‘Morally, absolutely utterly despicable’: Sky News contributor condemns surrogacy

Sky News host Kel Richards says surrogacy is a “morally absolutely utterly despicable” act as it turns human beings into “commodities”. Pope Francis has called for a global ban on surrogacy, calling the act “deplorable” and a “grave violation” of the dignity of the mother and the child. This comes just weeks after he authorised Roman Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples in a significant shift in the church’s approach to LGBT people. “I think [it is] a really serious issue – it’s an issue raised by the Pope in a speech recently,” Mr Richards said. “Now, I don’t always agree with Pope Francis, but I do on this. “Let me explain it in terms which might offend some people and might be controversial – I don’t intend it to, but I think it’s a really big moral issue – because surrogacy, trading in a baby, actually terms human beings into being commodities, property. “So it’s the moral equivalent, it’s morally equal to slavery – I know that’s a very strong thing to say, but think about it: this is a little human being who is a commodity, who can be bought and sold or given as a gift, the way you would with a large-screen TV or a car. “I think this is morally, absolutely utterly despicable.”