Posted on 11/20/2010 11:38:36 AM PST by mlizzy
Pope Benedict XVI says in a new book that condoms can be justified for male prostitutes seeking to stop the spread of HIV, a stunning comment for a church criticized for its opposition to condoms and for a pontiff who has blamed them for making the AIDS crisis worse.
The pope made the comments in a book-length interview with a German journalist, "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times," which is being released Tuesday. The Vatican newspaper ran excerpts on Saturday.
Church teaching has long opposed condoms because they are a form of artificial contraception, although it has never released an explicit policy about condoms and HIV. The Vatican has been harshly criticized for its opposition.
Benedict said that condoms are not a moral solution. But he said in some cases, such as for male prostitutes, they could be justified "in the intention of reducing the risk of infection."
Benedict called it "a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way of living sexuality."
He used as an example male prostitutes, for whom contraception is not an issue, as opposed to married couples where one spouse is infected. The Vatican has come under pressure from even some church officials in Africa to condone condom use for monogamous married couples to protect the uninfected spouse from getting infected.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Oops
excerpt:
This is from Wikipedia:
According to a 2000 report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), correct and consistent use of latex condoms reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85% relative to risk when unprotected
I hope that is the case. Our bishop is so liberal and socialist that sometimes when I read these things my initial reaction is that it must be true.
Okay, those are the same authors as this thread. But there are other articles out there that lead one to believe the Pope said condoms are fine outside of marriage (male-female relationships), but he never said that. Nor does he state (via this article) that condoms can be used in marriage where one partner has AIDS. So folks are getting all riled up about nothing. Tax-chick used her own special lingo up a few comments in that regard. *smiles*
I really prefer to be more refined, even on a Saturday, but I think that's one reason religious people of all types are losing the propaganda war on homosexuality and other perversions: we don't want to go into disgusting detail, or even use clear terms, in describing what we're talking about.
Honestly, I'd rather not know this stuff exists, but we're being confronted with it all the time, and we might as well fight dirty.
Women priests! Yes, true. Btw, we are going to St. John Cantius tomorrow after not being there for months (because of work), and I’m really looking forward to it ... we did, however, go to a local church’s Tridentine last Sunday. Tom called it the “economy version” (it’s in the basement and it very much is a basement). Great crowd, though! Always so respectful.
I have a class of 13 year olds, and I made it very clear that we will get into all the disgusting detail. I also told them that if their parents have an issue with it, they are welcome to talk to them and let them know, and then I will exclude that person from the discussion.
So far, it’s worked well. No parental complaints, and we had the class on the sacrament of marriage (and why homosexuality doesn’t work), two weeks ago.
If I can, I’ll bring silent scream, probably in January or February. We shall see.
Thank you for your service! I have first grade this year (6 or 7 years old), so this is not an issue, but my son wants me to teach 8th grade (I think) with him next year, meaning we’ll probably have to get graphic. I’m sure I’d be much more nervous than 14-year-olds!
I didn’t think you were ... just wanted to expand the point.
Yeah, I have 8th grade as well.
I wish I did this years ago, but I’ve only been a Catholic for 5, and I didn’t feel sufficiently equipped. I love it, it really is so much fun.
The kids seem to like the no-holds barred approach, and now I know that my vocation is to teach. Never taught a class before. I’ve taught students, and quite liked it in tutorials, but never a whole class.
LOL! I did know what you meant! And I’ve perpetrated some real howlers and wished we had a self-delete or self-edit function, too.
You can “Report Abuse” on yourself and ask the moderator to delete the post because you didn’t mean that like it sounded.
I think it’s good for younger adults to be teaching teens, especially men, because so many teachers and church staff are women. How many students do you have?
I was just gonna have a quick peek at this thread, but I may hang here a bit longer.....
Go away, Ben.
I have 14 now. May get a few more as the year progresses. I have 4 guys so it’s reasonably balanced.
A couple of them are really quiet.
What I try to do is to teach straight up, without notes, but I prepare the topic ahead of time. So far, I’ve been able to answer their questions without having to find more references. Kids seem to like it when they can rattle question after question and try to stump me.
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