Cunningham, Clement P.

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The Linacre QuarterlyVolume 32 | Number 1 Article 25February 1965Dr. Cunningham in Audience with Pope Paul VIClement P. CunninghamFollow this and additional works at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnqRecommended CitationCunningham, Clement P. (1965) "Dr. Cunningham in Audience with Pope Paul VI," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 32 : No. 1 , Article 25.Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol32/iss1/25of all charts has proved far more ef­fective than the previous system in preventing surgery of questionable necessity or morality. There are three Catholic Physicians' Guilds in Canada but currently only the one in Manitoba is affiliated with the National Federation. However, I believe all members subscribe to THE LIN ACRE QUARTERLY. Several years ago the Manitoba Guild staffed a booth at the national CM.A. conven­tion and recently the Guild in British Columbia held as part of the official CM.A. program a panel discussion on medical practice in a Catholic hos­pital. Excellent cooperation was ob­tained from the executives of the C.M. A. and this may help establish a precedent for the inclusion in future scientific programs topics pertinent to religion, ethics and medicine. In non-Catholic hospitals tubal liga­tion is a frequent procedure, requir­ing only the written consent of the parties involved and of two consul­tants. It is nearly a routine procedure at third caesarean. So-called "thera­peutic" abortion is becoming less fre­quent as the consultants seem to be finding less reason to be able to jus­tify it; however, press releases from our official medical organizations would give the impression that the 74 medical and legal 100% in favour of and sterilization leg� The absence of a in helping to regula is reflected by the st� doctors. Their sugges the current epidemil and the rising vene are the provisions c by the schools and i formation in the sd is presented as the r morality is not even It is in 'a backgro, our Guilds have had to play-not to entt paper debate with t. but to develop leader all fields and to ed· by cooperating with faiths, advocating me all problems. ,fessions were aking abortion Jrocedures. ,e moral code people's lives ·nents of somel remedies for Jf illegitimacy 1 disease rate sex education th control in-1ls. Pregnancy ,blem, the im­ognized. d such a s  this e largest roles into a news· ,e suggestions of thought in ,te the pub�c 1eople of all -1 solutions toThis is our problen · n Canada and am sure it .is not 1rs alone, nor for long. By furthe, ·ommunication I am sure we can ; lp each other meet local problems a· l provide lead· ership to overcome ,e decline of morality throughout t' . .: world. J. Bernard Ct· tel10, M.D.Vancouver B tish Columbia,Canada LINACRE QUARTERLY DR. CUNNINGHAM IN AUDIENCE WITH POPE PAUL VI On November 25 1964 it was the great privilege and honor of Dr. Clement P.Cunningham, immediat� past president of the National Federati?n to meet our HolyFather, Pope Paul VI. He is photographed here presenting His Holiness with theManual of our Federation activities. Speaking in English, the Pope conveyed his greathappiness to learn of the numerous Guild projects and their development. He askedDr. Cunni�gham to convey to all the members .and their familie_s his special Apost�ltcBlessing along with good wishes for the success of the works m which the organiza­tion is engaged. Following the audience, .Dr. and Mrs. Cunningharn left by plane from Rome fly­ing to Bombay, India to attend the Third Asian Congress of Catholic Doct?rs and the Eucharistic Congress then in progress. The trip to Bombay was very delightful and made even more impressive as they traveled in the company of the Papal Delegat�, His Eminence, Cardinal Agagianian, who is aware of the efforts of our Federat10n m the medical mission world. . The Third Asian Congress provided three days of intensive study o_f the popula­tion problem, particularly as reflected in India. It seemed somewh�t iromc _to Dr.Cunningham that in the United States where so many consider family planning thec�untry's most pressing problem, in India it occupies seventh plac_e with prioritiesgaveg to more urgent needs such as food, education, health, economics, and others . . The inauguration of the Asian Federation took place during this . meetin?. andPlans are being developed· to join the International Federation of Cath_oltc Physaoan�.