VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday that low birth rates in Canada are the result of the "pervasive effects of secularism" and asked the country's bishops to counter the trend by preaching the truth of Christ.
Benedict, who has spoken out several times in favor of large families, blamed Canada's low birth rate on social ills and moral ambiguities that result from secular ideology.
Heh. Not to be a zealous defender of the faith but I guess blaming the pope for Africa is the easy way out. I'd agree that standing firm against contraception in Africa is counterproductive (as they say you can't ask people who can't afford entertainment to abstain from the greatest biblical pleasure) but then again the Catholic church ain't that great of an influence in Africa to be the main defendant here.
cheers
By minority, at 27 May, 2006 23:23