SAN ANTONIO | A Roman Catholic cardinal who is an adviser to Pope Francis is answering critics who say the pope should talk more about abortion.
Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley says Francis talks more about love and mercy than abortion to provide a context for Catholic teaching that abortion is wrong. O'Malley says only love will open the hearts and minds of people who are living in an increasingly secular society.
Francis was elected five months ago and has made few direct remarks about abortion, marriage and other culture-war issues.
O'Malley is one of eight cardinals the pope has appointed to advise him on governing the church and reforming the Vatican bureaucracy. O'Malley made the comments Tuesday night in San Antonio at the annual convention of the Knights of Columbus.