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

[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.

[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]

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

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

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

Beetlejuice!

[itb2a]

Using Yahoo as a serious news source is foolish. What Yahoo attributes to the Pope is sensationalized, misrepresented, and misquoted. In the cause of balance and correctness, you can read the following: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/11/what-...-really-say-2/.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by itb2a

Using Yahoo as a serious news source is foolish. What Yahoo attributes to the Pope is sensationalized, misrepresented, and misquoted. In the cause of balance and correctness, you can read the following: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/11/what-...-really-say-2/.

The "serious news source" is the Associated Press, not Yahoo . . . I'm totally sure some guy's blog is a much better source though.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by itb2a

Using Yahoo as a serious news source is foolish. What Yahoo attributes to the Pope is sensationalized, misrepresented, and misquoted. In the cause of balance and correctness, you can read the following: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/11/what-...-really-say-2/.

No, this is basically what was said. The pope isn't saying that condoms are awesome, but that it is more acceptable to use condoms than to spread STIs. It would be even MORE acceptable not to be having sex outside of marriage for example, but it's considered a small step.

So what K_s said above was accurate and this is a shift in position from the Pope.

You on the other hand, were annoying and not particularly informative.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by itb2a

Using Yahoo as a serious news source is foolish. What Yahoo attributes to the Pope is sensationalized, misrepresented, and misquoted. In the cause of balance and correctness, you can read the following: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/11/what-...-really-say-2/.

LOL at that suggestion that the linked blog is "balanced."

I'll take the AP over the blog. Or how about the Catholic News Service, which reported:

Even before the book's release, media attention centered on the pope's remarks on condoms in AIDS prevention. While repeating his view that condoms cannot be the only answer to the AIDS epidemic, the pope allowed that in some specific cases -- for example, that of male prostitutes -- use of a condom could be a step toward taking moral responsibility for one's actions.

And which also reported:

Technically, Catholics are not required to agree with Pope Benedict XVI's comments on political and even theological issues in a new book-length interview, but they do owe the pope respect, a Vatican official said.

"It is an interview, not a magisterial act, but it is still the pope speaking and he deserves respect," said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization.