Pope tells the Philippines: “Catholics should not breed like rabbits”

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Pope Francis Tells The Philippines ‘Catholics Should Not Breed Like Rabbits’ – www.plnmedia.com

In a statement meant for the world, but said shortly after leaving the Philippines, Pope Francis told Catholics that they should not breed like rabbits.

Speaking to journalists on his flight back from the Manila, the Pope recalled he once asked a mother of seven children who was pregnant with her eighth if she want to “leave behind seven young orphans”.

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She replied: “I trust God,” but the pontiff replied “But God gave us the means to be responsible – some think, and excuse the term, that to be a good Catholic, they must be like rabbits.”

The Pope also said “creating new life is part of the sacrament of marriage” – and strongly defended his predecessor Paul VI’s outlawing of artificial contraception for Catholics in 1968. 

But he added that following the Church’s teachings did not mean that “Christians should have children one after the other.” 

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He continued: “The key teaching of the Church is responsible parenthood. And how do we get that? By dialogue. There are marriage groups in the Church, experts and pastors,” Francis said.

In 2013, six months after becoming Pope, he urged the Church to drop its “obsession” with contraception, divorce, gays and abortion, in an interview signaling a dramatic shift in the Vatican’s tone.

The Argentine Pope has brought a series of fresh perspectives to the notoriously rigid Church since he took over, signaling a strong reformist instinct.

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He stressed at the time that the Church’s official position had not changed, but said it should “always keep in mind the individual.”