Pope Francis has been, for the most part, a positive force over the course of his term. But he slipped up in a major way with his recent comments in comparing couples having kids with couples who decide to limit their families to pets.

Time quoted the Pope as saying the following, in reference to couples deciding against having kids and instead having pets:

Then, in the end this marriage comes to old age in solitude, with the bitterness of loneliness.

The human population of the planet is exploding exponentially. While there is nothing wrong with having kids, there certainly is nothing wrong with deciding to not have kids. And what about the couples who try but are not able to have children? Suggesting either category of couples will end up bitter and lonely is just wrongheaded.

And certainly, the Pope should learn a bit more about how rewarding it is to adopt homeless pets. Saving lives and experiencing the love of the rescued pet is on the other end of the scale from bitterness and loneliness.

I don’t think the Pope thought this one through. Who am I to question the Pope? Well …. just someone who understands the love we can receive from animals – and children.

The Time piece wraps up with this:

In other words, all the effort you spend caring for your furry friends would be of better use if Fido or Fifi were children.

That’s a pretty short-sighted look at the subject, isn’t it. Does it have to be either or? I know there are a ton of families with kids AND rescued pets. And they have enough love to give to all of them.

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