Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt urges Pope to ditch contraception ban
2 min read
Penny Mordaunt has called on the Pope to ditch the Catholic Church’s opposition to contraception in order to protect young women from unwanted pregnancies.
According to the Telegraph, the International Development Secretary has urged the Vatican to change its stance at a meeting in Rome last week with Archbishops Vicenzo Paglia and Paul Gallagher.
The senior Tory, who is also Women and Equalities Minister, told the Pope’s aides greater access to birth control would help to end "the tragedy of 800 girls and women unnecessarily losing their lives every day through pregnancy or childbirth complications".
Ms Mordaunt told the Daily Telegraph: "Everyone deserves the right to a safe childhood, to an education and to a life without fear. For many girls this is not the case.
"Child marriage, and a lack of control over their own bodies or access to reproductive healthcare including contraception means many girls have no hope of completing an education.
"It is crucial we engage with faith leaders to help us challenge deeply held beliefs and attitudes.
"The Catholic Church can help us in that and my appeal to them was to help us save lives, especially of young mothers.
"As we work with African leaders to help them build their nation’s it is vital that family planning is part of that plan. It will save lives and huge suffering.”
In the meeting, which took place last Thursday, Ms Mordant also raised the issues of female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, violence against women and girls and LGBT rights.
A spokesman for the Catholic Church said the comments were a matter for the Vatican.
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