Group [of dissenting Catholics] hands condoms to arriving pilgrims [at world youth day].

National Post ^ | Saturday, July 20, 2002 | Odile Nelson

[patent]

Group hands condoms to arriving pilgrims Catholic reformists: 'Don't leave it up to your Guardian Angel,' World Youth Day participants advised Odile Nelson

National Post

Saturday, July 20, 2002

A Catholic youth group distributed condoms to World Youth Day pilgrims at Pearson International Airport yesterday because it was concerned the delegates would not follow the Church's teaching of abstinence during next week's religious gathering.

"I think abstinence is a great thing for everybody who can manage that. But it doesn't work for everyone. It's not reality," Tobias Raschke, spokesperson for the International Movement We Are Church, said yesterday.

The group seeks to revitalize the Catholic Church by reforming its doctrine.

Mr. Raschke said condoms should be included in information kits at all World Youth Days because they promote sex education and prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

His organization anticipates handing out 10,000 condoms before World Youth Day ends next week.

Earlier this year, another reform group announced it would distribute condoms to youth delegates that would carry the slogan "Don't leave it up to your Guardian Angel."

The Vatican officially preaches sexual abstinence before marriage and has banned the use of condoms by its parishioners.

World Youth Day officials will not supply the expected 250,000 delegates with prophylactics and some Canadian priests have warned their congregations against accepting free handouts from reformists.

A priest in North Battleford, Sask., recently sent off his parish's youth delegation by reminding them they were "not going to World Youth Day for condoms."

But in a February interview, Monsignor Peter Schonenbach, general secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, seemed ambivalent about reform groups distributing condoms. "It's a free country. They can do what they want.... The church is stuck with its position on this," he said.

Delegates wanting to have protected sex during the religious festival will have to rely on groups like Mr. Raschke's or Toronto Public Health for free handouts.

Doctor Bonnie Henry, an associate medical officer at Toronto Public Health, said the organization has brought in extra condoms for the event but no more than it would for any other summer festival.

She acknowledged some health officials are concerned the Church's stance on condoms may lead to a proliferation of chlamydia cases after the event, but she said Toronto Public Health considers World Youth Day to be a low-risk event.

Last August, the Church issued a statement saying the promotion of condoms was an immoral and misguided weapon in the battle against HIV/AIDS. It said condoms go against human dignity, change the act of love into a "selfish search for pleasure" and may even be one of the main reasons for the spread of HIV/AIDS because they do not encourage self-control.

[SkyPilot]

spokesperson for the International Movement We Are Church,

Homosexual Supect Said By SkyPilot Need Good Grammar

[RobbyS]

"I think abstinence is a great thing for everybody who can manage that. But it doesn't work for everyone. It's not reality,"

Does this persons realize that what she is saying is --literally-- nonsense?

[RobbyS]

As the article says, Muller doesn't understand the realities of power. He wishes to cure the ails of the Church by applying political methods, but what ARE the political methods which control our society? Law may be corrupt, but if so, he has been corrupted by following the norms of power in our society. Bernie Law was no nobleman's son; he became a "prince" of the Church by rising through the ranks of an organization that is one of the most "democratic" in our society. Do we risk putting in his place a Lyndon Johnson--a man utterly without principle, but a man raised to the heights by a more dirrect application of majority rule? Before he goes to messing with the government of the Church, Muller should read Federalist # 10 and get a clearer view of the nature of politics. Politics is interest versus Interest, versus interest versus.... Ultimately it is no more than the application of raw power, which is held in check only by contravailing forces. Is this what he wants for the Church?

[PMCarey]

I'm reminded of my Marriage Encounter several years ago. At one point in the day, the priest got onto the topic of birth control and NFP. I'm afraid he didn't do a very good job and got himself in a bit of a corner (he's a solid priest, he just wasn't comfortable presenting this issue.) Anyway, it got to the point where he said something to do the effect that the Church's teaching represented the ideal.

One of the men (who seemed to be there just because he had to have a Catholic wedding, not that he cared too much about Catholicism and the Church), seized on this statement and asked, pointedly: "Oh, so it just represents the ideal, right?"

The unspoken meaning of his words were clear: "Oh, if it's only the ideal, I guess I don't have to worry about it after all ..."

[SuziQ]

Just out of curiosity, has this kind of stuff been a problem at past WYD's?
Yes, in Denver in 1993. Someone hired a plane with a banner that said "Use Birth Control" to fly over the stadium.

Vince, I think the original writer meant has there been a problem in the past with large numbers of kids engaging in sex at these gatherings. I was wondering the same thing myself, and why these dissenting Catholics thought there was a 'need' for their services. My guess is that there would NOT be a need, but these folks just want the publicity.

[american colleen]

Sorry, I did forget to post the link. The article is from:
"Mallon's Media Watch" - one of my favorite places to hang around, after Freerepublic, of course.

[EODGUY]

I hope the response by the true Catholics who practice our doctrine is to simply refuse the offer of the condom and ensure that they remind the offerer that they will pray for his/her soul.


