Using contraception to fight poverty is the result of 'unbridled capitalism,' archbishop warns

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Comments: 5

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct 22, 2009 / 04:08 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Juan Ruben Martinez of Posadas in northern Argentina remarked this week that groups which seek to solve the issue of poverty by the use of contraception reflect a “sort of ‘selfish and unbridled capitalism’” that does not address the crux of the problem.

According to the AICA news agency, Archbishop Martinez warned that such groups “control large media outlets and denigrate the family. He added, that “amazingly, these groups absurdly portray themselves as ‘progressive’ and ‘modern,’ when in reality they reflect the worst of capitalism.”

This “contradiction and hypocrisy of our present-day culture” is in addition to the pressure from many lawmakers and legislatures that support anti-life laws and pro-abortion positions that harm the family.

The archbishop went on to note that supporters of such ideas portray their positions as “progressive” when in reality “they completely go against what is ‘in the heart of our people’.”

He called on Argentineans to “pray for motherhood, knowing that it is a marvelous gift from God, and for the value of the family. For fathers and mothers, that they might assume their role, and for children who are a sign of hope.”

“Even though there are groups that attack the value of the family, the family is a great ‘value’ that is in the hearts of our people,” he added.

Comments: 5

Subscriber comments:

Published by: John Siple
Santa Rosa 11/30/2009 04:27 PM EST

The marital union is truly blessed when each parent is responsible to the Holy Spirit within them. My wife feared natural family planning, I was not always responsible. May dialog and faith keep marriages alive and vital to our ways of living!

Published by: Augur
Otsego, New York 11/24/2009 09:14 AM EST

I am in favor of McDonald (see below). Non-abortive contraception is a must in all coutries around the globe to avoid over population and save resources for generations to come. Families using non-abortive contraception to avoid severe poverty and maintain a healthy family are not capitalistic sinners but smart parents who understand the value of family and our planets limited resources.

Published by: Mark
Helena, Montana 10/27/2009 01:44 AM EST

However, in this sense capitalism is right - children are quite expensive and by reducing the number of children (through birth control), women can have better control of their health (especially in poorer areas such as northern Argentina), their economic status, and the success of their offspring. How can a family succeed if they are trying to feed 4-6 children? Secondly, how does it harm the family? If you look at the number of children still being born in Argentina (via the UN demographic yearbook), you can hardly say that the 'family' is being threatened. It is just shrinking. Third, if Argentina wasn't so backwards about access to safe, reliable contraception, then the need for abortions would be drastically reduced.

Published by: mcdonald
San Francisco CA 10/22/2009 11:40 PM EST

I am a pro-life parent of two and believe that non-abortive contraception is necessary to foster healthy families and to alieviate poverty. Too many children mean starvation, disease, and early death. Non-abortive family planning is a win-win situation allowing motherhood and fatherhood in a situation where family size represents the emotional and financial resources of the family. I believe God wants us to use our reason to help others, and use of non-abortive contraception to help families and nations is the right thing to do.

Published by: Dan in Calgary
Calgary Alberta Canada 10/22/2009 10:47 PM EST

Archbishop Martinez needs to understand that the forces of capitalism are not alone in advocating against child-bearing! Most leftist anti-poverty groups stress abortion and birth control to their poverty-stricken beneficiaries, even as they distribute aid donated by Catholics! And most so-called "Green" environmental groups include a plank in their policy platforms that advocate abortion as a means of reducing the human population and its stress on the environment. Dan in Calgary

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