Reviewed:
This story deals with the problem with the role of the Catholic Church with the diaspora caused by a sentient invader of the known nebula, the Milky Way, that consumes all life on a planet ... And that includes Earth. However the interplanetory Confederation refuses to permit Religious, and criminal, organisations to be evacuated. The Cosca is a Mafiosa group who find themselves capable of competing with the Confeds by taking with them Catholics with the approval of the Vatican and the Pope, and the large and powerful criminal organisation. As the foundation of the expansion of Humanity means that all women of childbearing age must have children, i.e. from 14 to menopause,and all should be bred by sponsors, husbands, even priests the pope decrees all priests must marry, and all families must have as many wives as dictated by the CAP Test done upon reaching fourteen, and a score higher than 6.5.
Are you with me so far? Good!
So, basically the Ethics of the two opposing policies are A/ the classification of women as slaves with the power of life and death held by their Masters. or B/ the 'sanctity' of the women being wives, with all the rights as we know them in the civilised world today. Both requiring the women to bear children.