�rom observing the activities of this newly formed group, Dr. Cunnmghan:1 feels _ at11 the responsibility of American doctors to communicate as much as possible withPhrsicians in other areas of the world. Opportunities will be available d�ring t_heDut four years when the International Federation will meet in October 1966 m Manda 111d two years later the Fourth Asian Congress wil I meet in Tokyo, Japan. F'aa.UAIY, 1965 75 EDITOR'S NOTE: Following are translations from the Italian 011 /is� of texts of Pope Pius Xll in Acta Apostolicae Sedis which Po, affirmed as the "norms" with reference to the regulation of birth; Betlwne <u;hose Letter to the Editor in the November I964- issue of that. these _be made known, has supplied these translations. Copies c available m bound volumes in the Fathers' library in Saint Mary's Fl French into Eng. Paul Fl lza1,1. Dr. Andre J. dt Q broadly urgtd the oriqina/s a,1 , Boston Colleg1• From the Allocution of Pope Pius XII to the Conve. Italian Union of Obstetrical Nurses, O::�ober 29, 1951. tolical Sedis, Volume 43, pages 815-854 ( 1951). on of the ,eta Apos-II Contratto matrimoniale, che con­ferisce agli sposi ii diritto di sodisfare I'inclinazione della natura, Ii costi­tuisce i n  uno stato di vita, lo stato matrimoniale. Ora ai coniugi, che ne fanno uso l'atto specifico del loro stato, la natura e il Creatore impon­gono la funzione di provvedere alla conservazione de! genero umano. E questa la prestazione caratteristica, che fa il valore proprio de! loro stato, il bonum pro/is. L'individuo e la so­cieta, il popolo e lo stato, la Chiesa stessa, dipendono per la loro esistenza, nell'ordine da Dio stabilito, dal matri­monio fecondo. Quindi abbraciare lo stato matrimonio, usare continua­mentella facol ta ad esso propria e in esso solo lecita, e, d'altra parte, sot­trarsi sempre e deliberamente, senze un grave motivo, al suo primario dovere, sarebbe un peccare contra ii senso stesso della vita coniugale. Da guella prestazione pos1t1va ob­bligatoria possono esimere, anche per lungo tempo, anzi per l'intera durata de! rnatrimonio, seri motivi, come quelli che si hanno non di rado nella cosidetta "indicazione" rnedica, eugen­ica, economica e sociale. Da cio con­seque che l'osservanza <lei tempi infe­condi puo essere lecita sotto I'aspetto morale; e nelle condizione menzionate e realmente tale. (From pages 845-846). The marriage con 1ct, which con· fers to spouses the n it of satisfying the inclination of n, ire, establishes them in a state of I1 , the marriage state. Now, to spoust who make use of the specific act of t' ir state, nature and the Creator enj( 1 the function of providing for the )reservation of mankind. This is t: characteristic performance, the bo, ,m prolis, the "gift of offspring." " ich gives their state i�s proper value . he individual and society, the peopl and the state, the Church itself, d, end for their existence on fruitful narriages, ac­cording to God's c :n ordinance. Therefore. to embrac the marriage state, to make use cor, · · nuously of the faculty proper to it an, lawful only in it, and, on the other h ·d, always and deliberately to avoid. - ithout a grave motive. its primary di v, would be a sin against the very se· .. ,e of co njugal life. From this positive ol 1igation (mar­ried couples) may be �xcused, either for a long time, or evei, for the entire duration of the marri ,ge, by serious motives such as tho," not seldom found in what is called the medical, eugenic, economic and social "indica­tion." From this, it follows that the observance of infertile periods can be licit under the moral aspect, and, un­der the aforementioned conditions, really is so. From the Allocution of Pope Pius XII to the "Fronte della Famiglia," the Italian Union of Large F:>milies. November 26, 1951. Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Vol. 43, pages 855-860 (1951 ). Poiche dunque l'ufficio primario de! matrimonio e di essere al servizio 76 Since therefore the primary office of marriage is to be at the service of LINACRE QUARTERLY . ii Nostro principale co�-d�II� v:::· e la Nostra pate.ma grati.