[pgkdan]

The reporter, for example, told two priests he was HIV-positive and wondered whether he should use a condom when having sexual relations with his girlfriend. One told him no, and the other said it was a question of conscience, the magazine reported.

Didn't any of the Priests tell him that the only thing he should do is abstain from sex outside of marriage?

[marshmallow]

Deliberate misuse of a sacrament = sacrilege.

Confessing fake sins falls into exactly the same category as a penitent who goes to confession without a firm purpose of amendment simply to have the "slate wiped clean" so that the same sins can then be committed again.

Not only does it invalidate the sacrament it also incurs an additional sin; sacrilege.

It would have been possible to obtain the same information simply by talking to the priests outside the confessional and asking them questions about "hypotheticals" such as is done in moral theology classes, for instance. Of course, that would not have attracted the attention that a stunt like this does for it panders to the curiosity that many people have for what occurs inside a confessional.

[GinaLolaB]

The reporter, for example, told two priests he was HIV-positive and wondered whether he should use a condom when having sexual relations with his girlfriend. One told him no, and the other said it was a question of conscience, the magazine reported.

Wow, how wacky. I can't believe that even a liberal priest would not tell the fornicating guy not to give the girlfriend HIV.

[vox_freedom]

Lying and intentional misrepresentions to a priest are sins. These reporters and editors should be ashamed of themselves and have committed grevious sins.

[siunevada]

So what's the fascination for the reporter and his readers?

The reporter obviously thinks Catholic practice is all bogus mumbo jumbo, none of it is real. So, from the reporter's viewpoint, who cares what the priests have to say to him?

I suppose the reporter was looking for some instances of hypocrisy to persuade any Catholics left in Italy to just give it up.

[mockingbyrd]

the guy lies to get a story, I doubt any word from his mouth. Then again, there was universal condemnation of abortion....

[Aquinasfan]

his supposed "sins," which included matters relating to homosexuality, divorce, stem-cell research, euthanasia and prostitution.

Nah, nothing sinful about homosexuality, stem-cell research, euthanasia and prostitution.