Pope Francis has suggested women threatened with the Zika virus could use artificial contraception, saying “avoiding pregnancy is not anabsolute evil” in light of the global epidemic.<br />The pope unequivocally rejected abortion as a response to the crisis in remarks Wednesday as he flew home after a five-day trip to Mexico.<br />But he drew a parallel to a decision byPope Paul VI in the 1960s to approve giving nuns in Belgian Congoartificial contraception to prevent pregnancies becausethey were being systematically raped.<br />Abortion “isan evil in and of itself, but it is not a religiousevil at its root, no?<br />It’s a human evil,” Francis told reporters.<br />“On the other hand, avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil.<br />In certain cases, as in this one, such as the one I mentioned of Blessed Paul VI, it was clear.”
