New York City, N.Y., Apr 13, 2011 / 23:08 pm
The chief Vatican representative to the United Nations said that pushing population control methods on underdeveloped countries offends human dignity and ultimately proves ineffective in eradicating global poverty.
At a U.N. gathering on April 12, Vatican observer Archbishop Francis Chullikatt condemned international efforts intended to stifle population growth – such as birth control distribution or sterilization – in poor nations worldwide.
“This distorted world-view regards the poor as a problem to be commoditized and managed as if they were inconsequential objects rather than as unique persons,” he said.
In his remarks to the Commission on Population and Development – which focused on the theme of “Fertility, reproductive health and development” – the archbishop called instead for global education and economic initiatives to help impoverished families “realize their full potential.”