Pope Benedict says that condoms can be used to stop the spread of HIV (Contraceptives now allowed?)

The Guardian ^ | 11/20/2010 | Tom Kington and Ben Quinn

[WebFocus]

In a break with his traditional teaching, Pope Benedict XVI has said the use of condoms is acceptable "in certain cases", in an extended interview to be published this week.

After holding firm during his papacy to the Vatican's blanket ban on the use of contraceptives, Benedict's surprise comments will shock conservatives in the Catholic church while finding favour with senior Vatican figures who are pushing for a new line on the issue as HIV ravages Africa.

The comments were made in a book-length interview with a German journalist, Peter Seewald. In the case of a male prostitute, says Benedict, using a condom to reduce the risk of HIV infection "can be a first step in the direction of moralisation, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants".

Contraception can be "a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality," the pope says.

Excerpts from the book, Light of the World: The Pope, the Church, and the Signs of the Times, were published yesterday by L'Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper. The pope's comments follow his controversial assertion in 2009 that the rising tide of HIV in Africa could be made worse, not better, by the distribution of condoms. He was speaking to journalists as he visited Africa, where the majority of HIV fatalities occur.

At the time, Aids campaigners and European governments expressed outrage. Belgium's health minister said the pope's comments "could demolish years of prevention and education and endanger many human lives".

Francis X Rocca, a Vatican expert and correspondent for Religion News Service, said: "This new statement by the pope is very significant, it is going to shake things up.

[AndrewB]

Only for butt sex apparently....

[Celtic Cross]

The pope never said condoms are ok. He is being grossly misquoted.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

If you read the other threads on this subject you will see that the conclusion drawn is entirely mistaken. What you would expect from a secular British paper.

[vladimir998]

My gosh why do people fall for the lies Liberals put out!

The pope said no such thing.

[Cardhu]

Only for butt sex apparently....

The male prostitute quote in English is prostitute in the Vatican newspaper - so there has been a mistranslation which I am sure you knew about.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The Guardian expects the gullible masses to believe it's spin on what the Pope actually said.

Some Big Change from the Pope on Condom Use? (In a word, no!)

Pope ok’s condoms (More of the context of the papal interview) (Ecumenical)

[LadyDoc]

I see the Guardian takes the Pope’s nuances and twists them.

[TCH]

“After holding firm during his papacy to the Vatican’s blanket ban on the use of contraceptives, Benedict’s surprise comments will shock conservatives in the Catholic church while finding favour with senior Vatican figures who are pushing for a new line on the issue as HIV ravages Africa.”

First, Benedict’s stance will not shock “conservatives in the Catholic Church”... His stance will shock CATHOLICS who are trapped in a Church that is no longer Catholic, and which is eclipsed by Modernist heretics (The “senior Vatican figures” mentioned in the article.)

Second, a virus is much smaller than the microscopic holes in a latex condom, so condom use will not prevent the transmission of a virus.

Third, there are a great many new STDs that will spread through genital contact, whether a condom is used or not.

Fourth, There is NO CLINICAL EVIDENCE THAT LINKS HIV WITH AIDS... NONE. So the entire argument is a straw dog.

For all my confused Catholic brethren I can only say: Come back to Tradition... Come out of the “Whore of Babylon” and find your way into a traditional Catholic Church that still teaches the true Catholic doctrine, and STILL celebrates the Mass for all time:

http://www.sspx.org/

Read Angelus Magazine or The Remnant, for authentic Catholic journalism and teaching:
http://www.angelusonline.org/
http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/archives.htm

And study the only Catholic Bible worth your time:
http://www.drbo.org/

[narses]

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[KoRn]

What’s wrong with contraceptives?

[mlizzy]

This article incorrectly quotes the Pope, and it should be taken down off Guardian. Just lies ...

[BenLurkin]

Better yet — what is wrong with prophylactics?

[markomalley]

From the red Guardian? Really? REALLY?

Read this: Catholic World Report

Or this: National Catholic Register

Both have the actual statement he made in its context.

Then get back with me.

[HiTech RedNeck]

So what did the pope say? That it’s less bad for a male prostitute who uses condoms than for one not to use condoms? I bet he also said it’s best yet not to be a male prostitute at all, but that didn’t get any press.

[ari-freedom]

“Pope Benedict says that condoms can be used to stop the spread of HIV (Contraceptives now allowed?)”

what about for preventing abortion?

[Just mythoughts]

I read the Catholic World Report link... got to tell you I personally resent the high and lavish praise claiming credit for giving and doing the most... especially given how much legalized charity we Americans have given...

But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection. That can really lie only in a humanization of sexuality.

Supposedly these are 'HIS' words according to your link...now there was no instruction given as to what humanization of sexuality means....

As a parent I cannot begin to formulate in my mind what was supposedly said in a clear and concise terms to my children. It is like words, words, words, on this hand, and then on that hand, and maybe, perhaps, possibly on and on and on.... 'evil' was not identified as origination but only the results... It is like liberals pouring $$$$ into their 'war' on poverty to keep poverty sustainable.

[markomalley]

Supposedly these are 'HIS' words according to your link...now there was no instruction given as to what humanization of sexuality means....

And that is a fair criticism.

It should be taken in direct contrast to the banalization of sexuality mentioned immediately above:

This means that the sheer fixation on the condom implies a banalization of sexuality, which, after all, is precisely the dangerous source of the attitude of no longer seeing sexuality as the expression of love, but only a sort of drug that people administer to themselves. This is why the fight against the banalization of sexuality is also a part of the struggle to ensure that sexuality is treated as a positive value and to enable it to have a positive effect on the whole of man’s being.

The Catholic Church has, since the time of Christ, taught that sex is to be for unitive and procreative purposes. Unitive = "and the two shall become one flesh" and Procreative = "be fruitful and multiply". The pleasure associated with it is the effect that God built in to encourage married people to do so. (And, yes, I can probably think of more examples than you can where notable people didn't live up to what they should do. That doesn't change the teaching. It just shows where people are fallen). People indiscriminately engaging in sex solely to achieve that effect rather than for its purpose support its banalization.

The humanization of sex is simply placing sex in the human context that God intended for it when He made humans.

Yes, I'd have wished that he would have expounded on that in an interview that was destined to go into a mass publication book for a general audience, but he didn't.

[Bender2]

Okay, but what is his position... on washers?

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Holy Father tells terrorists how to plant bombs

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 21, 2010 Under: Pope

The Holy Father was asked in a recent interview to comment on the behaviour of terrorists who plant no warning bombs in heavily populated areas of cities, close to schools and nurseries.  He said it was a bad thing.

He was then asked if it was better if the terrorist telephoned in bomb warnings so that buildings could be evacuated.

The Holy Father said that while engaging in such acts of terrorism was always morally wrong, telephoning a warning "can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. But it is not really the way to deal with political issues or demands for justice".

Media:  "So you're saying it's okay to plant bombs so long as you use phone warnings?"

Holy Father:  "No, of course not, but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of serious injury or death to an innocent person, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of policital action".

In other news, the Pope said male prostitutes who use condoms so as not to spread HIV may show the first step to realizing they cannot just do what they want and that sex outside of marriage has consequences.

In further news, media organisations get it arse about face as usual.

Read Janet Smith for her usual calm and sensible thoughts.