CARDINAL HEENAN OF WESTMINSTER ARRIVING; CARDINAL SHEEHAN OF BALTIMORE; CARDINAL OTTAVIANI.




Initials GM/V/BHH/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: POPE PAUL'S BIRTH CONTROL COMMISSION OF CARDINALS AND BISHOPS TODAY (MONDAY) BEGAN A WEEK OF FINAL DISCUSSIONS IN STRICT PRIVACY TO DETERMINE THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH'S ATTITUDE TOWARD BIRTH CONTROL. THE COMMISSION, FLANKED BY MORE THAN 30 EXPERTS, NET IN THE MAIN HALL OF THE SPANISH COLLEGE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ROME.

THERE HAS BEEN INTENSE SPECULATION AS TO WHETHER THE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF CARDINAL OTTAVIANI, WILL ADVISE ANY RELAXATION ON THE CHURCH'S BAN ON CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS. AT PRESENT, ALL ARTIFICIAL METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION AS BANNED BY THE CHURCH, AND ONLY THE "SAFE PERIOD" OR "RHYTHM METHOD" IS ALLOWED.