The Rhythm Lobby

When Pope Paul VI confirmed the ban on use of the Pill and all other "artificial" birth control methods in his 1968 encyclical Hwnanae Vitae, a number of national bishops' conferences softened the blow. They viewed the encyclical as an ideal to be encouraged rather than an absolute restriction to enforce in all cases. And many government and private agencies went ahead with campaigns to limit population. But Pope Paul is not so easily contradicted. Now. acting through his Secretary of State, Jean Cardinal Villot, 65, he has begun a quiet counterattack, attempting to marshal Catholic forces against all official programs, national or international, that propagate artificial contraception.

The cardinal's 15-page confidential document, TIME Correspondent Wilton Wynn learned in Rome, was dated Nov. 14 and sent to all papal nuncios and apostolic delegates and to the Vatican's permanent observers at the United Nations and its agencies. In it, Villot stresses the secrecy of the new lobbying effort because "the demographic problem has its very delicate aspects." He notes pointedly that after entering the controversial field "under the Kennedy presidency," the U.S. is now "at the head of the line among promoters of an international policy of birth control." He also is sharply critical of the U.N. for supporting population-control programs in the Third World.

There has been a marked increase in such activities in recent years. Before 1960 India and Pakistan were the only two "high-fertility" countries with official government policies aimed at reducing population growth. Today, 30 developing nations have state-supported programs. Villot points out that in 1967 Secretary-General U Thant established the Fund for Population Activities to provide financial and technical assistance. Worse, he writes, the U.N.'s children's fund (UNICEF) is now committed to distribute contraceptives: "It therefore puts itself in contradiction to the very objectives of the institution created for the well-being of children."

The cardinal does not deny that a population problem exists, but nonetheless attacks the "vehemence of the anti-birth movement." Birth control partisans, he complains, display a "quasi-messianic conviction": their campaigns employ "methods of propaganda and of subtle and varied pressure" that in effect deny couples real freedom of choice. Among the pressures, charges Villot, are material incentives; in some areas, couples are awarded gifts like transistor radios if they cooperate.

What finally appalls Villot is the cost of it all. Though the cardinal does not mention a figure, one estimate projects that as much as $10 billion would be needed in the next decade to make birth control easily accessible to the entire Third World population. Laments Villot: "It is troubling to see funds channeled into family planning campaigns more easily than into other enterprises; for example, certain projects for fertilization of desert zones."

Christian Convictions. How should the church fight back? Governments must be persuaded to take positions "in favor of Catholic morality." Papal diplomats, the letter directs, should press bishops in each country to build up relations with local representatives of international organizations. The representatives, as Villot sees it, are key men: they influence the secretariats to which they report, and they often have a say in the selection of delegates to international conferences. "Good relations," argues Villot, "will facilitate the choice of men who possess Christian convictions." Predominantly Catholic countries should be pressured further--to give their delegates "unequivocal instructions, and if necessary suggest that those delegates make contact with representatives of the Holy See."

Villot does not counsel simple obstructionism, however. National episcopates should know the "demographic situation in their countries." Papal representatives should offer "positive and morally acceptable proposals." So far, the proposals are limited to combatting poverty and hunger, cooperating in "prudent sexual education" and popularizing the rhythm method of birth control.

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