ROME, Italy, 22 Jan 2015–Economic injustice, not traditional large families, is the real cause of poverty, Pope Francis said as he clarified his earlier figure of speech that Catholics
Pope Francis reports on his recent trips to Sri Lanka and the Philippines during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Jan. 21, 2015. (Photo: Roy Lagarde)
should not breed “like rabbits.”
The economic system, which removed the human person from its focus over money as its priority instead is to blame for world poverty and not families who have lots of children.
“I have heard it said that families with many children and high birth rates are among the causes of poverty. It seems to me a simplistic opinion,” he said during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Jan. 21 where he reviewed his recent trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
“I can say that the main cause of poverty is an economic system that has removed the person from the centre and replaced him with the god of money; an economic system that excludes and creates the throwaway culture in which we live,” Francis said.
During the news conference aboard the plane returning from a week-long Asian trip on Monday, the Pope restated Catholic Church’s teaching on artificial birth control, adding that it does not mean that Christians must make children in series beyond their means and without any sense of responsibility.
“It is necessary to protect families, which face various threats, so that they can bear witness to the beauty of the family in God’s plan,” Pope Francis said.
“We have become used to seeing people who have been discarded. This is the main reason for poverty, and not numerous families” he added. (CBCPNews)
