Pope Francis Calls For Equal Pay For Women: 'Disparity Is Pure Scandal'

Pope Francis gestures as he attends the weekly general audience in St Peter's square at the Vatican on April 22, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)

The wide gulf between wages for men and women is "pure scandal," Pope Francis said on Wednesday.

"As Christians, we must become more demanding...[by] supporting with decision the right to equal retribution for equal work; disparity is a pure scandal," he said.

The pope was speaking on divorce rates during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, according to Vatican Radio. He said the crisis of "broken marriage bonds" negatively affects young children and called for equal footing in a relationship to carry over into the workplace and society.

"The equality enjoyed by the spouses must produce new fruit--equal opportunities in the workplace; a new valuing of motherhood and fatherhood, and a greater appreciation for the openness of families to those most in need,” he said.

In the U.S., despite ongoing efforts to close the wage gap, there still isn't a single state where women are paid as much as men. On average, women make 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man.

H/T The Washington Post

religion pope Pope Francis

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