Pope Francis said Catholics don’t have to breed “like rabbits” and should instead practice “responsible parenting.” Speaking during his flight from the Philippines onboard the Italy-bound Philippine Airlines chartered plane, the Pontiff said there are plenty of church-approved ways to regulate births. He also defended the 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, which enshrined the church’s opposition to artificial birth control.
Former health secretary Esperanza Cabral yesterday agreed with the pronouncement of Pope Francis that Catholics do not have to breed “like rabbits.” Meanwhile, Reps. Lito Atienza of Buhay party-list and Amado Bagatsing of said the pope’s call has long been the Church’s position on family planning. For her part, Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmerenciana de Jesus, said the Pope’s statement should be taken in the context of the state’s having the primary obligation of ensuring the best quality of life for families.
