Ideological Crackup on the Road to Cairo? : Vatican and allies take aim at U.N. population conference

Controversy marks the International Conference on Population and Development even before it convenes in Cairo next Monday to develop global strategies to stabilize population growth. The Vatican, offended by proposed programs for contraceptives and abortion on the conference agenda, is waging a campaign against those population-control measures. In the process it has found some Islamic allies. Crusading against promiscuity and birth control, the Vatican has complained that Vice President Al Gore, who will head the U.S. delegation in Cairo, is misrepresenting the conference’s intentions on abortion.

The Vatican, its Islamic allies, liberal Catholics, moderate Muslims, the Clinton Administration and the organizers of the U.N. conference appear to be headed for a collision on the road to Cairo.

That is unfortunate, because a diplomatic confrontation could deter the conference from its goal of formulating a 20-year program to stabilize world population at 7.27 billion by the year 2050.

While the Catholic and Muslim objections are no doubt sincere, it is obvious to any reasonable person that something must be done or population growth will exceed the capacity of the world to feed, clothe and house its people--who will number 11.5 billion by 2150 if present trends continue.

THE BIG PICTURE: The population conference is not about denigrating family, church or religion. It is not about coercive programs or abortions. The conference’s draft plan focuses in large part on improving the economic and social status of women.

This is to be achieved by increasing literacy and improving health care for children and by expanding access to birth control and family planning for those who want it.

The plan also explicitly advocates the right of women to “safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of fertility regulation of their choice,” including “pregnancy termination” as part of women’s reproductive health services.

The Vatican’s criticism of the draft plan stems from legitimate and deeply held views on abortion shared by many, but not all, Roman Catholics. Ironically, one of the strongest recent statements calling for a worldwide program to curb population growth came from the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. This group of academics appointed by the Pope warned of “unresolvable problems” for future generations and recommended a worldwide average of two children per couple, compared to the current overall rate of 3.4.

Among the Vatican’s critics is the U.S.-based Catholics for a Free Choice. More than 3,200 U.S. Catholics and 55 organizations have signed a full-page newspaper advertisement challenging the Vatican stance against contraception.

MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE: Similarly, while the Vatican’s Islamic allies--including the Muslim World League, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Muslim World Congress--also object to the draft plan, they differ somewhat on the points of contention.

Many Muslims also oppose abortion on moral grounds. Unlike the Catholic Church, however, Islam has a tolerance for birth control, although permanent sterilization is forbidden except to protect the mother’s health. Thus countries such as Egypt and Iran, which forbid abortions, have been among the forerunners in curbing population growth through family planning programs.

At Cairo, the proposed global action plan will be subject to change, and that is to be expected. What is expected to also emerge from the conference are substantive voluntary strategies that nations can adapt to their own religious and cultural norms. Given the severe problems unrestrained population growth could pose for the world, it seems unwise to preclude discussion of any reasonable strategy.