This Day in History

This day in history...

Let it be known that it was on August 14, 1930 that an assembly of Anglican bishops broke with all of Christianity in their announcement that unnatural birth control could be permitted.

It was at the Lambeth Conference that their statement in Resolution 15 outlined what would officially break from the consistent Christian opposition to birth control.

Shortly after, on March 21, 1931, in the United States the Federation of Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches) echoed the Resolution.

The inside cover of the book, Birth Control and Christian Discipleship by John F. Kippley, offers the following questions:

True of False? No Christian church ever accepted contraception as morally permissible before 1930.

True or False? The anti-contraceptive laws of 19th Century America were passed by Protestants for a largely Protestant America.

True of False? The leaders of the Protestant Reformation were strongly opposed to unnatural forms of birth control.

All three statements are true.

It should be noted that the Resolution cites, "strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception-control from motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience."

Shortly after though the the President of United Lutherans Churches is quoted in The Lutheran as stating,

"It is of prime significance that the present agitation for birth control occurs at a period which is notorious for looseness in sexual morality. This fact creates suspicion as to the motives for the agitation, and should warn true-minded men and women against the tools for unholy purposes." - Dr. F.H. Knubel