Posted on 12/19/2006 5:18:59 PM PST by Soothesayer
The Roman Catholic church has taken the first step towards what could be a historic shift away from its total ban on the use of condoms. Pope Benedict XVI's "health minister" is understood to be urging him to accept that in restricted circumstances - specifically the prevention of Aids - barrier contraception is the lesser of two evils.
The recommendations, which have not been made public, still have to be reviewed by the traditionally conservative Vatican department responsible for safeguarding theological orthodoxy, and then by the Pope himself, before any decision is made.
The rethink, commissioned by Pope Benedict following his election last year, could save millions of lives around the world. It is likely to be raised today when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has his first full discussion with the Pope at an audience in the Vatican.
Campaigners and organisations involved in the fight against Aids have long been pressing the Vatican to change its stance on condoms, which they believe obstructs attempts to save millions of lives. Last year the head of HIV/Aids at the World Health Organisation initiated talks with the Vatican to see if any movement could be made on the issue.
The Mexican cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, who heads the papal department responsible for health issues, revealed on Tuesday that he had completed the first stage of the review. A 200-page report, reflecting opinion within the church, had been sent to the Pope and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's "theology ministry", he said.
He did not reveal its conclusions. But Cardinal Barragán is known to favour reform and Vatican sources said it was highly likely that he had come out in support of using condoms in marriages where one of the partners was HIV-positive....
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Wishful thinking.
This at the same time than many evangelicals are re-considering their traditional embrace of contraception. I'm all for using condoms when your spouse has HIV, but I see this one spiralling out of control into the culture's typical sexual nihilism.
I am so sick and tired of hearing this rubbish without any evidence. Until we know EXACTLY what the Vatican will say all of this rushing to (liberal) judgment makes no sense.
Quote from the article: "The rethink, commissioned by Pope Benedict following his election last year, could save millions of lives around the world."
Nonsense. People who follow Church teaching, especially when married to other people who follow Church teaching, rarely if ever develop AIDS. It has nothing to do with condoms and everything to do with common sense abstinence, chastity and faithfulness in marriage!
How would that be possible?
It's hard to believe that there are that many folks having otherwise-sanctioned sex who are not using condoms just because the Vatican says no.
And if you disregard what the Vatican says about having sex, why would you care about their condom rules?
A man who is HIV positive who has sex with an uninfected person is about the lowest form of humanity on earth.
Another B.S. article.
Just like the one that said the Vatican was 'rethinking' gays in the church, which the Vatican has flatly denied.
More B.S. from the same B.S. source.
My God, what next? Condoning sex in non-missionary positions?
Don't think Benedict is gonna change his tune.
Who let this leak out?
Many couples are willing to rely on condoms for protection in order to maintain an intimate relationship in the marriage.
It's up to both parties involved if they want to take that risk.
Precisely. Thank you.
Yes, ideally this is the case.
But millions of Christians with solid moral convictions STILL fail to live a 100% perfect life.
I think the Vatican will eventually support condoms...for Muslims.
Wishful thinking is right. Back in the days after Vatican II the entire study group recommended that Pope Paul VI should legitimize artificial birth control.
He ignored the report and wrote Humanae Vitae instead.
Condoms not only violate the natural law and the God-given purpose of sexuality, as well as two thousand years of Church teaching, they have been demonstrated to spread disease rather than prevent it. STDs have skyrocketed everywhere since they were popularized.
They are not simultaneous events.
Nor are they discrete actions, rather continuous procedures that continue for some brief timespan (perhaps repeatedly, or only once).
Weighing the profundity of one choice against the other is an absurd exercise altogether. Not worth a moment of reason.
I don't know about anyone one else, but I hates shifting condoms!
FMCDH(BITS)
Sure. An intimate little game of Russian Roulette.
Yes it is. But a risk many are willing to take in order to maintain an intimate relationship with the person they love.
Many Studies show that Con-doms Increase the chance of Disease rather than what "doctors" and "professers" wand you to Think.
There is No defense for Using these - Did you know they Were once made of Sheepgut??? A blaspheme right There.
Love means never putting her life in danger to get your rocks off.
Face it. Not all people share your definition of "love".
>>
After decades of opposition, Vatican view on condoms begins to shift
<<
Hopeful MSM thinking. Their dream headline would be: "After decades of opposition, Vatican view on condoms begins to slip"
And Pope Benedict will tell him to take a flying leap.
That's true. Many people confuse sexual gratification with love.
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