Pope Indicates Support For Contraception During Zika Crisis

While heading back to the Vatican from Mexico, Pope Francis indicated that contraception may be permissible in light of recent concerns that the Zika virus can cause babies to be born with microcephaly.

He was responding to a question about whether abortion or contraception may be “lesser evils” when compared to the harms caused by Zika. The Pope held fast to Church orthodoxy on abortion, saying “Abortion isn’t a lesser evil, it is a crime.” He continued: “It is an absolute evil.”

But on the topic of birth control, he took a much more permissive line than what observers have come to expect from the Catholic Church. He referred approvingly to the decision of Pope Paul VI to allow the use of artificial contraception for nuns who suffered under frequent threats of rape.

Under extreme violence in Belgian Congo in the 1960s, nuns sought the right to use contraception to prevent pregnancies that were resulting from systematic rape. Because this use of contraception was seen as a form of self-defense, rather than a disruption of the natural function of sexual intercourse, Catholic thinkers have deemed it to be permissible.

“On the other hand, avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil,” Pope Francis said. “In certain cases, as in this one, such as the one I mentioned of Blessed Paul VI, it was clear.”

On a recent tour in Africa, the Pope avoided answering questions directly about the use of condoms to fight HIV.

Many have criticized the Church’s position on contraceptives, particularly as it relates to health crises. As of yet, it’s unclear if today’s developments reflect a deep sea change in the official doctrine on these matters.

Photo Credit: Tânia Rêgo