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

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'd help, but I don't really know how to send stunned silence and a bewildered look via email. Perhaps attach a video clip?

I should start filming before I open any of her emails.

AND AREA CODE 818 IS NOT, REPEAT, NOT IN THE UKRAINE, Aunt Rosella!

 

[Sledge]

I should start filming before I open any of her emails.

The skeptical version of 2 girls 1 cup reaction videos? Could catch on.

 

[quarky]

I think Ratzinger is cute. I love his outfits. He reminds me of an older, more Nazi-like Jesus.
Everything he says is important because he is the best at what he does in the whole world, and it doesn't matter if none of it makes a lick of sense.

The issue here is respect. And maybe some money and stuff.
Domini, domini

 

[fuelair]

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

































* as long as they are only worn on your thumbs!! And used to pick your ear - or someone else's ear.

 

[Olowkow]

Vatican: Condoms For HIV Prevention A Good Idea For Everyone

If I remember correctly, the package used to say something like "Sold for prevention of disease only." It would seem the pope finally read the label.

 

[Craig4]

Do you suppose he had a personal or self protective motive for suggesting gay prostitutes wear condoms? Over its long history, lots of weird stuff has happened in the Vatican.

 

[Sledge]

Unpleasant though the thought is, imagine how much worse the child abuse scandal would be if it turned out a priest had infected a child with something like AIDS as well. As a cynic, I wonder if this is Palpatine's way of telling priests to at least use protection when they're screwing around.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

PZ just posted this:

 

[epeeist]

Not speaking (or reading) Italian or German, I haven't read the original. The "more dangerous" quote led to some discussion at the time on these boards, which if I recall, some of the more analytical posters noted that some secular experts noted that widespread condom use did appear to promote riskier behaviour and to some extent agreed that e.g. the ABC approach was preferred. Not to mention that if there is a problem of men raping wives, girlfriends, strangers, (and children, babies, etc. because they believe sex with a virgin cures HIV/AIDS), that problem is not solved by distributing condoms.

That said, my understanding from the articles and analyses I have read and discussion with others better-informed, is something like:

The Pope said what he did in part to force discussion of the issue within the Church (he is not an absolute monarch and cannot unilaterally state Church doctrine, except in certain situations/conditions involving religious doctrine, NOT moral issues - a number of "conservative" Catholics or groups are upset with the Pope right now...);

Whether the translation was prostitute or male prostitute, the point was to give an example where the purpose was clearly avoiding disease and harm when the behaviour (though objectionable) was going to happen anyway, i.e. in mitigation, to force discussion of other situations such as husband-and-wife with one HIV-positive.

 

[Mahaha]

As an Italian I happen to read the stuff that comes out of the pope's mouth almost on a daily basis, and let me tell you: I don't even think that he understands what he's saying.
His pronounciation of italian is terrible, during his speeches it looks like he's just reading without understading.

This was only the premise: the thing is that he says stuff that is completely out of any good logic. Last year he actually said that the use of condom doesn't reduce the transmission of venereal diseases (HIV in particular), and now he's not saying that instead it does: he's just publishing a book, kind of an apology of all the crap he's said since he's been put there.

Trust me, he's said a lot of idiotic stuff. I mean, of all the religious people I know, only a couple of them actually likes the pope.
Now he's just trying to do some damage control

 

[king catfish]

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.

I agree. ALL religion is evil, ALWAYS, and the only way any religious leader will ever earn praise from me is when he/she announces the dissolution of his/her religion and its organization. **** you, Benedict.

 

[Craig4]

Maybe he just wants to make sure none of the children his priests are raping get an STD. What a guy.

 

[icerat]

Hell, Michigan was a bit nippy, but above freezing.

It's well below zero in Hell in this part of the world.