­pu:r: vanno a questi spOS.1 genero�I, t  I d' Dio e fidando m che per amore I .' una Lui, allevano coragg1osamenta famiglia numerosa. D'altra parte, la Chiesa sa �on­siderare con simpatia e _compre�s10ne I I. d1"ff1·colta della vita matnmon­a rea 1 . . ., 11'­iale ai nos�ri g1orn1. Perc10 ne I. Nostra allocuzione sulla mo-u t1ma . bb" affermato la rale comugale a iamo . r ..legittimita e al temp? stes_so I im1t1 -in verita hen largh1 - d1 una rego­lazione della prole, la guale, co�t;r­riamen·e al cosidetto "controllo e � nascite", e compatibile con la le.gge f1Dio. Se puo anzi sper!re ( ma m ta e materia la Chiesa lascia natu:almen�e ii giudizio all a scienza medica) c de questa riesca a dare a quel m�to 0 lecito una base sufficient�m�nte sicura, e le piu recenti informaz1om semhrano conferm�re una tale speranza. ( From page 859). l"f Our Principal pleasure and Our f�tterly gratitude go to thos\r�erou; couples who, out of love of o , a.n with trust in Him, courageously bnng up a large family. On the other hand. the Church can consider with sympa_thy and comp_r� hension the real d1ff1culty o f 1.narcr life in our day. Therefore, 111 . ur last allocution on c�n_jugal 111C:thty� We affirmed the leg�t11!1acy an bro:d the same time, the limits, very . . d d of a regulation of offspnng, 111 ee -d "b" h h. h contrary to so-calle irt -w itc '1 " i's compatible with the law con ro , (b t · of God. One may even hope u 111 the Church naturally these matters, . . ) d f J"udgment to medical science e ers · · · 0 that the latter will succee� �n g1v111,_, h. !'cit method a sufficiently se­to t 1s 1 . d h most recent cure foundat10n, an t e f s ch a information seems to con lfm u hope. . ·us XII to the Vllth lnternati�nal From the Nlocut10n of Pope P1mher 12 1958. Acta Apostohcae Congress of Hematoloe:y. Septe Sedis, Vol. 50, pages 732-740 0953), La sterilisation directe, perpetuel1e ou temporaire, de l'homme comme de la femme, est illicite en vertu de la loi naturelle. Par sterilisation directe; Nous . en­tendions designer l'action de qui se propose, comme but ou moyen, �e rendre impossible la procreation,; ma1s nous n'appliquons pas ce terme a t?ute action, qui rend impossible en fa1t �a procreation. L'homme, en eff�t, n a p2s toujours !'intention de fiare ce qui resulte de son action, meme s'il l'a prevu. Ainsi, par example, l'extirpa­tion d'ovaires malades aura comme consequence necessaire de ren?re im­possible la procreation ; ma1s cett� impossibilite peut n'etre voulue Ill comme fin ni com me rnoyen. Nous avons repris en detail les mernes expli­cations dans Notre allocution du 8 FEBRUARY, 1965 Direct permanent or tem�or·�? ster;lization of man or woman, is I I· cit by virtue of the natural law. By direct sterilization, we i�1tended d . t the action of him who to es1gna e ro oses, as an end or as � means. to �en�er impossible procreat1.on. r ;��. d d does not always mten i�s��t �f his action, even if he foresees 't Thus for example, the removal of 1 · ' ·11 h s a neces-d iseased ovaries w1 ave a. 'bl sar consequence to render �n�p.oss1 e y . . but this imposs1b1hty can procreat10n, . d nor as a be neither willed as an en ' . rl ·1 We have repeated 111 eta, means. . · Our Allocu-the same explanatiol;.53 (AAS., 45, tion of October 8. 1 . 673) to the Congress of Uro �g1sths. . · 1 permit t e The same pnncip es · · · . d solution to a question much d1scusse 77 octobre 1953 (A.A.S. 45, 673) au Congres des U rologistes. Les memes principes ... permettent aussi de re­soudre une question tres discutee aujourd'hui chez les medecins et les moralistes. Est-ii Iicite d'empecher !'ovulation au moyen de pilules utilisees comme remedes aux re­actions exagerees de l'uterus et de l'organisme, quoique ce medicament, en empechant !'ovulation, rende aussi impossible Ia fecondation? Est-ce permis a la femme mariee qui malgre cette sterilite temporaire, desire avoir des relations avec son mari? La re­ponse depend de !'intention de Ia per­sonne. Si Ia femme prend ce medica­ment, non pas en vue d'empecher Ia conception, mais uniquement sur avis du medecin, comme un remede neces­saire a cause d'une maladie de !'uterus ou de l'organisme, elle provoque une sterilisation indirecte, qui reste per­mise selon le principe general des ac­tions a double effet. Mais on provoque une sterilisation directe, et done illi­cite, Iorsqu'on arrete l'ovulation, afin de pres�rver l'ut�rus et l'organis�.1e des consequences d une grossesse, qu ds ne sont pas capables de supporter. (From pages 734-735).today by medical moral theologians. vent ovulation by n ized as remedies fo, reactions of the ute1 ganism, even though preventing ovulatio1, possible fecundation to the married woe this temporary sterili relations with her answer depends on the person. If the ,, medicine, not with a ing conception, but s vice of the medical d edy necessary because