SLIRELY your recent answer on the use of tampons ma. o nrouft from every point of view:
I have received a lot of letters about this none of them complimentary.
An Anglican reader. writing in a style hardly calculated to promote the cause of Christian unity. accused me. among other things. of infallibilism. When 1 took over this column I complained to the editor that the title "Here's the Answer" suggested a degree of authority that one poor clerical journalist could not claim to enjoy.
I withdrew my objection on the assurance that no intelligent per1(111 11.011111 he misled by a Ihing like Mat. My .in,wer of (Moller 25 did not go further then quote two authorities whims after a good deal of patient enoitiry. I took to he reliable on this subject, I did not suggest that these authorities should he :too:pled as infallible.
Other readers accused me of being pornographical for discussing the matter at all. In the circumstances in which the question vvas submitted in the first instance it was impossible to give anything but a public answer.
I believe in any case that there is no harm in discussing such matters publicly so long as it is clone in it reverent and restrained manner. I do not think many readers will accuse me of failing in this regard.
I he question itself and the
iiiinierous it-oolitic% I have had to make in following it up have reje:;:na(1,ercilnctellatanidlieremisisundeeerislet;sinturienaid; about the stibjese froth .11TIOne clergy and laity and since it is a issaller WhiCh esMcculis both physical ;sca rin the goodrl litilTtrait l health d it is ill publiieai•ring
My own is. I mem confess, an example of this ignorance and mistindersemdine. The views T quoted were indeed widely held fifteen to tweno years ago. bin it is clear from some highly reput
able sittliorilkn urN Ira cc kiiidlv written to me end from some others whom I have since consulted for earroboration. th3t further research hies shoo n ohjeetions. both mcdic31 and moral. against Limpons to he unfounded. In bringing this matter in light 1 can therefirie only admit In being guilty of a fe/ix
A medical ads ken to the Catholic Marriage Ady isory ("ouncil writes: "When tampores were first introduced the fear was espressed that their use might be medically or morally. harmful.
"Careful tests and their widespread use has subsequently, shoo n that when the manufacturer's instructions arc followed they are not harmful medically.
-The fear of morel harm ie likeV. SC %% atom foundation and ',A :15 based on an imperfect underetandire of the prehlemo.