faced with the reality of the inconceivable simplistic explanations or solutions are sought. Yet the overpopulation problem brings humans face to face with the harsh realities of the laws of thermodynamics bioenergetics and ecology which no scientist Catholic or non-Catholic can deny. It is no accident that the scientific advisors to Pope Pauls Birth Control Commission were the individuals most vocal in their support of birth control. A large portion of the scientific academic community particularly the biologists find themselves in direct conflict with the most powerful segment of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. This is not the 1st time that science found itself in conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. The case of Galileo is cited in support of the contention that science will win over the Humanae Vitae. The great danger of Humanae Vitae lies in the suport it gives to organized conservative Catholic resistance to the initiation of publicly financed population control programs. Except for a few regions it is difficult for a person living in the US to fully understand what Roman Catholic political interference means. The situation in Puerto Rico is described to illustrate the extreme coercive tactics to which the Church has resorted in its fight against birth control by means that it finds unacceptable. The Catholic scientist has 3 choices: simply to ignore both the Pope and the problem; agree with the Church and public say so; or work to change Catholic doctrine in regard to birth control. Humanae Vitae is based upon biological ignorance and needs to be changed.