Pope to Catholics: Don't breed 'like rabbits'

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(Image credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

During his flight home from Manila on Monday, Pope Francis had some unusually frank words for Catholics about family planning. The church's ban on contraception doesn't mean Catholics should breed "like rabbits," the pontiff said during an hour-long news conference. The pope suggested, instead, parents should consider natural family planning methods already approved by the church.

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Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.