Viewpoints of the new pope

Posted: March 15, 2013

HERE'S A QUICK LOOK at where Pope Francis I stands on some key issues:

* Economics: There's considerable evidence that the new pope favors programs aimed at reducing poverty in society and is not a fan of the wave of austerity budgets now popular in the U.S. and Europe.

* Gay marriage: He strongly opposed Argentina's 2010 law that legalized same-sex matrimony, calling it "a destructive proposal to God's plan."

* Same-sex couple adoption: At the same time, he opposed adoption by gay couples, saying such arrangements are harmful to children.

* Contraception: Pope Francis has said in the past that condoms "can be permissible" to prevent infection in AIDS-stricken areas. But in Argentina, he opposed free distribution of contraceptives.

* Morality: In September 2012, he surprised some by lashing out at priests who refuse to baptize children born out of wedlock, calling it a form of "rigorous and hypocritical neo-clericalism."

* Female priests: Pope Francis does not believe that women should be ordained.

* Abortion: He opposes abortion and euthanasia, describing the pro-choice movement as a "culture of death."

- Will Bunch

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