Vatican: Everyone can use condoms to prevent HIV

[knight_shadow]

Another Yahoo story re: HIV

VATICAN CITY – Using a condom is a lesser evil than transmitting HIV to a sexual partner — even if that means a woman averts a possible pregnancy, the Vatican said Tuesday, signaling a seismic shift in papal teaching as it explained Pope Benedict XVI's comments.

The Vatican has long been criticized for its patent opposition to condom use, particularly in Africa where AIDS is rampant. But the latest interpretation of Benedict's comments about condoms and HIV essentially means the Roman Catholic Church is acknowledging that its long-held, anti-birth control stance against condoms doesn't justify putting someone's life at risk.

"This is a game-changer," said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit editor and writer. "By acknowledging that condoms help prevent spread of HIV between people in sexual relationships, the pope has completely changed the Catholic discussion on condoms."

link

[DrPhil]

Religion aside....

DUH

[knight_shadow]

(more for clarification, and not directed to you, DrPhil, as I'm sure you already know this)

Everyone is allowed to use condoms, not everyone has the ability to use condoms.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

(more for clarification, and not directed to you, DrPhil, as I'm sure you already know this)

Everyone is allowed to use condoms, not everyone has the ability to use condoms.

Perhaps I already know this but with different wording. LOL. What does this mean?

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Perhaps I already know this but with different wording. LOL. What does this mean?

Christians are supposed to have sex with the intent of making children. Wearing condoms prevents that. Now, the Vatican is saying staying clear of STDs > making babies.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Christians are supposed to have sex with the intent of making children. Wearing condoms prevents that. Now, the Vatican is saying staying clear of STDs > making babies.

Do you mean Catholics and not Christians, as a whole?

Anyway, religion aside...DUH.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Do you mean Catholics and not Christians, as a whole?

Mostly Catholics, but I've heard it spill over into other denominations as well.

I guess that wouldn't matter, though, since we're talking about the Vatican

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Anyway, religion aside...DUH.

Lol

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Catholics are not supposed to have sex unless procreation is possible.

Fixed your post for you.

(Apparently, I was a little slow about it, though.)

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Mostly Catholics, but I've heard it spill over into other denominations as well.

I guess that wouldn't matter, though, since we're talking about the Vatican

Yeah, it hasn't spilled over to all denominations and condoms prevent all spillage.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Do you mean Catholics and not Christians, as a whole?

Catholics aren't the only sect that believes sex should be reserved for procreation, although they are the primary (by size).

Either way, this is both a "game-changer" in Vatican terms, and also terribly boring for everyone else. The fact that the Vatican still has to do business like this - making proclamations decades after the fact - seems rough for everyone involved, although I do laud it for doing the right thing here.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Either way, this is both a "game-changer" in Vatican terms, and also terribly boring for everyone else. The fact that the Vatican still has to do business like this - making proclamations decades after the fact - seems rough for everyone involved, although I do laud it for doing the right thing here.

LOL. Thus is the institution of religion.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Catholics aren't the only sect that believes sex should be reserved for procreation . . . .

But those other Christians who believe this tend to be certain fundamentalist Protestants, for whom the position of the Vatican is totally irrelevant.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

But those other Christians who believe this tend to be certain fundamentalist Protestants, for whom the position of the Vatican is totally irrelevant.

Very true. Also there was supposed to be an "unfortunately" in there somewhere re: the fundamentalist segment, since many, many things are irrelevant to them besides the Vatican. Like modernity or common sense or logic or the concept of allegory.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Also there was supposed to be an "unfortunately" in there somewhere re: the fundamentalist segment, since many, many things are irrelevant to them besides the Vatican. Like modernity or common sense or logic or the concept of allegory.

Yep.

[DrPhil]

Uh oh. As long as this doesn't turn into the theology thread mixed with frodobaggins' thread. LOL.