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Pope Francis has reportedly likened having an abortion to hiring a “contract killer” to solve a problem.
“Interrupting a pregnancy is like eliminating someone”, the pope said as he addressed worshippers at Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Wednesday.
“Getting rid of a human being is like resorting to a contract killer to solve a problem,” he added, according to AFP. “Is it just to resort to a contract killer to solve a problem?”
Earlier this year, Pope Francis criticised the act of aborting a fetus which doctors say may develop severe health problems or birth defects.
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“I have heard that it’s fashionable, or at least usual, that when in the first months of pregnancy they do studies to see if the child is healthy or has something, the first offer is: let’s send it away, ” Pope Francis was quoted as saying.
“Last century, the whole world was scandalized by what the Nazis did to purify the race. Today, we do the same thing but with white gloves.”
Earlier this year, Francis also opposed a bill that would have legalized abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy in his home nation of Argentina.