MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Pope Francis issued his strongest defense yet of church teaching opposing artificial contraception on Friday, using a rally in Asia's largest Catholic nation to urge families to be "sanctuaries of respect for life."
Francis also denounced the corruption that has plagued the Philippines for decades and urged officials to instead work to end its "scandalous" poverty and social inequalities during his first full day in Manila, where he received a rock star's welcome at every turn.
Police said another 86,000 gathered outside one of Manila's biggest sports arenas, capacity 20,000, where Francis held his first encounter with the Filipino masses: a meeting with families. There, he firmly upheld church teaching opposing artificial contraception and endeared himself to the crowd with off-the-cuff jokes and even a well-intentioned attempt at sign language.
"Be sanctuaries of respect for life, proclaiming the sacredness of every human life from conception to natural death," Francis exhorted the crowd. "What a gift this would be to society if every Christian family lived fully its noble vocation."
Francis also urged families to be on guard against what he called "ideological colonization," an apparent reference to gay marriage, which isn't legal in the Philippines. The church opposes gay marriage, holding that marriage is only between man and wife.
The above, By Associated Press January 16, 2015
Terrific, the pope goes to one the poorest countries in the world, a place where there is little health care and the citizens struggle to make it day-to-day. A country where I am sure many go to bed hungry. And, the pope is saying, if you're going to have sex you mustn't use any form of artificial contraception. No, just continue to have children who you can't care for. God and I will be happy.
Our local talk-show host, Tony Macrini, said, If the pope doesn't want people to laugh at him, he should stop wearing a dress and beanie.......
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