Church on Sterilization

“Bishops Ban Sterilization Services at All Catholic-Affiliated Hospitals” (June 16) brought expected responses (letters, June 19) from readers who believe that too many people on the planet is the greatest evil we face. The Catholic Church believes that all should be open to the possibility of life, but it does not teach that one cannot limit family size using moral methods. This is a difficult teaching to a society that has little concept of self-sacrifice, believes in a culture of death, reduces the meaning of sexual union to recreation and holds that humans alone completely control their destiny.

Convenience has become a supreme value. The list of anti-life solutions to social problems is expanding.

My church teaches me that I should not only be open to life, but share my abundance with the poor, no matter how inconvenient that may be.

John P. Casey

Chino