APOLOGETICS SURVEY V
From the very beginning let us resolve to avoid the er· ror of those who take a firm unbending stance either "for" or "against" the encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (here· after described simply HV). For there is no defender of the encyclical who would not admit that certain passages could have been reworded and restructured. Nor is there any objector who Humanae Vitae has raised would not admit that the letanew several problems ter inculcates many beautiful already discussed in this lessons concerning the digcolumn. It is necessary nity of life, of love, and of the human person. Similarly, to recall that there are let us recall that HV is not several related but separate concerned primarily with the issues in the whole "pill," with the interuterine controversy. devices, or with condoms. One of the nation's leading + newspapers ran screaming headlines, "New Enclyclical: GEORGE K. MALONE POPE BANS BILL!" If one + allows one's opinions to be formed solely Ly second· hand coverage as expressed and interpreted by non-professionals, then one's view-be it positive or negative--must ~nevitably be a theologically short-sighted oversimplification. Underlying the entire HV controversy are three related but separable questions- the permanence of non-infallible teachings, that of academic freedom, and the formation of conscience. Since confusion can easily result if they are not
__jjumanae 'Utae r/1/i:Jcellan'l
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