Pope says Catholics should not breed ‘like rabbits’
January 20, 2015 8:56am
(Updated 12:04 p.m.) Pope Francis appealed Monday for responsible parenting and said that good Catholics should not have to breed "like rabbits."

The leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics said he defends the Church's teaching against artificial contraception but claimed that didn't mean "Christians should have children one after the other."
 
He told journalists on his flight back from his visit to the Philippines that he once asked a mother of seven children -- all born through caesarian section -- who was pregnant with her eighth if she wanted to "leave behind seven young orphans."
 
"She said, 'I trust in God.' But God gave us the means to be responsible," the Pope said. "Some think, and excuse the term, that to be good Catholics, they must be like rabbits." 
 
Francis said creating new life was "part of the sacrament of marriage" and in Manila had strongly defended his predecessor Paul VI's outlawing of artificial contraception for Catholics in 1968.
 
"Paul VI was worried by the growth of neo-Malthusianism" (which advocates restricting the number of children the poor can have) which tried "put a control on humanity... he was a prophet," he said.
 
"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," he added.

'Protect your families'

In his encounter with Filipino families at SM Mall of Asia Arena last Friday, Pope Francis called on Filipinos to protect the institution of the family "from conception to natural death" — a statement seen as a reaffirmation of the Church's stand against artificial birth control, a divisive issue that came at the forefront with the passage of the Reproductive Health Law.

"Every threat to the family is a threat to society itself," the Pope said in his speech. "So protect your families. Protect your families. See in them the country's greatest treasure and nourish them always by prayer and grace of the sacraments.

Pope Francis has said that the issue on birth control is "not that of changing doctrine," referring mostly to the encyclical Humanae Vitae by Paul VI, which he said "proved prophetic."

During Friday's encounter, the Pope reiterated this, saying Paul VI — who he declared blessed last year — "had the strength to defend openness to life."

He added: "He knew the difficulties that families experience, and that's why in his encyclical, he expressed compassion for particular cases... But he went further. He went to the people's beyond. He saw the lack and the problem it could cause families in the future."

Humanae Vitae

In his encyclical, "Humanae Vitae" (Of Human Life), issued in July 1968, Blessed Paul VI — the first pope to visit the Philippines — addressed the issues surrounding union and procreation.

Among the points he raised then were the Church's right to teach, the inseparable connection between union and procreation, and responsible parenthood.

Under "Doctrinal Principles," he included an item on the "consequences of artificial methods," which included:

-- marital infidelity,
-- general lowering of moral standards, and
-- men forgetting "the reverence due to a woman".

He added: "Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone."

RH Law

In the Philippines, the RH Law, which was first introduced in Congress 16 years ago, was signed by President Benigno Aquino III in December 2012. It seeks to provide improved public accessed to natural and artificial family planning options, better maternal care, and youth education.

The Catholic Church has strongly opposed the law, which make resources available to parents in accordance to their personal and religious convictions.

Three months after its passage, the Supreme Court issued a 120-day status quo ante order against the law's implementation with a 10-5 vote.

It was extended indefinitely in July 2013, with a vote of 8-7.

In April 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law, except for parts of Section 7, 17, and 23, and some provisions in its implementing rules. Both the Church and pro-RH sectors lauded the decision, while labeled an "incomplete victory." — Agence France-Presse with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News

Go to comments



We welcome healthy discussions and friendly debate! Please click Flag to alert us of a comment that may be abusive or threatening. Read our full comment policy here.
Comments Powered by Disqus