Pope Francis Says Contraception May Be Justified Amid Zika Virus

By Francis X. Rocca
The Australian
February 19, 2016

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&mode=premium&dest=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/pope-francis-says-contraception-may-be-justified-amid-zika-virus/news-story/68cbea1f56b7baf4cf027dab61449c99&memtype=anonymous

Pope Francis said the use of contraception could be justified in regions hit by the Zika virus, a stance that could reignite a debate over the church’s prohibition of the use of condoms to stop the spread of the AIDS virus.

The Pope also criticised Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as “not Christian” for his immigration stance, and broke with his predecessors by suggesting that Catholic politicians are free to vote for same-sex marriage and civil unions.

The pope spoke during an overnight flight Wednesday back to Rome following an intense, six-day trip to Cuba and Mexico that saw him hold a historic meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, blast corruption and exploitation of the poor and defend the plight of immigrants.