Rick Santorum on the Pope’s “be like rabbits” quote
by Carder
Sometimes [it is] very difficult to listen to the Pope and some of the things he says off the cuff, and this is one of them….
When he speaks as the leader of the Catholic Church, I’ll certainly pay attention.
But when he speaks in interviews, he’s giving his own opinions, which I certainly will listen to, but from my perspective, that doesn’t reflect the idea that people shouldn’t be fruitful and multiply, and that people should be open to life as something that is a core value of the faith and of the Catholic Church.
~ Former Senator Rick Santorum (pictured with his special needs daughter, Isabella) on Pope Francis’ recent comment about how good Catholics do not have to “be like rabbits” quote, via Newsmax, January 21
Jan.23, 2015 6:00 am |
The Church |
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
By now one should know one has to read the whole comment by the Pope and not just the reporting of a ‘partial’ truth. To make a ‘misunderstanding’ on purpose is a LARGE part of a lie.
I Love babies and large families. Then there is meaningless sex vs. being aware that God is there with a soul for that child of His at that child’s conception. Awesome!!!
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/01/21/1415242/filipino-bishop-popes-rabbit-remark-misunderstood
Filipino bishop: Pope’s ‘rabbit’ remark misunderstood
Below is a verbatim translation of the pope’s in-flight interview aboard the papal plane traveling from Manila to Rome on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015.
“I think the number of three children per family that you mentioned – it makes me suffer- I think it is the number experts say is important to keep the population going. Three per couple. When this decreases, the other extreme happens, like what is happening in Italy. I have heard, I do not know if it is true, that in 2024 there will be no money to pay pensioners because of the fall in population. Therefore, the key word, to give you an answer, and the one the Church uses all the time, and I do too, is responsible parenthood. How do we do this? With dialogue. Each person with his pastor seeks how to do carry out a responsible parenthood.”
“That example I mentioned shortly before about that woman who was expecting her eighth child and already had seven who were born with caesareans. That is a an irresponsibility That woman might say ‘no, I trust in God.’ But, look, God gives you means to be responsible. Some think that — excuse the language — that in order to be good Catholics, we have to be like rabbits. No. Responsible parenthood. This is clear and that is why in the Church there are marriage groups, there are experts in this matter, there are pastors, one can search; and I know so many ways that are licit and that have helped this. You did well to ask me this. ”
“Another curious thing in relation to this is that for the most poor people, a child is a treasure. It is true that you have to be prudent here too, but for them a child is a treasure. Some would say ‘God knows how to help me’ and perhaps some of them are not prudent, this is true. Responsible paternity, but let us also look at the generosity of that father and mother who see a treasure in every child.”
Too bad Rick relied on what the media reported about the pope’s comments, as opposed to what the Pope ACTUALLY said (and Rick really should know better, given the way his words have been twisted and misreported by the media in the past). I wrote a blog post about this last night that explains why the media was so off base (as are the people who are taking offense to his comments): http://a-star-of-hope.blogspot.com/2015/01/theres-no-reason-to-feel-offended-by.html
Our dispute is with the secular media, who misrepresent our universal pastor by taking bites out of context.
“That woman might say ‘no, I trust in God.’ But, look, God gives you means to be responsible – ”
Exactly. I agree with the pope. This is why there is nothing wrong with non-abortifacient birth control.
At least Santorum is not making demonstrably false claims about papal speeches. That puts him ahead of some self-styled Catholic pro-life leaders.
I agree with LisaC…wth is going on?
I know it is a really high bar, but Francis is no JPII
Sydney, you don’t agree with the Pope. He was quite clear during the course of the interview that contraception is not a morally acceptable choice for Catholics. Please don’t misinterpret his words.
Here is the full transcript of the interview: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-of-popes-in-flight-interview-from-manila-to-rome-84716/
He said the following before the excerpt that you quoted:
“What I want to say about Paul VI is that it is true that openness to life is the condition of the sacrament of matrimony. A man cannot give the sacrament to the woman, and the woman give it to him, if they are not in agreement on this point to be open to life.”
In Catholic doctrine, open to life means (among other things) no contraception.
JoAnna, in your opinion, what ‘means’ was Pope Francis referring to then?
Truthseeker – he was, of course, referring to natural family planning, which is mentioned in “Humanae Vitae” (the encyclical the pope was referencing when he spoke of responsible parenthood). other then complete abstinence, it is the only moral means by which Catholics can avoid pregnancy.
“wth is going on?”
I hear you. I’m justgonna take my bubble baths and eat my chocolate and try to relax
Pope Francis isn’t saying anything that hasn’t been said before, he’s just saying it DIFFERENTLY. The misunderstanding (sometimes I think the misunderstanding is deliberate and sometimes I think it might be a failure on the part of translators) is that somehow Pope Francis is doing and saying things that are different from JPII or Pope Benedict XVI or any other pope. He’s not. He’s just saying it DIFFERENTLY. Pope Benedict XVI didn’t say anything contrary to JPII’s words, but people acted like somehow he was doing something different. Pope Francis has not said anything counter to Catholic doctrine. The media is good at taking bits and pieces and sensationalizing them, rather than presenting what he actually said.
Praxedes, I think you came up with a great idea!
“That example I mentioned shortly before about that woman who was expecting her eighth child and already had seven who were born with caesareans. That is a an irresponsibility That woman might say ‘no, I trust in God.’ But, look, God gives you means to be responsible.”
I also wondered if he was giving tacit approval to birth control.
When I was growing up, every Catholic family I knew had a lot of children. These days, I can’t tell any difference in the size of Catholic and non-Catholic families. What happened?
Claire – technically birth control is acceptable in Catholic teaching; however, the only moral methods of birth control are NFP or total abstinence. It’s only contraception that is considered an intrinsic evil.
Part of the reason that many Catholics no longer have large families is that so many have succumbed to the culture. Sadly, only an estimated 4% of Catholic couples choose to use NFP to avoid pregnancy (although it’s difficult to get correct numbers).
Part of it is that many advances in NFP have been made over the past 40 years, and it’s just as effective as contraception. Catholics are choosing to have fewer children because in this economy it’s very difficult to make it on one income (and if you have two incomes you have to factor in daycare expenses, which become prohibitive after a certain number of children).
JoAnna, thank you for that insight. Since I am not of the Catholic faith, I was not aware of all those things.