Posted on 08/08/2005 4:17:30 PM PDT by Crackingham
Today the Condoms4Life Campaign unveiled the newest phase of its public education effort to raise public awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the devastating effect of the bishops' ban on condoms as giant billboards went up in the Dom (Cathedral) metro station in Cologne, Germany, proclaiming in German, English and Spanish that "Good Catholics Use Condoms." Eye-catching posters will appear throughout the public transit system starting Friday, 12 August.
The ads -- which can be viewed at http://www.condoms4life.org -- will run for the duration of Catholic World Youth Day, to be celebrated in Cologne from 16-21 August. The Cologne Cathedral is a central location for next week's events. Organizers anticipate 800,000 attendees, many of whom will use the city's public transit system.
"Young people, both Catholic and not, are facing a worldwide pandemic," stated Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a Free Choice, an advocacy organization of Catholics who disagree with Vatican positions on sexuality and reproduction and who launched the Condoms4Life Campaign. "This virus has already contributed to an enormous and tragic loss of life. The Condoms4Life Campaign is necessary because we need to raise awareness about how individuals can protect themselves and their partners. There will be thousands of young people from all over the globe in Cologne for Catholic World Youth Day, and they need to know that good Catholics protect themselves and their loved ones. Good Catholics use condoms."
"The Vatican's ban on condoms is a both a social justice issue and a matter of consequence for Catholics and non-Catholics at risk of HIV/AIDS," added Kissing. "Using condoms saves lives-and using a condom to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS promotes the culture of life that the Vatican calls for. It is time for the Vatican to issue a sound, ethical and compassionate policy on the prevention of HIV/AIDS."
About the Campaign
Condoms4Life is an unprecedented worldwide public education effort initiated to challenge the bishops' misinformation campaign against condoms. It works to promote healthy sexuality, insisting that in the ABC (Abstain, Be Faithful, Use Condoms) approach to preventing the transmission of HIV and AIDS, condoms cannot be ignored and responsible expressions of sexuality cannot be dismissed as immoral.
The campaign was launched by Catholics for a Free Choice on World AIDS Day 2001 with the display of billboards and ads in subways and newspapers around the world saying, "Banning Condoms Kills." Since its inception, Condoms4Life has developed newspaper and billboard advertisements, internet action alerts and educational materials geared to reach Catholics at risk of HIV/AIDS that have appeared in Latin America, North America, Europe and Africa. Condoms4Life has also honored bishops who have promoted sensible and compassionate policies on condom use through its "Good Shepherd" awards, and it has mobilized activists throughout the world to encourage bishops to promote a culture of life by lifting the ban on condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Gute KatholikInnen verwenden Kondome/Buenos catolicos y catolicas usan condones/Good Catholics use condoms.
The Catholic World Youth Day ads focus on young Catholics, gay and straight, and present a positive message of sexuality, responsibility and caring for others. The campaign acknowledges that sexually active gay Catholics are in as much need of information, support and messages about responsibility as the sexually active heterosexual population. This attitude is particularly necessary since the Vatican has come out so vehemently against same-sex relationships.
The ads also appeal to people of faith noting that: "We believe in God. We believe that sex is sacred. We believe in caring for each other. We believe in using condoms." The campaign aims to counter the message sent by the Catholic bishops worldwide that condoms are immoral and unsafe and is a direct challenge to the cardinals and bishops who recently claimed that condoms were helping to spread HIV/AIDS.
"The ads send a message to young people about their responsibilities to one another," said Kissling. "And the campaign respectfully reminds the church of its moral obligation to promote life."
For more information about the campaign, or to view the ads, please visit http://www.condoms4life.org.
The Condoms4Life Campaign is a project of Catholics for Free Choice (CFFC), which shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women's well being and respect and affirm the moral capacity of women and men to make sound decisions about their lives. Through discourse, education and advocacy, CFFC works in the US and internationally to infuse these values into public policy, community life, feminist analysis and Catholic social thinking and teaching.
Good muslims eat pork.
Even devout, Church-going Catholics tend to use some sort of artificial birth control, even if they are opposed to abortion.
Catholics for a Free Choice. Sigh....
The very core of being truly Catholic is that you CHOOSE to be Catholic or Not. THAT is a free choice. Being Catholic does not mean you are set a banquet table of items you do or do not want to select from as a part of your life. CHOOSING to be a Catholic is choosing to obey the doctrines of the Church. Period.
There is a huge divide between being a "devout" and "church going" Catholic. The Catholic Churches are filled with church goers who do not have the faintest idea of what being a devout Catholic is. Devout Catholics rarely use birth control and if they do, they have received a personal dispensation from their local Bishop.
If you want to play Pharisee go ahead.
I wonder how many Catholics there are in "Catholics for Free Choice"? Probably as many as there is pork in a case of Van De Kamps' Pork & Beans.
I've visited Churches all over the country and rarely do I see a family with more than 2-3 kids. Either all of these folks have "great rhythm" or they are not following Rome.
No doubt following the doctrine of Coitus Interruptus, last of the truly great Roman emperors.
Don't know where you go to church, but where I go we have mainly large family's. We have 4 and hope to have more. Natural Family Planning when done properly is just as effective as any other method, Oh well you "birth control Catholics" will not replace yourselves anyway go ahead and put your job or whatever before your faith "catholics for choice is an agent provocateur funded by planned murderhood
Catholics for Free Choice is not now and never has been Catholic. It is an anti-catholic organization using a deceptive name.
*** I've visited Churches all over the country and rarely do I see a family with more than 2-3 kids. Either all of these folks have "great rhythm" or they are not following Rome. ***
At my Parish in San Antonio, it's not unusual for families to have six or more kids-here's a great story about one or our Parish families with fourteen kids.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/stories/MYSA072605.01P.Spalding_family.c7c46c3.html
I don't know why this tirade is directed against me. I'm neither Christian nor a Catholic, nor do I have anything against Christians or Catholics practicing their faith as they see fit.
sorry it was not diricted at you personaly, i am still trying to figure out the reply 2 thing
I see they go to Our Lady of Atonement, not a big surprise at all based on what I have heard about the parish. Its intresting how the parishes that still fully profess the Catholic faith are the ones with large familes.
And the large congregations. Rather than meet them halfway, Vatican II gave the relativists an excuse to slacken in their faith.
It's depressing and I'm exhausted. I wish people wouldn't just stop having kids they can't take care of. Because then I get stuck with them.
Ahem. I mean, I wish people WOULD just stop having kids they can't take care of. (Told you I was exhausted.)
Thank you, now I don't have to say it.
If these clowns can't or will not follow the teachings of the church, they need to leave...it's simple.
Why can't people be honest with themselves? They're all about selfishness and convenience. If they would stay chaste, there would be no problem.
Always notice that the Cath. for free choice have old liberal sisters whose days for sex, abortions or anything else are over anyway.
2000 years and they expect the church to turn upside down for them. "Everybody's doing it", oh yeah...tell it to the judge. Kissling and her 9 members need the long form of exorcism, this is evil at it's dumbest. The first to say, "I love my church"...
They will never change the church, the church will change them.
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