Pope: Condoms Can Be Justified in Some Cases
- Posted on November 20, 2010 at 4:53pm by
Scott Baker
- Print »
- Email »
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has opened the door on the previously taboo subject of condoms as a way to fight HIV, saying male prostitutes who use condoms may be beginning to act responsibly. It’s a stunning comment for a pontiff who has blamed condoms for making the AIDS crisis worse.
The pope made the comments in an interview with a German journalist published as a book entitled “Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times,” which is being released Tuesday. The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano ran excerpts on Saturday.
Church teaching has long opposed condoms because they are a form of artificial contraception, although the Vatican has never released an explicit policy about condoms and HIV. The Vatican has been harshly criticized for its position.
Benedict said that condoms are not a moral solution to stopping AIDS. But he said in some cases, such as for male prostitutes, their use could represent a first step in assuming moral responsibility “in the intention of reducing the risk of infection.”
Benedict made the comment in response to a general question about Africa, where heterosexual HIV spread is rampant.
He used as a specific example male prostitutes, for whom contraception is not usually an issue, but did not mention married couples where one spouse is infected. The Vatican has come under pressure from even church officials to condone condom use for such monogamous married couples to protect the uninfected spouse from transmission.
Benedict drew the wrath of the United Nations, European governments and AIDS activists when, en route to Africa in 2009, he told reporters that the AIDS problem on the continent couldn’t be resolved by distributing condoms. “On the contrary, it increases the problem,” he said then.
Journalist Peter Seewald, who interviewed Benedict over the course of six days this summer, raised the Africa condom comments, asking him if it wasn’t “madness” for the Vatican to forbid a high-risk population from using condoms.
“There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility,” Benedict said.
Asked if that meant that the church wasn’t opposed in principle to condoms, the pope replied:
The church “of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but in this or that case, there can be nonetheless in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality,” according to an English translation of the book obtained by The Associated Press.
Elsewhere in the book he reaffirmed church teaching opposing artificial contraception.
“How many children are killed who might one day have been geniuses, who could have given humanity something new, who could have given us a new Mozart or some new technical discovery?” he asked rhetorically.
He reiterated the church’s position that abstinence and marital fidelity is the only sure way to prevent HIV.
The English publisher of the book, Rev. Joseph Fessio, said the pope was not justifying condom use as a lesser of two evils.
“This is not a justification,” he said. Rather, “The intention of protecting the other from disease, of using a condom, may be a sign of an awakening moral responsibility.”
However, the Rev. Jim Martin, a Catholic writer, said the comments were certainly a departure, an exception where there had never been an exception before.
“While some bishops and archbishops have spoken in this way, the pope has never affirmed this,” Martin said. “And it’s interesting that he uses as an example someone who is trying to act morally to someone else by not passing on an infection, which was always the stance of those people who favored condoms in cases of HIV and AIDS. So it does mark a departure.”
The English translation of the original German specified “male prostitute.” The Italian translation in L’Osservatore Romano, however, used the feminine “prostitute.” The discrepancy wasn’t immediately clear.
Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, the Vatican’s longtime top official on bioethics and sexuality, elaborated on the pontiff’s comments, stressing that it was imperative to “make certain that this is the only way to save a life.“ Sgreccia told the Italian news agency ANSA that that is why the pope on the condom issue ”dealt with it in the realm of the exceptional.”
The condom question was one that “needed an answer for a long time,” Sgreccia said. “If Benedict XVI raised the question of exceptions, this exception must be accepted … and it must be verified that this is the only way to save life. This must be demonstrated,” Sgreccia said.
In the 1960s, the Vatican itself condoned giving contraceptive pills to nuns at risk of rape by fighters in the Congo to prevent pregnancy, arguing that the contraception was a lesser evil than pregnancy.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans said clearly the pope wasn’t encouraging condom use.
“I think the pope has been very strong in saying condoms do not solve the problem of morality and do not solve the problem of good sex education. But if a person chooses not to follow the teaching of Christ in the church, they are at least obliged to prevent another person from contracting a disease that is deadly,” he said.
In Africa, Benedict’s comments drew praise among gays and AIDS activists.
“If he’s talking about condoms, it’s a step in the right direction,” said David Kamau, who heads the nonprofit Kenya Treatment Access Movement. “It’s accepting the reality on the ground … If the Church has failed to get people to follow its moral values and practice abstinence, they should take the next best step and encourage condom use.”
John Kitte, a gay Ugandan, said the pope was acting as a good parent.
“He minds about all the people living on earth. What he has suggested is very good and I encourage gays to take his advice seriously.”
But an evangelist pastor in the Uganda capital of Kampala, Solomon Male, argued the pope shouldn’t be granting any recognition of or encouragement to gays.
“If the Pope is saying so, then he has not read the Bible,” he said. “Gay acts are bad. It is abominable and should not take place.”
Christian Weisner, of the pro-reform group We Are Church in the pope’s native Germany, said the pope’s comments were “surprising, and if that‘s the case one can be happy about the pope’s ability to learn.”
