Are Couples Who Choose Not To Have Children 'selfish'

[sp1814]

According to the Pope, they are:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/11/pope-francis-the-choice-to-not-have-children-is-selfish

I know two couples who have elected not to have kids, not out of selfishness - they just don't have any paternal/maternal feelings.

Do you agree with Pope Frankie?

[Canary42]

No surprise that the King of the Kiddy Fiddlers wants the maximum number of children.

[gness]

Of course they won't, Fender......the Vatican prefers the poor to be, as you say, on their knees....waiting for a pathetic little handout...not in control and thinking for themselves...and it sickens me....x

[-Talbot-]

Sorry sp (but threads do digress) it is going to get worse, svejk.

http://www.prb.org/images09/worldpopdistrib.gif

[FrogNog]

Dagnabbit! For a moment there I thought we had a progressive pope. No such fuggin luck.
I abhor religion.

[gness]

Me too, Frog.....all religions......but don't hold your breath for a progressive Pope.....that would mean a loss of power over the masses.....and less money in their coffers....and worse...well we've been there haven't we.... :-(

[FrogNog]

Well yeah Gness, but I can dream.

[gness]

Me too, Frog.....I see the youngsters in my family rejecting Catholicism....and I sometimes play...Imagine...and I think...Hmmm...one day maybe...♥

[mikey4444]

I have been busy all day with my brother, whose wife had a stroke last night, so I haven't read all the replies on this post but ::::

No, of course we are not being "selfish" There is very little less edifying than being lectured by a celibate Catholic big-wig about family matters ! As far as I can see, he can b****r off !

[Svejk]

Well, I did say figures I'd read but seeing as you're determined to argue. Don't you think it likely that the European % increased between 1900 and 1960 as we were the first to have access to modern medicine & sufficient food.
If we accept the population of Europe at 450 million, that would make it 6.4% of the world's 7 billion.
Of course, these figures take into account our recent enrichment and African etc. derichment.
If it were happening anywhere else in the world some people would call it genocide.

[gness]

Rant aside, Mikey....☺....how is your brother's wife....was it a bad stroke?
Hope not....take care....x

[mikey4444]

Thanks for enquiring Gness ! She is now in the Neurology Dept. of the Heath Hospital in Cardiff. She had a bleed, rather than a clot, and she can talk, eat, etc OK. She can't move her right arm, although she has full sensation in it. Her face hasn't dropped and she appears to have full control of her bodily functions.

As strokes go, this one looks to be not too bad. My brother and his daughter, who is a nurse, acted very quickly last night and the Ambulance arrived almost immediately. We have had strokes in our family over the years and this one isn't anything like as serious as most of them. So we are reasonably confident that she will be OK, in the medium term at least.

But its been a strain at the Hospital, as you might imagine. My brother looks so bewildered by everything, but he has two good, strong daughters to support him. There has been a considerable "gathering of the Clans", which has been somewhat of a strain for the nursing staff...."only two people to the bed please" !

Once again, many thanks for your concern.

[pixie373]

Best wishes to her, Mikey xx. Sorry sp x

[mikey4444]

Thanks pixie !

[-Talbot-]

Stop bleating, svejk. You were way of with your figures, it happens ...it's not the end of the world.

[TWR]

Mikey, you have lot on your mind, hope all goes well.

[bednobs]

maybe some people don't have kids for selfish reasons, but selfish isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[gness]

'Scuse, Sp.....

Thanks, Mikey...there are strokes and strokes aren't there....this one looks very like the one my friend had two years ago....scared the living daylights out of her but speed, as you seem to have had, and good after care is what you need. My friend is annoyingly fit and healthy now!
I know what you mean about the clan gathering....when my uncle was run over by a taxi I recall the nurse saying.....Oh I hate when these Irish families have accidents.....☺
All the best....x

[benhilton]

Pope Francis said many other things in his address . Here is the link to the full text of what he said , taken from the Vatican website :
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150211_udienza-generale.html