By Mary Lackie

The infallibility of the pope and the freedom of the individual must first be clarified for Catholics the world over before these same Catholics can understand the Church’s position on the population explosion, said Father John L. Hein, S.J., director of Ignatius House.

Father Hein spoke during a panel discussion with Dr. E. Clinton Gardner, theology professor at Emory University, on the subject “The Population Explosion and Responsible Parenthood” Jan. 19.

The problem of infallibility is a problem in this sense,” said Father Hein, “that the mentality of the Catholic is that we are secure, unified in what we believe; a mentality based to a large extent upon the rock of Peter.” In this most important area of Catholic life—procreation and contraception, seemingly to the Catholic, there has been an infallible decree at least, this is the way it has come through to him.

Asked Father Hein, “If you change this suddenly, what happens? You are in a very tenuous position; you endanger the security, the unity and the sanctity of the people of God.”

The fact that a commission was continued at the close of Vatican II for the study of population, family, and births, indicates to both Father Hein and Dr. Gardner that the Church is re-examining its traditional authoritative teaching on a doctrine that affects the daily life and the future of mankind everywhere.

Dr. Gardner pointed out the growing recognition for the development of a “theology of marriage based not upon natural law but upon a more adequate understanding of man; his freedom, his essential humanity, his human and personal relationships, the nature of love, and the relationship between his biological and spiritual (personal) natures.” A need, said Dr. Gardner, acknowledged by Pope Paul VI in his address to the cardinals in June, 1964.

The central issue for this new theology of marriage and the whole problem of the moral bond between the communicative and the procreative functions of sex, said Dr. Gardner, is also the crucial issue in contemporary Protestant sex ethics. He stated: “The Christian teaching of a monogamous relationship between the sexes is threatened by contemporary hedonism and by the depersonalization of sex (as in the philosophy of “Playboy”.)

“The Church, in each stage of its pilgrimage, and I see it as a pilgrimage,” commented Father Hein, “must teach and has the authority to teach and to seek out in the whole Christian body what is absolutely essential to guide the whole Christian community through that particular time in history. The central core of the Church’s teaching is Divine Revelation.”

Father Hein said during the discussion that the biblical basis for the Church has always been present, but that since Vatican II, the emphasis is moving toward a biblical understanding. “No longer are we looking at the Church as vertical (with its hierarchy of being) but as horizontal—with an interaction flowing from the teachings, the pope, and surrounding this, the bishops and laity—an interaction of ideas and understanding for their purpose of unity. In this time of ‘Passover’, it takes leaders—responsible laity in the Church to see this total Christian community through this Passover together. The Pope and bishops share this responsibility to bring the people of God through this difficult time. Man’s lack of courage to respond to the word of God is revealed with this shift of emphasis.”

“Does the Church have the authority to direct in this period of transition, or should it follow?”

In reply to this question from the floor, Father Hein said, “I believe that the Church has the authority to direct, to listen and to unify. If you mean by following—only after it is clear that what it is following is good and true. In this particular time in history, the Church should listen carefully to what is being said.”

Dr. Gardner questioned the role of the Roman Catholic Church as a teaching and governing authority in the area of distribution of contraceptives through welfare programs and government plans.

Father Hein replied that the Roman Catholic should not impost its teachings on a pluralistic society. “It would seem to me,” he said, “that if the government sees this (birth control program) as a good thing for the people, and it is not against the conscience of the men in position to formulate these decisions, I see no problem.”

One of the real problems in every Christian tradition, said Father Hein, is that we have to aim to come to an understanding of the dignity of man, of the individual, and of marriage. This is the area of understanding that is open and in which we can reach an understanding through dialogue, he said.

“I would agree with the focus here,” said Dr. Gardner, this needs to be the focal point. The meaning of procreation in the realm of sex and marriage can no longer be adequately understood exclusively in biological terms as the production of offspring. It must be re-interpreted in more fully human, personal terms which take into account man’s psychological and spiritual needs. That is the kind of thing that cuts across Roman Catholic and Protestant teachings. It is the kind of thing that offers a real challenge to all of us, and is of utmost importance to society as a whole.”