SA bishops on birth control
South African bishops have responded in different ways to Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae, which restates the Catholic Church’s ban on artificial birth control. Archbishop Denis
Hurley expressed disappointment that the open consultation of Vatican II was lacking in the decision on birth control. Cardinal Owen McCann of Cape Town said that the pope’s decision must be accepted as coming from the supreme teaching authority. Archbishop John Garner of Pretoria said that those who advocated a modification of the teaching had been “like troops who have advanced far beyond the limits fixed for them”. Bishop Gerard van Velsen of Kroonstad said that the ban on artificial birth control “is a discipline rather than a doctrine, and therefore it leaves the door open for personal decisions”.
Decision on baptismal rites
In their plenary session, the bishops decided that the Catholic Church in Southern Africa will now recognise baptisms performed by Anglican, Lutheran and Dutch Reformed churches. The rite of baptism of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches will be recognised as valid, but they need further study.
Milestone for the Church
In his editorial, Fr Louis Stubbs notes that Pope Paul VI’s decision to uphold the Church’s ban on artificial birth control “seems certain to become a milestone in Church history, for its outcome will quite likely affect not only the question of birth control, but also the wider question of the structures of authority in this Church”.
- At the heart of Jesus’ teachings lies the mystery of the Kingdom of God, which today’s Gospel likens to treasure and a pearl (cf. Mt 13:44–52). The parables convey the surprise of those who find something far beyond what they could have hoped for, so much so that selling or leaving everything behind no longer seems a sacrifice, but a gain. - July 26, 2026
- R to @Pontifex: Let us #PrayTogether for all those peoples throughout the world who are suffering because of war. May the Lord touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of those in power, so that reconciliation and #peace may soon prevail. - July 26, 2026
- R to @Pontifex: I likewise renew my plea regarding the situation throughout the #MiddleEast, where the intensification of military operations has again wreaked violence and destruction, endangering the lives of countless civilians and further aggravating the shortages of drinking water and electricity. From the depths of my heart, I exhort all parties involved to suspend the attacks and urgently reopen paths of dialogue and diplomacy, so that the longed-for peace for the entire region may be achieved without delay. - July 26, 2026
