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Latest update: 21/11/2010
- Benedict XVI - health - HIV - Vatican
Pope's condom remark 'doesn't change' contraception ban
Pope Benedict XVI’s suggestion that the use of condoms may be acceptable in certain circumstances does not reverse the Catholic Church’s long-standing ban on contraception, says the head of France's leading Catholic daily.
Pope Benedict XVI’s apparent U-turn on the use of condoms is not a sea change in the Catholic Church’s stance on contraception, according to the head of France’s leading Catholic daily newspaper.
Dominique Quinio, editor-in-chief of popular Catholic daily La Croix, said Benedict’s comments – condoning condom use in some circumstances to prevent the spread of disease – should not be interpreted as a change in the Church’s anti-contraception dogma.
“His comments are very much linked to the AIDS issue,” she told FRANCE 24. “He is saying that while it’s not the solution to the AIDS problem, wearing a condom can be a responsible act.”
Benedict’s comments, she said, were a response to criticism of the Church after the pontiff told reporters on a trip to Africa in 2009 that trying to stem the spread of AIDS with condoms alone would aggravate the situation.
The widely-reported comments outraged health agencies trying to halt the spread of HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 22 million people are infected.
“The pope was very unhappy with the reaction to what he said,” Dominique Quinio said. “He was wounded that the Church had been made to look like an uncaring monster.”
Example of a male prostitute
In a series of interviews to be published in a book this week, Benedict insisted that the use of condoms was not a “moral solution” to the HIV/AIDS issue.
But he said that “where the intention is to reduce the risk of infection, it can nevertheless be a first step on the way to another, more humane, sexuality.”
The Pope’s comments, which are just six lines in transcripts of over 20 hours of taped interviews, avoided linking condoms with heterosexual sex within marriage.
"There may be justified individual cases, for example when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be ... a first bit of responsibility, to re-develop the understanding that not everything is permitted and that one may not do everything one wishes," Benedict was quoted as saying.
Until now, the Vatican had prohibited the use of any form of contraception – other than abstinence – even as a guard against sexually transmitted disease.
Condoms ‘must be used’
Benedict’s comments were criticised by Act Up Paris, an anti-AIDS organization.
“The Pope does specify that it’s only for very exceptional cases. We wonder what he means by that,” Act Up’s Jonas le Bail told FRANCE 24.
But one of the leaders of the French Christians and AIDS association (which provides support and information to AIDS sufferers) welcomed what he described as a highly significant break with the past.
"The breach is now open and I totally accept what he has said," Gerard Guerin told AFP.
The head of the UN agency leading the international campaign against AIDS said Benedict's comments were a "significant and positive step forward".
"This move recognizes that responsible sexual behaviour and the use of condoms have important roles in HIV prevention," UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe said in a statement.
"Condoms must be allowed to halt the virus. They are not simply useful, they must be used."
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Comments (5)
birth control.
Best argument for birth control is not overpopulation, potential for deformed children or STD's, the very best argument is that pompous figurehead of the R.C. Church himself....The Pope.
If his parents had not been so indoctrinated by his predecessors, maybe they would have practiced a means to prevent his conception.
The other arguments, valid as they are and very so, are outstripped by the need to NOT have Pontiff pontifications that impact on the world he obviously knows nothing, or cares about. In his gold encrusted palace of the Vatican, he can sit smugly in his knowledge that the word he spreads actually creates hell on earth for millions.
I wish there was such a place as hell, for sure he would, along with all those gone before him be, roasting in the satanic inferno for the cruelty inflicted on those who they have indoctrinated into the belief that he, and his previous Papal heads, persuaded to follow the creed of Catholicism.
... Doesn't change use of contraceptives...
There's going to be a lot of tortured prose to explain this one
POPES CONDOM
How does he supervise it's use?
Birth control - Abortion trade-off
Again:
Most people of conscience see that there will be a trade-off here on the Birth Control / Abortion issue.
To win the support against abortion, and help with the rise in STDs, my beloved Catholic Church is quite likely to be forced to come around to support Birth Control - even to encourage protective things like condoms, the pill and morning-after meds.
Once a human life is underway - which happens in mere hours after conception/fertilization - it is murder to end it. Period.
But disease and overpopulation threaten our lives, and for most couples making too many babies is considered outrageously irresponsible, and no longer admirable, unless the couple can afford to raise them.
And so birth control is certainly the lesser of the evils and even admirable today, done responsibly.
Birth control by all safe means, is no longer the thing it was said to be in the past.
Birth control is our hope of survival.
I think that our Pope has certainly deliberated on this matter for some time and that he knows that this action is the thing that begins this evolution in our church of the stand on birth control.
He has also made reference to the fact that the onus - the burden - IS on him and IS a burden indeed!
I will be praying for my Pope and I hope you will, too!
Birth control - Abortion trade-off
Ideally I am with the Pope:
Abstinence IS still best because it strengthens and celebrates and recreates the holiness of the personhood, the individuality, the character, the soul.
The thing with being an adult competent human being is to be fully in charge of the ON/OFF switch, we SAY, but we like to be ON a lot! :-D
Correct use of Abstinence says, "I love you because you are part of life's miracle - NOT just because of sex."
To feel intrinsically lovable is a thing we all seek, and too much "easyOKsex" is often a thing that undermines love, not to mention the health risks.
Sexual liberality in fact, threatens a nice "coming of age" for our early adolescents, and makes their first interests more stressful and less pleasant - downright dangerous, and today, with our more liberal ways, the parents and community are not adequately supported to protect them to a more beautiful discovery of the sexuality.
It's as bad as too much "the other way", as they used to say.
But reality in mind, and the new and present dangers of worldclass disease and murderous overpopulation, there is likely to be the acceptance and even ecouragement to Birth Control but NO to Abortion.
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