Likening prenatal pregnancy testing to Nazi eugenics policies, Pope Francis set out his opposition to the screening of foetuses so that those found to be abnormal could be aborted.  “In the last century the whole world was scandalised by what the Nazis did to treat the purity of the race,” he said. “Today we do the same, but with white gloves.” He was addressing a delegation from Italy’s Family Association which was visiting the Vatican.

What Francis is saying in more dramatic language is similar to what the General Synod of the Church of England had said in February, when it unanimously welcomed a report which urged society to welcome and “celebrate” people with Down’s syndrome.