Pope: 'Abortions are like hiring a contract killer'

By | October 11, 2018

Pope Francis has been heavily criticised after he compared having an abortion to hiring a “contract killer”.

Addressing worshippers in the Vatican, he said terminating a pregnancy was the equivalent of getting a hitman to “take out a human life to solve a problem”.

The pontiff’s remarks – some of his strongest yet against abortion – were a departure from the prepared text for his homily, delivered during his weekly audience on St Peter’s Square.

“Interrupting a pregnancy is like eliminating someone,” the head of the Catholic Church said.

“Getting rid of a human being is like resorting to a contract killer to solve a problem.

“Is it just to resort to a contract killer to solve a problem?”

Pope Francis
Image: The pontiff made the remarks during his weekly address in the Vatican

Sarah Cartin, from the campaign group Christians for Choice, branded the Pope’s remarks “absurd”.

She told Sky News: “Pope Francis once again shows complete disdain for women by making absurd and inflammatory statements about abortion.

“As a Catholic, I question his priorities.”

Kerry Abel, chairwoman of the Abortion Rights campaign group, said the Pope’s comments were “disappointing and out of touch”.

She said: “Polling shows that even committed Catholics often ignore these comments and do what is best for their families and their lives.”

Elsewhere in his address, the Pope complained of a “depreciation of human life” as he cited wars, exploitation and what he called a culture of wastefulness, as well as abortion.

He asked: “How can an act that suppresses innocent life be therapeutic, civil or even human?”

More from Abortion

Earlier this year, the pontiff opposed a bill in his native Argentina that would have legalised abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.

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Thousands of Argentine Catholics reportedly renounced their membership of the church to protest against his opposition to the bill.

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