[NYer]

"Never before in history has human procreation, and therefore the family, which is its natural place, been so threatened as in today’s culture."

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[SamAdams_Lite]

Agree or disagree the Vatican takes the long view and is consistent.

[NYer]

Gay activists in Italy condemned the report as a grotesque attack against modern life, freedom and social redemption.

The document obviously struck a chord. These folks are foaming at the mouth.

[trisham]

Gay activists in Italy condemned the report as a grotesque attack against modern life, freedom and social redemption.

**************

Not Catholics, they are ill-equipped to criticize.

[camle]

geez. you mean that the worship of God isn't done by a popularity contest???

who'd athunk?

[tkathy]

Condoms???

Good grief!

[Gerish]

"Moreover, it is claimed that the help of the law to form these unusual couples goes hand in hand with the help to divorce and repudiate," the document said.

Love the language here "unusual couples." I could think of a thousand other words to call these perverts, but for the Vatican this is pretty good.

[conservative physics]

the Pope's reasoning doesn't make any sense.

A married couple can't use a condom to help prevent unwanted pregnancy?

But they can use the rhythm method to help prevent unwanted pregnancy?

If the pope wanted to be consistent he would declare that couples can only have sex during the few days of the month that the woman is actually fertile.

Then the Pope on the one hand declares that life is so precious that even a drop of semen shouldn't be wasted... and on the other, a happily married Christian couple can't seek medical help to compensate for their fertility problems that prevent them from participating in the creation of life?

If the Pope wanted to be consistent he would declare that no Christian should seek medical attention from a doctor for anything, they should just pray to God for whatever ails them, since to do anything else would be like playing God.

[marshmallow]

Well this is a surprise.

We were assured that the Vatican was wrestling with the whole issue of condom use for married couples when one partner has AIDS and that in fact a draught document had given the green light to this.

Apparently not.

The usual shrill whiners are up in arms, so without having read the document, I know already that it is right on the money.

Not to worry, boys. When Islam takes over, sharia is imposed and the Catholic Church is forced underground, Vatican statements like this will be nothing more than a fond and distant memory.

[RobbyS]

Franco Grillini, a deputy in the Italian Parliament and honorary president of the activist group Arcigay, condemned the Vatican document as "grotesque," and said that other European countries that give legal recognition to unmarried and gay couples have done so with great benefit to society.

Yeah, like the rapid rise in illegitimacy in every place where gay marriage is encouraged. The traditional family is being dissolved. That's Ok to the socialists, who want nothing to compete with the individual's loyalty to the government.

[Antoninus]

Gay activists in Italy condemned the report as a grotesque attack against modern life, freedom and social redemption.

Uh, no. How about a defense of traditional values, liberty (as opposed to license) and human LIFE!

[balch3]

what I want to know, and have never gotten a good answer, is why we're still promoting condom use among the military instead of abstinence until marriage. They don't work, and thus are dangerous. Our troops deserve better than this.