THE POPULATION CONFERENCE . . . MULTIPLYING PROBLEMS

A consensus over a policy document at the population conference fell apart today with the Vatican's insisting the statement was pro-abortion. Seven countries followed the Vatican in condemning it, despite the fact that its wording had been agreed to in a Tuesday consensus aimed at pleasing conservative critics. Some countries are now losing patience with the Pope's diehard stance, which has made allies of the Vatican and Islamic fundamentalists. Said a delegate from Ghana: "I'm a Catholic, but I think the Vatican is behaving just like the proverbial ostrich."