There’s a lot of complex theology underlying the article’s arguments on behalf of the pope. Here’s a simpler one:
When playing Russian roulette, it’s better to have bullets in one chamber than in six. But how dumb is it to tell people that it’s OK to play Russian roulette, as long as there are empty chambers?
The notion that someone with AIDS would have sex with another person is horrific, with or without condoms. The fact that our culture demands everyone pretends that condoms are 100% failproof is absolute madness.
It’s right, says this bishop, to offer a pinch of incense to Caesar if it will save one’s life. If a rule is hard to obey, then it is OK to violate it.
Good analogy!
That is an excellent analogy! Thanks for sharing it. Its put the argument so much more eloquently than I have ever managed to do!