Thanks for the ping.

[SouthCarolinaKit]

THESE are the same types of 'Catholics' who like including
homosexuals in the priesthood and are responsible for
the current Church crisis. Had the Church followed the
rules of Rome, none would have been allowed and we'd still
have a totally worthy priesthood. These morons, who really
are devils not Catholics, think they know better than the
Church; whyever do they want to call themselves Catholic
when their behavior is so Anti-Church?

[american colleen]

Here is another "eye-opener" I found on Mallon's Media Watch regarding VOTF. They may be based in Boston, but they are branching out all over the US.
JMJ

Greetings!

While preparing to join friends in leafleting the "Voice of the Faithful" convention tomorrow -- I'm against majority rule in the Church and, as I'm sure you are, infant masturbation (yep, that's what I wrote), I came across an interesting quotation from invited and honored "Voice of the Faithful" speaker Debrah Haffner. Haffner is a former president of SIECUS (the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States).

As you read this, please remember that an important "Voice of the Faithful" goal is to "educate" Roman Catholics on sexuality.

"It's not 'anything goes.' It's just that no matter what gender orientation you have -- bisexual, transgender -- no matter what sex you are, _no matter what age you are,_ no matter what marital status you are, no matter what sexual orientation you are, you have a right to sex."

[emphasis mine...what, did Ms. Haffner tutor Paul Shanley???]

Miss Haffner will join others at the Hynes Auditorium in Boston tomorrow (Saturday), July 20, where she and others will "educate" people who call themselves Roman Catholics on such topics as Electing Popes & Bishops, the "Gee-Abortion-Isn't-All-That-Bad" point of view, Birth Control Rules, Homosexuals R Us, and so on.

At the end of this note is a column by Dr. Laura Schlessinger dated February 2000 on Instructress Haffner. You might find it interesting.

These people are dead serious. They intend -- and you don't have to take my word for it, just surf on by http://www.votf.org and take a gander at just about anything on the site -- to overthrow the Church. They've got tons of money, great mainstream media relations...and sadly -- some really weak priests backing them.

Prayers would not be out of order.

Thanks,

Kelly Clark

Kelly Clark is also known as "The Lady in the Pew" and she has some funny, observant columns posted here: The e-Cathedral

[ejo]

Well put and I'm sure it would raise a few eyebrows. It is sad that whenever a group of young adults come to a gathering the first impression by the dissenters will be that sex will prevail. Someone should invite them into the arena and show them exactly how devout Catholics act.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

Actually, yes, that is what I meant. Have there been problems with the young people at WYD engaging in sexual activities during the gathering? I wouldn't think there would be. BTW, I think these people handing out condoms are disgusting and if I weren't trying to be a good Catholic, I'd tell them where to put them!

[madprof98]

The group seeks to revitalize the Catholic Church by reforming its doctrine.

I believe that was tried about 500 years ago. In fact, isn't that what the Episcopal Church is for? (A good place for these folks, now that I think of it.)

[Vince Ferrer]

Vince, I think the original writer meant has there been a problem in the past with large numbers of kids engaging in sex at these gatherings.

Actually, yes, that is what I meant. Have there been problems with the young people at WYD engaging in sexual activities during the gathering? I wouldn't think there would be.

Oh, well that's entirely different. Nevermind.

Ok, then I'll answer the real question. No, the kids having sex is not a problem at World Youth Days. Almost all of your time is taken up by events. You sleep out in open fields with basically no privacy. Most of these people are in groups sent by their churches in an organized way, with chaperones. There simply isn't the opportunity. Handing out condoms is just a tastless publicity stunt, like offering free abortions if your husband was killed in the World Trade Center attack

[Siobhan]

Handing out condoms is just a tastless publicity stunt, like offering free abortions if your husband was killed in the World Trade Center attack

Precisely, Vince, it is a publicity stunt, but it is also a stunt with a distinct diabolical odor.

[Siobhan]

This is a bit off topic, but my sister Bernadette and her family are moving from Los Angeles to Milwaukee. She feels God is calling her family to go there to support Msgr. Dolan and work with him as archbishop to reestablish the Roman Catholic Church among the ruins of Rembert Weakland's disastrous archepiscopate.

Her news has got me thinking...

[Siobhan]

I hope so too, and the more I think of it the more I see this as an opportunity for young faithful Catholics to witness to these misguided folk!

[patent]

Thanks for the articles. I think its pretty clear that this isn't a group I could support in any way. Hope all is well out in Massachusetts these days. We lived in Natick for a time, went to St. Patricks, which was a great parish for us.

patent

[fatima]

Thank you for your post and please add me to bump list,fatima

[fatima]

I am sure there was a group handing out pictures of St Maria Goretti and her life story to teens also,wasn't there?

[redhead]

"The group seeks to revitalize the Catholic Church by reforming its doctrine."

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! Snort! LOL! Oh, my gosh! Help me up, somebody!