OCR Text |
Show Low Death Rates Add Up To High Population The dimensions of the population explosion problem were discussed by 'Rev. John L. Thomas, professor of sociology at St. Louis " University, Univer-sity, Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Ballroom. The title of his Challenge speech was "Morality of Population Control." "People will meet the problem one way or another," Rev. Thomas Thom-as said in reference to population control. Rev. Thomas explained that the cause of the problem is that the death rates have declined while the birth rates have steadily increased. This naturally leads to a population increase. The solution to the rapid population growth lies in decreasing decreas-ing the birth rate. REV. THOMAS, representing the Catholic viewpoint, disclosed that his religion opposes those means which interfere with life. He explained, ex-plained, "We have a very high regard re-gard for the human life." "We disapprove of such methods meth-ods as abortion, sterilization and contraceptives," he reported. Rev. Thomas suggested other solutions for coping with the population pop-ulation problem. One suggestion was to increase the legal age for marriage. Rev. Thomas cited Ireland Ire-land as an example of a country where this solution has worked. "We must create motivation which will lead to later marriage." mar-riage." "The problem exists because there is not the motivation or desire de-sire for natural means of family planning." The Catholic Church approves ap-proves of contraceptive procedures which do not use artifical means. |