Pope Francis likens abortion to hiring a 'contract killer'
'Interrupting a pregnancy is like eliminating someone,' he told worshipers in the Vatican
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pope Francis has compared the abortion procedure to hiring a contract killer to commit murder on one's behalf.
The Argentinian pontiff made the remarks in an address to worshippers in the Vatican on Wednesday, adding that it was wrong to take a human life, no matter how small.
"Getting rid of a human being is like resorting to a contract killer to solve a problem," the sovereign told the congregation gathered on Saint Peter's Square, in one of his harshest criticisms of abortion. "Is it just to resort to a contract killer to solve a problem?"
He added: “How can an act that suppresses an innocent and helpless life as it blossoms be therapeutic, civil or, simply, humane?”
The Pope complained that abortion, wars and a culture of wastefulness were all contributing to "depreciation of human life" as he departed from the prepared text for his weekly sermon.
In his speech he also urged parents not to reject their sick children when they received “hasty advice" to terminate the pregnancy.
He instead advised communities to offer “real closeness, real solidarity, to face reality overcoming understandable fears.”
Even though the leader of the Catholic Church is considered more liberal than his predecessors, he refuses to stray from the church’s teachings on family planning and sex.
The Pope’s claims come months after he opposed a bill that would have legalised abortion in Argentina, leading to thousands of Argentinian Catholics to renounce the church.
Campaigners have been fighting to ensure safe access to abortion amid a growing campaign from far-right politicians and anti-abortion groups.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments