Pope Urges Africa to Avoid Abortion, Contraception

Pope John Paul II today told Africans, often seen as tragically plagued by overpopulation, that they should ignore Western ideas of limiting families through contraception and abortion.

He said the church recognizes the problems of population growth faced by some African countries and referred to the rhythm method of birth control.

The Pope praised the high value Africans place on having children.

He said these traditions are threatened by “a powerful anti-life mentality,” a term the Roman Catholic Church uses to mean artificial birth control and abortion.

This mentality is widespread in developed countries and is being passed on to developing nations as if it were the compulsory path to development and progress, he said.