the uterus or of th, brings about an indir which remains permit the general principle c double effect. But on, direct. and therefore. tion, when one arre� preserve the uterus at' from the consequence, which it cannot taler;: ctors and � it licit to pre. · ns of pills uril­, he exaggerated · and of the or­iis medicine, ov !so renders im·­I s it permitted 1 who, despite wishes to hive usband? The e intention of -nan takes this ew to prevent­c:l y on the ad­tor, as a rem­,f a malady of organism, she t sterilization, · l according to actions with a ·1rings about a licit, steriliza-ovulation to the organism f a pregnancy. La mise a profit de la sterilite tem­poraire naturelle, clans Ia methode Ogino - Knaus, ne viole pas I'ordre nature!, comme la pratique decrite plus haut [!'utilisation des preserva­tifs], puisque les relations conjugales repondent a la volonte du Createur. Quand cette methode est utilisee pour des motifs serieux proportionnes ( et !es indications de l'eugenique peuvent avoir un carectere grave ), elle se justifie moralement. Deja Nous en avons parle clans Notre Allocution du 29 octobre I 951, non pour exposer le point de vue biologique ou medical, mais po.ur mettre fin aux inquietudes de conscience de beaucoup de chre­tiens, qui l'utilisaient clans leur vie conjugale. D'ailleurs clans son en­cyclique du 31 decembre I 930, Pie XI78 The taking advant,!.�e of natural temporary sterility, ii, the Ogino· Knaus method, does n•Jt violate the natural order, as does t:;e practice de­scribed above [ the use f contracep­tives], since the conjug:d relations cor­respond to the will of the Creator. When this method is utilized for pro· portionately serious motives (and eugenic indications can have a grave character), it is morally justified. Al­ready We spoke of this in Our Allo­cution of October 29. l 051, not to put forward the biological or medical viewpoint, but to put an end to t?e anxieties of conscience of many Chris­tians, who utilized it in their coniu�al life. Furthermore in his Encyclical of December 31, I 930 ( "Casti Con ­nubii"), Pius XI had already forrnu-LINACRE QUARTERLY · · de prin-. d'"' f rmule la pos1t1on . ava1t eia o tra naturae ordmem · . "Neque con · ui iure ape ... d" di sunt conJuges, q agere u icen naturali ratione ut_unt�r,sue recte et1 sive tempons s1ve etsi o\ natu�:F:ctuum causas nova quoru� am . . possit." (A.A.S., inde Vita orm non 32,561 (1930))., ·se' clans Notre N avons prec1 , . . ous. de 19 51 que les epo_u x, q Ul Allocut1on de leurs droits conJugaux, font usage . · n vertu de t !'obligation pos1t1ve, e , d on a leur etat, e la Joi naturelle propre ' . Le clure la procreation. ne pas ex 1 ue le genre Createur en effet a :'ou �cfsement par humain se propageat pr f ction sex-l'exercice naturel de �a o�. Nous uelle. Mais a cet.te _101 po�1t1ve , our . . l pnnc1pe qm vaut p apphqmons e . 11 s n'ob ligent pas toutes Jes autres  e e lisse-d la mesure ou leur ac�omp ans d · ven1ents not-ment comporte es mc�n , bl de ables qui ne sont pas msepara ,es la Joi elle-meme, ni. inh.erents ad's�\� accomplissement, ma,s v1enn�nt_ \u leurs et que le legislateur n a pas I,. ' . d'imposer aux hommes, mtention l . (From lorsqu'il a promulgue la QI. pages 736-737). FEBRUARY, 1965 . . l . "Neither are those lated the prb111c1p .ed. to act against .the s to e sa1 . . h spouse d ho use their ng t t al or er, w na ur a· to natural reason, correctly achcor mg l1'fe cannot spring . th ug a new . h even o f tural causes e1t er forth because o na d f t " of time or of whatever e ec . · Jy in Our W have stated precise h e . f 1951 that spouses w o Allkoec��;�f �heir conjugal rig�ts, havef ma 1. · by virtue o the positive ob 1gat10n, their state the natural law proper. to The Cre� l d procreation. not to exc u he ·tied the propaga-. deed as w1 . l ator 111 h h an race precise y tion of t e um I exercise of the through the_ natuBra t to this positive I f nct10n. u · I'd sexua u 1. d the principle va 1 1 We app ie bl' aw, h do not o ige to to all others: t e� . f lfillment in­the extent that t eir \I hich valves n?table tt�7r�%e�h:\: it-are not m_se�:;:nt in its accomplish­self, nor in f m elsewhere and but come ro me 1,1t, h l islator did not intend towhich t e eg h he promulgated impose on men, w en the law. 7') 

Dr. Cunningham in Audience with Pope Paul VI

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Dr. Cunningham in Audience with Pope Paul VI

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