Philippine bishops emphasize: Pope has not changed Catholic teaching
September 25, 2013
Leading Philippine bishops emphasized that Pope Francis has not changed Catholic teaching on abortion, contraception, and homosexuality, Agence France-Presse reported.
In a recently published interview, Pope Francis said that the proclamation of Jesus Christ and catechesis should precede the preaching of moral imperatives related to marriage and family life.
“He is not saying that what the Church deemed before as wrong is now right,” said Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, president of the nation’s episcopal conference. “He is merely telling us to be more compassionate.”
“He won’t be saying contraceptives, and even abortion, are now OK,” he continued. “No! Do not expect that to happen.”
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, the episcopal conference’s vice president, added that the Pope “did not rebuff the strong opposition to contraception, abortion or homosexual marriage. He just set it on proper grounding.”
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