Catholics and Population

THE POPULATION EXPLOSION

This is a hot one; fated to grow hotter. In fact, the closer men come to some control of the birth rate, the more intense will the conflicts with (and within) Catholicism become. Non-Catholics will predictably resent the action of men they must consider the last of the old-time detonators of our “population explosion.” Some Catholics will just as predictably resent the intrusion of others in what they take to be a matter of personal conscience; they will anticipate a 1984 in which men can be punished for the Orwellian crime of “Over- birth.” Other Catholics will resent the Catholics just described (and their hostility may be the bitterest of all).

GW

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Garry Wills

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THE POPULATION EXPLOSION

This is a hot one; fated to grow hotter. In fact, the closer men come to some control of the birth rate, the more intense will the conflicts with (and within) Catholicism become. Non-Catholics will predictably resent the action of men they must consider the last of the old-time detonators of our “population explosion.” Some Catholics will just as predictably resent the intrusion of others in what they take to be a matter of personal conscience; they will anticipate a 1984 in which men can be punished for the Orwellian crime of “Over- birth.” Other Catholics will resent the Catholics just described (and their hostility may be the bitterest of all).