Catholics Considering Condoms
News reports coming out say that the Pope is reconsidering the traditional Catholic ban on condoms. The Vatican isn't going to say that they will change their minds, but the worldwide AIDS epidemic is giving them second thoughts.
Here's what CNN says about it:
Well, "advocating sexual abstinence" is all well and good, except when you're dealing with living organisms of any species.
The lesser evil ... hmmm. There's a virus that kills you, and there's a contraption that can prevent the virus from killing you. Now the big debate is ... are these two things equally evil, or is one worse than the other?
Can you believe -- this is progress?
Here's what CNN says about it:
The Vatican is studying whether condoms can be condoned to help stem the tide of AIDS and a host of other bioethical issues such as stem cell research, officials said Tuesday.
But there is no indication of when or whether it would pronounce itself on the matter.
Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, who heads the Vatican office for health care, was quoted over the weekend in Italy's La Repubblica daily as saying his office was preparing a document on the question of condoms and AIDS, and that it would be released soon.
But on Tuesday, he clarified that his office was merely studying the issue at the request of the pope as part of a broader "dialogue" with other Vatican departments.
"We are conducting a very profound scientific, technical and moral study" on how to deal with married couples when one is infected with HIV, he told Vatican Radio.
He said the study would be presented to Pope Benedict XVI, "who with his wisdom and the help of the Holy Spirit will take a decision and tell us where we are going."
While the Vatican has no specific policy concerning condoms and AIDS, the Catholic Church opposes the use of condoms as part of its overall teaching against contraception. It advocates sexual abstinence as the best way to combat the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Well, "advocating sexual abstinence" is all well and good, except when you're dealing with living organisms of any species.
The issue was reignited last week when a one-time papal contender, retired Milan Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, said in comments published in Italian newsweekly L'Espresso that condoms were the "lesser evil" in combating AIDS.
Other cardinals and prelates have made similar comments, arguing that when confronted with the possibility that within a married couple, an HIV-positive spouse could transmit the virus to the other, it was a "lesser evil" to condone the couple's use of condoms.
The lesser evil ... hmmm. There's a virus that kills you, and there's a contraption that can prevent the virus from killing you. Now the big debate is ... are these two things equally evil, or is one worse than the other?
Can you believe -- this is progress?
posted by JimK at 2:04 PM
4 Comments:
This is a watershed moment for the world. In places like South Africa where 80% of the population is christian and 25% (5m.) have AIDS, the endorsement of condoms by the Church will greatly reduce the risk factors that lead to nearly 2,000 infections every day.
Just to reduce confusion, it should be noted that the Roman Catholic Church is the only major denomination which opposes the use of condoms by married people. My guess is that they'll study this issue and conclude that those married couples where one partner has AIDS should abstain because they believe sexual activity is only appropriate for the purposes of procreation. No other Christian groups whether mainline Protestant, Evangelical, Fundamentalist, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Anglican, etc hold this view. They believe that sex is a blessing from God and should be enjoyed within a monogamous marriage context.
That's my understanding but if I've misinterpreted the Catholic position, I trust one of the numerous Catholic contributors will correct me.
anonymous writes,
My guess is that they'll study this issue and conclude that those married couples where one partner has AIDS should abstain because they believe sexual activity is only appropriate for the purposes of procreation.
I am very nearly certain that this is incorrect, but I will need to refer to the Catechism first...
Thanks Orin. That's the way I've always understood the Catholic position but I'd love to be shown to be wrong.
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