Pope Francis said Friday that mothers
must not be put in a position in which they have to choose
between their jobs or their children at the 'States General'
conference in Rome on reversing the decline in the birth rate
here.
The falling birth rate must be tackled with a "long-term
vision", the Argentine pontiff said'.
"Effective policies and courageous, concrete and long-term
decisions are urgently needed at the institutional level," the
pope said.
"There is a need for greater commitment by all governments, so
that the younger generations are put in the condition to be able
to realize their legitimate dreams. "That is why it is necessary
to put a mother in the condition of not having to choose between
work and childcare; and to free many young couples from the
weight of job insecurity and the impossibility of buying a
house".
The pope also took a swipe at the contraceptives industry.
"A demographer told me that now the investments that generate
the most revenue are in arms production and contraceptives," he
said.
"One destroys life, the other prevents life.
"It's bad that these are the investments that generate the most
income".
On Thursday Family and Equal Opportunities Minister Eugenia
Roccella was forced her to abandon her speech at the same
conference due to a protest by mostly female high-school
pro-choice protesters.
The Italian government recently passed a measure to allow
pro-life activists access to abortion clinics.
President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed
solidarity for Roccella afterwards.
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