Pope decries abortion; sun expected to rise in east

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Jan 13, 2014

Which is more pathetic: the suggestion that it’s big news that Pope Francis condemned abortion? Or the suggestion that he denounced abortion in order to satisfy conservative Catholic critics? The former implies—absurdly—that we previously weren’t sure where the Holy Father stood on the killing of unborn children. The latter implies—just as absurdly—that he wouldn’t make a statement denouncing the killing unless disgruntled conservatives were prodding him.

In the same speech, the Pope called for an end to the civil war in Syria. Was that a gesture toward conservatives, or liberals, or non-interventionists, or some other interest group? Or maybe, just maybe, the Pope is opposed to the shedding of innocent blood.

Please, for pity's sake, don't say that Pope Francis told Catholics not to talk about abortion. Nonsense! He once said that we shouldn't talk only about abortion. He hadn't spoken on the issue previously himself, but any intelligent observer knew that he would speak out eventually, and knew what he would say.