Church teaching intact—CBCP

POPE Francis was in no way changing the teachings of the Catholic Church on the unacceptability of artificial birth control when he expressed the view that “the evil of contraception was not of the same magnitude as the evil of abortion,” according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The Pope had expressed the view in a press conference after his recent trip to Cuba and Mexico, and was briefed on the Zika virus and the possibility that pregnant women afflicted with the disease would seek abortions.

CBCP president Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Soc Villegas said the Pope demonstrated sound reasoning. “The evil of stealing a few pesos cannot be compared to the evil of plunder,” Villegas said.

“The Pope was in no way changing Church teaching on the unacceptability of artificial means of contraception. [He] was very clear and uncompromising about the evil of abortion,” Villegas said in a statement.

Villegas said Pope Francis called attention to two important moral precepts: “First, there may be circumstances that invite a reevaluation of the judgment on artificial means of contraception; second, the prodding of conscience should always be heeded, as long as every effort is made to form conscience properly.”

“These positions are not in any way new.  They have always formed part of Catholic moral theology and belong to the treasury of the Church’s heritage in healthcare ethics,” Villegas said.

“Once more, the Pope has shown his sensitivity to complex human situations,” he added.

“And we, your bishops, reiterate Church teaching: No matter that the child in the womb may be afflicted with some infirmity or deformity, it can never be moral to bring a deliberate end to human life.  It is never for us to judge who should live or die,” he said.