In other comments in the book, Benedict said:
— If a pope is no longer physically, psychologically or spiritually capable of doing his job, then he has the “right, and under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign.”
—He was surprised by the scale of clerical sex abuse, particularly in his native Germany, and acknowledged that the Vatican could have better communicated its response. “One can always wonder whether the pope should not speak more often.”
— On Islam in Europe, he declined to endorse such moves as France‘s banning the burqa or Switzerland’s citizen referendum to forbid topping mosques with minarets.
“Christians are tolerant, and in that respect they also allow others to have their self-image,“ Benedict replied when asked if Christians should be ”glad” about such initiatives. “As for the burqa, I can see no reason for a general ban.”
— On Pope Pius XII, the wartime pontiff accused by some Jewish groups of staying publicly silent on the Holocaust: Some historians have asked the Vatican to put Pius’ sainthood process on hold until the Holy See opens up its archives from his papacy. But Benedict said an internal “inspection” of those unpublished documents failed to support “negative” allegations against Pius.
“It is perfectly clear that as soon as he protested publicly, the Germans would have ceased to respect” Vatican extraterritoriality of convents and monasteries who were sheltering Jews from the Nazi occupiers in Rome. “The thousands who had found a safe haven … would have been surely deported,” Benedict argued.
In the book, Benedict also offers insights into his private life, saying he enjoys watching TV at home in the evenings with his secretaries and the four women who take care of his apartment, preferring the news and an Italian TV show from decades ago “Don Camillo and Peppone” about a parish priest and his bumbling assistant.
He said he always wears his white cassock, never a sweater, and wears an old Junghans watch that was left to him by his sister when she died. When he prays, he said, he prays to the Lord as well as the saints and considers himself good friends with Sts. Augustine, Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas.
In the book, he comes across as open, charming and funny — and deeply concerned about his church, its people and their future.
He reflects on the legacy of the landmark 1968 encyclical, “Humanae vitae,” where Pope Paul VI laid out the church’s opposition to artificial contraception. Decades later, “the basic lines of ‘Humanae vitae’ are still correct.”
Still, the pope said, sexual ethics today pose a huge question. “It is correct there is much in this area that needs to be pondered and expressed in new ways.”
He championed the church’s advocacy of the so-called “rhythm method,” by which a married couple who don’t want to conceive avoid intercourse on days when the woman is likely to be fertile, saying that is “not just a method but a way of life.”
“And that is something fundamentally different from when I take the pill without binding myself interiorly to another person, so that I can jump into bed with a random acquaintance,” Benedict said.
____
Associated Press reporters Katharine Houreld in Nairobi, Kenya; Godfrey Olukya in Kampala, Uganda; Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans and Rachel Zoll in New York contributed to this report.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 577 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 372 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 343 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 404 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 343 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 150 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 403 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (84)
FreedomIQ
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:48pmLeftists identified with the collectivist gene and tendency towards unnaturally bad temperament in the form of collective functioning. They should definitely be required to wear condoms. We need to stop the spread of the TSA, I mean, STDs…Sexually Transmitted Democrats. ;)
Report Post »Harmony
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:21pm50 years ago the Catholic church looked into the crystal ball and wrote about what will happen if artificial contraception became widely available. Their analysis included that a growing number of people will not make a marriage commitment if artificial contraception were allowed, because in a committed marriage relationship one is drawn into responsibility and self control. Sex will become increasingly only a material/physical act throughout our culture and we will see family breakdown. There will also be other societal problems related to the wide use of artificial contraception such as the dehumanization of the individual. The Catholic church did strongly support natural family planning for the opposite reason. It does require self control and builds stronger relationships because it strengthens the committed marriage relationship.
Report Post »Agentuntomyself
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:16pmOkay, I’m not Catholic, so maybe I don’t understand all the intricacies of Catholic religious doctrine, but this seems totally irrational. I mean, what does it matter (from a moral standpoint) if they are using condoms or not, if they are committing sodomy. Isn’t that considered a sin in the Catholic church?
Report Post »Johnny Sokko
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:21amThe particular sin of sodomy isn‘t the Pope’s point. What he was saying was that, by using the condom, the male prostitute was demonstrating a concern for his sexual partner, in that the prostitute was trying to prevent his partner from contracting AIDS. The Pope was saying that the prostitute, by showing such concern for another person, was not lost and could still be saved. The condom, in this case, becomes a symbol of the prostitute’s humanity, which is still present, though it is corrupt. If the prostitute follows the way that leads from his concern for other people, then he can come to the right path and save himself and his soul.
This Pope was a teacher and philosopher before becoming Pontiff. Sometimes, you have to read his comments like you would a college philosophy textbook, because that’s how he writes and speaks. It *can* be a little confusing; you just have to take the time to read carefully and look at everything the Pope said, not just one or two words or lines.
Hope it helps!
