Turning Point: The Inside Story of the Papal Birth Control Commission, & How Humanae Vitae Changed the
by Robert McClory
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Book Summary Information
Author: Robert McCloryEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1995-04-25
ISBN: 0824514580
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Crossroad Publishing Company
Book Reviews of Turning Point: The Inside Story of the Papal Birth Control Commission, & How Humanae Vitae Changed the
Book Review: Contemporary History
Summary: 5 Stars
"Turning Point" by Robert McClory is fascinating contemporary history. It's essential reading for those who are interested in knowing how the Catholic Church got where it is today in terms of the contraception issue.
McClory briefly discusses the history of the contraception condemnation in the church- from Pius XI's condemnation of contraception in Casti Cannubi to Pius XII's endorsement of the "rhythm method" in his address to the Italian Midwives. McClory quotes the respected historian John Noonan in saying that the condemnation of contraception has varied widely throughout history. In Leo XIII's (1878-1903) letter on the duties of married couples, he didn't even mention it. The great moral theologian Alphonsus Ligouri, in a manual for confessors, instructed them not to pry about married couples' sexual lives. But in the late 19th century, when birth rates in Europe seemed to be on the decline, the Vatican tried to take a strict policy against contraception, but without much success. In the early 20th century, a Belgian priest named Vermseersch persuaded Belgian bishops to take the Vatican directives seriously and take a hard-line stance on contraception. The hierarchy in other countries soon followed suit. After the Anglican Lambeth Conference in 1930, when the bishops allowed contraception, Vermseersch was convinced that a response to the Anglican "apostasy" was needed, and so Casti Cannubi was born. In 1951, in his address to Italian Midwives, allowed for the rhythm method. That is, if there were grave reasons for limiting births, such as economic hardship, then couples were allowed to refrain from intercourse during the wife's more fertile times of the month. These fertile times were determined by a complicated system of temperature readings.
When John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council, he was persuaded by some theologians, including the Belgian Cardinal Suenens (who would play a major role in many of the council's documents), that the teaching of Casti Connubi should at least be re-examined, and so the Papal Birth Control Commission was formed. It originally consisted of only about 15 theologians, and was mostly a discussion group. After John XXIII died, Paul VI expanded the membership of the Birth Control Commission to include laity. Among the most prominent were Pat and Patty Crowley, the founders of the Christian Family Movement (and pre-Cana, which most dioceses now require before couples can be married in the church). The Since the Crowleys' organization consisted of married couples, they were asked to survey their membership about the effects of the rhythm method on marriage. The overwhelming response was negative. Most couples wrote that it debilitated conjugal spontaneity, since they were always worried about showing too much affection to each other during the fertile periods, and since temperature readings were often inaccurate. To make a long story short, the commission voted overwhelmingly to recommend a change in the church's teaching. Jean E. Pouliot has related how Paul VI was influenced by members of the commission who came to him with their own report, and rejected the majority's advice. The main motives of the minority members, such as Fr. John F. Ford and Cardinal Ottaviani, was to preserve the teaching authority of the church, not to consider what was best for the laity. The result today is largely a "don't ask don't tell" situation in the church regarding contraception.
Anyone interested in church history and/or contemporary history will enjoy this book. In particular, I think Catholics need to read it. "Turning Point" helps readers to understand the present in terms of the past, which every good history book is supposed to do.
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