Pope Francis has suggested women threatened with the Zika virus could use artificial contraception, saying “avoiding pregnancy is not anabsolute evil” in light of the global epidemic.
The pope unequivocally rejected abortion as a response to the crisis in remarks Wednesday as he flew home after a five-day trip to Mexico.
But he drew a parallel to a decision byPope Paul VI in the 1960s to approve giving nuns in Belgian Congoartificial contraception to prevent pregnancies becausethey were being systematically raped.
Abortion “isan evil in and of itself, but it is not a religiousevil at its root, no?
It’s a human evil,” Francis told reporters.
“On the other hand, avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil.
In certain cases, as in this one, such as the one I mentioned of Blessed Paul VI, it was clear.”
The pope unequivocally rejected abortion as a response to the crisis in remarks Wednesday as he flew home after a five-day trip to Mexico.
But he drew a parallel to a decision byPope Paul VI in the 1960s to approve giving nuns in Belgian Congoartificial contraception to prevent pregnancies becausethey were being systematically raped.
Abortion “isan evil in and of itself, but it is not a religiousevil at its root, no?
It’s a human evil,” Francis told reporters.
“On the other hand, avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil.
In certain cases, as in this one, such as the one I mentioned of Blessed Paul VI, it was clear.”
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