To the Editors of the Crimson:

Opponents of the birth control referendum seem to be of the opinion that the Catholic Church is opposed to birth control. Actually, the controversy involves not the principle, but the method permitted. To quote the editors of Fortune. "The means permitted by the Catholic Church are based upon what Pope Pius XI referred to (in his Encyclical on Christian Marriage, December 31, 1931) as the circumstances of time, known as the Safe Period method; and to explain how this works, dignitaries of the Church have written, or put their imprimatur upon pamphlets and books that are freely distributed through the mails to millions of people." Despite Catholic opposition to medical contraception, a public opinion survey made in 1940 indicated that 72 per cent of the Catholics in Massachusetts favored medical freedom in birth control. In an extensive survey made by Dr. Pearl of Johns Hopkins it was found that two-thirds as many Catholic as Protestant mothers in relation to total population, admitted the practice artificial contraception. Perhaps this will be of aid in clarifying the issues at stake in this question. William P. Sax '44