Earlier this week, Pope Benedict XVI took a controversial stance against condoms when it comes to AIDS prevention. World health experts and the French government have come out against the Pope's position, and German Catholic bishops are hinting at dissent. But, the Vatican is sticking to the Pope's belief that condoms make the AIDS problem worse.
Vatican spokesman Father Lombardi defended the Pope yesterday, saying condoms can lead to risky behavior. He also said Pope Benedict XVI was simply continuing the position of his predecessors that fidelity within heterosexual marriages and abstinence are the best ways to stop the disease.
Since the Pope maintains that AIDS cannot be overcome by the distribution of condoms, health workers in Africa fear that their progress will be stalled among the growing number of Catholics.
Adding some sense to the debate, one Catholic bishop in Germany clarified his own stance: "Anyone who has AIDS and is sexually active, anyone who seeks multiple partners, must protect others and themselves." Amen!
Forte Forte
Maine New England
Tomster
Somehow I can not see how you can be sexually active, and say "gee the church teachings say i shouldn't use a condom, and I really do not want that sin on my conscience."
1This radical idealism has no place in today's world. I wish they would wake the hell up.
2Again, abstinence is best, but do we really want people saying, "Hmm, I really shouldn't use a condom. The pope says it's a bad thing."
I think not.
3Oops. Should have read Gpa's comment first.
4I'm don't think it's better to have the suffering and deaths that condom use could have prevented on anyone's conscience.
5Gpa and starangel, I agree, my concern is that those that do not want to use a condom will use the pope's words as an excuse to refrain from safe sex.
6It is okay to ignore the Pope and Church's calls for abstinence until marriage and fidelity within your marriage, but you must follow their belief that condoms shouldn't be used.
7Give me a break.
Grandpa, it seems like your comment is implying that people who see condoms as a sin probably also see having sex as a sin. Am I reading that wrong?
8I think a commenter on CNN put it best: is he now going to ask people not to wear seatbelts in cars because that can in turn promote reckless driving?
I sincerely hope no one listens to the Pope on this. The Church has already fallen down on stopping priests who disavow their vow of chastity. And now this? It's 2009, wake-up. People are not going to stop having sex. They should at least be safe while they're doing it. Especially in light of deadly diseases like AIDS.
9I kinda want to see hardcore proof that condoms promote risky behaviour. People are going to engage in risky behaviour with or without condoms.
10...and I understand he is just upholding the teachings of the Catholic church, with the whole 'no condoms' thing, but I think it's more than a bit of a stretch to go so far as to say that condoms make the AIDS epidemic worse. That just seems incredibly counterintuitive.
11100% agree with the German Catholic bishop.
12Modus, I was comparing the Roman Catholic church position on condom use to RC teachings on chastity and marriage. If you are a faithful follower of RC teachings, then you would not have sex outside of marriage. I doubt those that do have sex outside of marriage, look at the use of a condom, as the place they draw the line on church teachings.
13Honestly, I agree that the absolute best way to stop AIDS would be to do exactly as the catholic church advises (abstinence, fidelity within marriage).
I don't believe that abstinence is more morally correct than having sex, but I can't deny that it makes it harder for AIDS to spread.
Too bad it's not going to work that way, and people like to take to heart the advice that suits them (i.e., not using condoms) and leave out the advice that doesn't (abstinence, fidelity).
14Grandpa, I read an article recently about the spread of HIV in Africa to married women who don't think they can ask their husbands to wear condoms, but also can't be sure he's not cheating on her.
15I know for a guy, it comes down to: "Sit on your a$$, keep your mouth shut, and if you shoot up, wear a condom".
16I didn't quite follow that...
17I can't say I'm surprised.
18Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.