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?

[ummmm]

No.

I know a few that have opted out. They are happy with their nieces and nephews.

[jackthehat]

No.
It's a decision more people ought to make.

[gness]

Sp....the Catholic Church really doesn't care what happens to a child after it's born......just as long as they keep being born.

Imagine growing up knowing your parents didn't want any children but hey....they had to follow the teachings of a really odd religion...x

[ukanonymous]

I agree with jackthehat. Over population is a ticking time bomb.

[andy-hughes]

The obvious response is - if you don't play the game, don't try and make the rules.

The Pope has a vested interest in children being born to Catholics, hopefully it will stem the decline in Catholicism - which of course his church does absolutely nothing to reverse, living its medeaval ritualistic life supervised by emotionally retarded men and women.

I think children are a blessing, but they are not compulsory, and they are certainly not for everyone.

Thankfully the pressure from society - oh, when you will ne getting married then ... when will we hear the patter of tiny feet ... when are you making me a grannie ... is decreasing with each generation, and the feelings of guilt pressed onto individuals who simply don't want to have children are being lessened as well.

There are far too many people who bow to pressure to have children, without thinking through the responsibilities and the commitment involved, and if that is reduced, then that has to be a good thing for all concerned.

I don't take a lot of notice of what the Pope says, he has nothing to say that I would wish to hear.

[penelope2]

Got to keep the numbers up to protect their funding.

[anotheoldgit]

Well it is obvious that the Muslims don't have to take any notice of what the Pope thinks.

[petal54]

most of us have the choice,made up for by those who have 10.

[anotheoldgit]

gness

/// Imagine growing up knowing your parents didn't want any children but hey....they had to follow the teachings of a really odd religion...x ///

I wonder how many children grow up unaware that their parents didn't actually want them, because they were just an accident?

[andy-hughes]

AOG - "Well it is obvious that the Muslims don't have to take any notice of what the Pope thinks."

Why would they?

Or the Budhists, Jews, or any of the myriad other faiths, but for some reason, you feel the need to shoehorn Muslims into the debate - are you on commission?

[Prudie]

Isn't it a given that anyone who represents a body that disagrees with contraception is going to promote having children?
To me therefore the Pope's views are irrelevant on this subject.

[Mamyalynne]

It is no surprise that those words came from the Pope's mouth, whilst I agree that children are a joy - it is the right of any one of us to decide to remain childless without castigation.

[Old_Geezer]

No they are sacrificing the chance to pass on their genes to the benefit of the world and the human race. The selfish are those who have more surviving kids to create more humans in this overcrowded world than is compensated when they are their partner shuffle off this mortal coil.

The Pope is proving himself fallible and just a little hard of thinking. He seems unable to see the problem with a planet with limited resources and ability to fix itself after human activity, and increasing the population.

[anotheoldgit]

/// The statement, made in his general audience in St Peter’s Square, will be seen as especially controversial in Italy, which has recorded a steady drop in its birth rate for decades. ///

Italy may have recorded a steady drop in its birthrate, but surely that is balanced by the number of illegal immigrants flooding into their country.

[chaptazbru2]

I never wanted children, just not maternal enough, although I have absolutely nothing against children I hasten to add ! I think it's sad if people are made to feel 'selfish' because they don't want them.

[gness]

Well I suppose if one is unaware and loved it's not too bad to be an accident, AOG......and accidents can become wanted.....but knowing you're one of an unwanted family born only because your parents, who never, ever wanted children are Catholic isn't good......☺

[jno]

I hope all those people who think Britain will be under Sharia law in 10 years are planning to have more children to balance the larger Muslim families. Though in reality I suspect they are far too busy grumbling on AB to find time to breed.

[Mamyalynne]

There's always multi tasking jno.

[-Talbot-]

I wanted kids for selfish reasons.
I can now sit here happily tapping away whilst one of the little blighters makes me a cuppa.

A few words from the Dope

Stop being negative. "Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, 'I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,'" the pope said. "Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy."