BY A STAFF REPORTER
'CARDINAL HEENAN'S interview with David Frost on television last
Friday was given prominence in the world's Press and other news media.
In parts of America television programmes were interrupted to give reports of what the Cardinal had said. Most British national papers carried stories of the interview.
Sonic confusion was caused by abbreviated reporting of the Cardinal's statement about conscience.
He was asked by Mr. Frost: "In other words, if the Catholic couple take the decision on serious grounds of conscience to use a contraceptive then the Church will not interfere?"
Cardinal Heenan replied: "The teaching of the Church is very clear. Every man is bound to follow his conscience. This is true even if his conscience is in error. This is a basic teaching of the Church that every man — the Pope, you and 1 — everyone must follow his conscience.
"Now it is the duty of a Catholic to inform his conscience," he continued, "but it could happen easily, particularly after this long period of dispute and doubt, that a couple might say conscientiously: 'I am quite sure that this is the right thing for me to do'.
'If it can be said conscientiously: 'This is what I must do', then, of course, they must follow their conscience. There is no dispute about this."
The Cardinal's interview appears to have been well received by most Catholics. One
priest said: "The weight of his argument on conscience has relieved many priests in this diocese."
Editorial and extracts from the TV interview—P.4; Norman St. John-Stevas—P.5; H. R. F. Keating—P.7.