'Population bomb' theories discredited, Vatican envoy tells UN

CWN - October 19, 2009

In a discussion on the results of the 1994 Cairo conference on population and development, the Vatican representative to the UN pointed out to other delegates that the gloomy predictions of population-control advocates had never been fulfilled. Archbishop Celestino Migliore reminded the General Assembly that the position taken by the Holy See during the Cairo conference-- emphasizing the need for sound economic-development policies, rather than draconian birth-control campaigns-- had been vindicated.

Rising population in the needy countries has not stopped economic growth, the archbishop observed, while a sharp contraction in population growth has now created a demographic crisis in affluent nations. After generations of exaggerated claims about the dangers of a "population explosion" and a resulting exhaustion of earth's resources, Archbishop Migliore said, those theories have been discredited. "Instead, by contrast, it is now sufficiently demonstrated that human persons are the greatest resource in the world with their brilliance and ability to work together. "

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  • Posted by: normnuke - Oct. 19, 2009 7:17 PM ET USA

    It has frequently and recently been pointed out by people who know about this stuff that small families are lagging, not leading, indicators of prosperity. Contra Hillary.

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