Did hell just freeze over? Pope Benedict gives thumbs up to condoms

[Ryokan]

Pope Benedict XVI has said the use of condoms is acceptable "in certain cases", according to a new book.

He said condoms could reduce the risk of infection with HIV, such as for a prostitute, in a series of interviews he gave to a German journalist.

When asked whether the Catholic Church is "fundamentally against the use of condoms", the Pope is said to have replied, in the book entitled Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times:

"It of course does not see it as a real and moral solution.

"In certain cases, 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," he said.

The Pope gives the example of the use of condoms by prostitutes as "a first step towards moralisation", even though condoms are "not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection".

Ok, wow.

 

[Femke]

Just wow indeed. I just heard it on the radio too.
On the Dutch news he was quoted as condoning condoms in gay prostitution, which gave me a double wow.

 

[JihadJane]

I saw a picture of young Benedict with a condom on his thumb and a page at his elbow. I wondered what that was about. Thanks.

 

[Abdul Alhazred]

It makes perfect sense given the premises.

It's birth control that's evil, not a particular piece of hardware as such.

 

[jasonpatterson]

Just wow indeed. I just heard it on the radio too.
On the Dutch news he was quoted as condoning condoms in gay prostitution, which gave me a double wow.

You've got to keep this clear though. They aren't condoning condoms, they aren't condoning homosexuality, and they aren't condoning prostitution. According to the church, any of the above will lead to an eternity in hell. Instead, they are saying that IF you're going to be visiting a gay prostitute, you might as well throw in the third sin of wearing a condom and be a bit safer about it. When they 'condone' condom use as a means for heterosexual couples in married, monogamous relationships to avoid either or both STDs or pregnancy, then it will be news.

For now, they might as well be telling murderers that they condone sharpening their knives first.

 

[Tricky]

How about regular gay sex that is not prostitution? After all, neither is preventing conception.

 

[ria_rokz]

Well, it WAS -27 degrees Celsius here yesterday...

 

[sadhatter]

You know , stuff like this kind of bugs me.

They condemn a useful , helpful, frankly, great tool. They cause pregnancies and std's through guilt, harm huge portions of the world through this, but....

They then make a statement that certain people could use them, because they are sinning anyway. And people are expected to say " wow, look at how far the church has came."

This is b.s, they deserve no praise, they wouldn't deserve any praise if they completely said " wrap your rascle.", stopping being a jerk, ( or in this case causing death, among other things.) is not grounds for praise. You cannot expect to be given praise for not doing something evil, they shouldn't have been doing it in the first place. Even a complete reversal of their position would simply put them at the same level as the rest of the civilized world. I don't get praise for not telling people not to use condoms, neither should they, at best they would reap the rewards of us not being able to point it out.

The catholic church seems like the kid who gets yelled at for bringing home nothing but F's as grades. They expects praise when he brings home d-'s. Sure it is better, but not at the acceptable level.

It would be like praising a murderer if he decided just to beat people till they were blind. Sure i would rather him do that than kill me, but he shouldn't be doing either.

 

[Ryokan]

This is b.s, they deserve no praise, they wouldn't deserve any praise if they completely said " wrap your rascle.", stopping being a jerk, ( or in this case causing death, among other things.) is not grounds for praise. You cannot expect to be given praise for not doing something evil, they shouldn't have been doing it in the first place. Even a complete reversal of their position would simply put them at the same level as the rest of the civilized world. I don't get praise for not telling people not to use condoms, neither should they, at best they would reap the rewards of us not being able to point it out.

Are you waiting for the day when the Catholic Church does a 180 degree reversal on all their positions? Is that something you could expect?

The enlightenment of the Catholic Church will not come suddenly, if ever. But if it comes, it will be done small step by small step until they finally arrive at the sane position - just like they've done with slavery, the position on Jews, crusades, evolution, etc.

The Catholic Church is one of the most evil and vile organizations in the world, but there's no reason not to give them some positive reinforcements as they take baby steps down a path that could lead them to the same values that other rational human beings in the 21st century hold.

The catholic church seems like the kid who gets yelled at for bringing home nothing but F's as grades. They expects praise when he brings home d-'s. Sure it is better, but not at the acceptable level.

Well, yelling at the kid that he still sucks when he has improved from F to D certainly won't help, will it? But some positive reinforcement would surely help, right? "You're still not doing well, kid, but at least you're doing better! Continue to improve!"

 

[Marduk]

condoning condoms.
prostitutes

condoning prostitution
gay prostitute

How about regular gay sex.

doing something evil,
beat people .

this thread has it all

 

[epix]

It's been shown that the conception and the fetus development cannot take place in the rectal area of a male body. So what does the Holy See worry about?

 

[Aepervius]

What. The. heck.

Is this 1st April ?

I am stunned.

 

[Skeeve]

Does anyone have a link to the original article yet?

I've seen this reported like the OP, using "prostitute", and I've seen it discussed with "gay prostitute" AND "male prostitute.

Someone having translation issues or is there a lot of speculation floating around?

 

[sadhatter]

Are you waiting for the day when the Catholic Church does a 180 degree reversal on all their positions? Is that something you could expect?

The enlightenment of the Catholic Church will not come suddenly, if ever. But if it comes, it will be done small step by small step until they finally arrive at the sane position - just like they've done with slavery, the position on Jews, crusades, evolution, etc.

The Catholic Church is one of the most evil and vile organizations in the world, but there's no reason not to give them some positive reinforcements as they take baby steps down a path that could lead them to the same values that other rational human beings in the 21st century hold.



Well, yelling at the kid that he still sucks when he has improved from F to D certainly won't help, will it? But some positive reinforcement would surely help, right? "You're still not doing well, kid, but at least you're doing better! Continue to improve!"

I have been keying your car for 2 months, i decide to stop and only pee on the windshield.

Are you going to praise me? Or are you going to tell me to stop *********** on your car?

They want praise? Start doing good things, limiting the bad things you do, is still doing bad things.

 

[Ryokan]

I have been keying your car for 2 months, i decide to stop and only pee on the windshield.

Are you going to praise me? Or are you going to tell me to stop *********** on your car?

They want praise? Start doing good things, limiting the bad things you do, is still doing bad things.

Has anyone said the church is worthy of praise? It's a step in the right direction, and I don't see what's the big deal about acknowledging that.

 

[I Ratant]

It's been shown that the conception and the fetus development cannot take place in the rectal area of a male body. So what does the Holy See worry about?

.
I was told years ago in high school that homosexuals (they used a shorter term) had their "sex glands" in their throats.

 

[Trakar]

It makes perfect sense given the premises.

It's birth control that's evil, not a particular piece of hardware as such.

Actually, I think it is sex outside of marriage and for purposes other than procreation and the enhancement of the marriage bonds that are considered perversions. Basically the Pope is saying that the use of a condom does not compound the sin and that these sinners should consider the health issues of not using condoms in the course of their sinful pursuits, particularly as many of them are married and risk the health of their partners (who may not be sinners) in the course of their immoral practices.

 

[Kopji]

Much ado about nothing.
Maybe this will keep a few more Vatican priests from getting aids from each other.

 

[Trakar]

How about regular gay sex that is not prostitution? After all, neither is preventing conception.

According to the church there are only two natural motivations for sex, to procreate within the bonds of marriage, and to strengthen and reinforce the bonds of marriage. Having sex for any other reason is a perversion of these natural motivations and sinful.

Accordingly, all men (and most women) are sinners,...I hope this wasn't a "news flash" moment.

 

[blobru]

God bless the frigid bride.