Zika virus: pope suggests contraceptive
Pope Francis suggested that women threatened with the Zika virus could use artificial contraception but not abort their foetus.
|||For a long time, the Catholic Church has been in a position where the laity has done one thing and the clergy has preached another.
It is widely accepted that the ban on artificial contraception is ignored by a substantial portion, but the formal position of the church remains that it is “intrinsically evil”, placed on the same level as abortion.
Even in places where Aids has been rampant, the church has strongly resisted calls for birth control to fight that disease.
This has inflicted terrible suffering on women in particular.
Now, with the Zika virus, women have been told not to get pregnant.
But it might not be easy for them to avoid intercourse with their husbands. If they practise the teaching of the church, how can they avoid pregnancy?
Pope Francis has opened a window of hope for them and shown, once again, that he is a humane leader of the church.
It's a loving thing to do and it will endear him to millions around the world.
It is also courageous. Conservative forces in the Church will be deeply unhappy with his comments and there will likely be a bitter battle over this in the coming months.
However, there is a phrase in the Catholic Church: “in pectore”, which means “in your heart”. It's used when they make appointments to the College of Cardinals that are not publicly announced for political or social reason. And there are many cardinals and priests who support contraception “in pectore”.
If the Pope believes Donald Trump is not a Christian, however, this view might have better been kept “in pectore”.
The Pope has said previously: “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?” I think the same applies to Mr Trump - it's not for the Pope to judge if he is a Christian or not.
It's acceptable for Francis to comment on political issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if, on reflection, he apologises for questioning an individual's faith.
* Ruth Gledhill is contributing editor for Christian Today
The Independent