I SHARE some of the pain, concerning loss of moral direction shown by some members of society, expressed by Fr Bernard McGrath (CL August 4).
However, I cannot endorse the idea that a declining human population of some nations (more coffins than cradles) is necessarily a crisis.
The reality is as the human species grows more numerous there is increasing extinction of the other wondrous beings we share our planet with.
Are we to believe that our Creator intended this?
There is a limit to what this earth can support, and there are examples of islands and even whole nations, such as ancient Egypt, where societies collapsed for want of adequate means to survive.
We who profess the Catholic Faith must not only work to increase respect for human life but also to integrate our place in the wonderful diversity of life created by our God. Destruction of ever more habitat of other creatures to support an ever-increasing human population can only lead to disaster in the end.
In order for our pleas for respect for human life to be heard beyond our own faith communities we must also show that we value and respect the entirety of living creation.
Mike Foale
Maleny, Qld