Report Post »chatom
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 8:35pmBeing a ex-Catholic I think its funny how they are so involved in conception yet do not allow their church leaders to be married and “Be fruitful and multiply” like God told everyone to do. Why do they think they get a pass on following God’s rules. That is one of the main reasons I an no longer a Catholic. I’m married to a Catholic so we have some interesting sometimes heated debates.
Report Post »john654
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:16pmJesus, who is God, never told “everyone” to be fruitful and multiply.
Report Post »John
red penny
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:18pmI’ve always wondered how a catholic could vote for a pro abortion political candidate.Our Prez.“THE CHIEF FOOL” garnered a majority of the catholic vote–go figure,I guess!!!
Report Post »chatom
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:38amWell John, who did he tell it to? Just a select few, just the ones who wanted to?
Report Post »GENESIS 1:28: “Be fruitful and multiply”. He told Adam and Eve who passed it on down through the generations. The church only made their archaic rule because Jesus never married. I could almost bet that if he had they would never had made it a rule. They also lost many good people who wanted to be priest but could not give up that part of their life. It would be interesting to know what God says to the Popes when they arrive in Heaven about their ungodly laws.
jcons114
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 8:33pmHey guys I found this article…maybe this will help the confusion. http://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-pope-said-what-about-condoms/
Report Post »john654
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:24pmThanks for posting the link. Even here at The Blaze people are just looking for headlines! Too Bad.
John
Report Post »red penny
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 8:22pmToo bad “BUCKWHEAT” O“LOSER”S father didn’t use a condom.
Report Post »Goohuman
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 8:02pmI just want to know — What male prostitute would use a condom because the Pope says it is okay now? Seriously? What difference does that make?
The whole point of contraception is to keep a pregnancy from occurring. The additional side effect for condoms is that little to no fluid is transferred preventing many infections or viruses from being transferred between partners. So the Pope recognizes the obvious and speaks for those who will not listen.
If a Pope speaks in a forest of sinners and there is no Christian around to hear him, does he make a sound?
Report Post »Cyhort
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:59pmSince male prostitutes clients are usually men I have to laugh at the pope unintentionally endorsing homosexuality. And to the people saying that condoms are evil, grow up. I generally don’t have a problem with Christianity like most atheists do but there are just some things you guys need to let go.
Report Post »sullinsea
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:04pmI have to laugh at such an exhibition of incapacity for critical reasoning that anyone would conclude from the story that the Pope endorsed homosexuality. He viewed realization by the male prostitute that he should seek not spread infection through inherently immoral conduct as the first step toward a moral understanding that our sexual conduct should be humanized rather than banalized.
You want to bargain with God about your sexual conduct, feel free.
Report Post »Johnny Sokko
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:57amSullensea, thank you for getting it. I‘m quite surprised that so many here don’t seem to and are demonstrating such prejudice against the Church. I thought Glenn’s viewers were above stuff like that, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. People often show their worst selves when hiding behind the keyboard and computer screen.
Report Post »dimbulb
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:57pmIf a news headline contains the words “Lindsey Lohan” and “police” you can probably take the story as reported by the media as accurate. If the headline contains the words“Pope” and “condoms” it is perhaps best to view the thing with doubt. Moral theologian Janet Smith looks at what the Pope really-and didn’t really-say.http://www.catholicworldreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=220:pope-benedict-on-condoms-in-qlight-of-the-worldq&catid=53:cwr2010&Itemid=70
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:40pmThe Pope is a Nazi that believes he is Jesus Christ on Earth.
john654
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 8:25pmSINISTA MACE,
Report Post »Your name say it all!
John
rpp
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:08pmActually, the Pope did not say condom use was okay. Here is a link to what the question was and what his actual answer is :http://www.catholicworldreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=220:pope-benedict-on-condoms-in-qlight-of-the-worldq&catid=53:cwr2010&Itemid=70
Report Post »sullinsea
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:05pmNVRFORGET – actually, Roman Catholics are the largest single American Christian denomination, making up about 25% of our population.
Why is this surprising? Assuming he is referring to homosexual male prostitutes, there is no possibility of conception, ergo condoms do not even have a contraceptive function. When gay men start dropping babies out of their rear ends then it might have a moral dimension.
The moral dimension is that one should not engage in prostitution in the first place. When people live moral lives STD transmission goes way down. Condoms are just prophylactic and give a false sense of certain safety.
Report Post »Nvrforget
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:51pmDenomination yes, but the myriad of protestant sects that all follow more or less the same faith make up a larger part of the population if I remember correctly. Largely, those protestant sects are closer to each other than to catholicism. Note that I’m not completely sure about this, but it wasn’t my main point anyway.
What my post was about is that the use of condoms prevents the spread of AIDS. Telling people to live moral lives is fine and dandy, but some just won’t. Especially in large parts of Africa, it’s considered more advantageous for a family to wed off their daughters to men who are HIV+ than not at all and HIV is a huge health problem there. Anything that reduces the risk of transmission is okay in my book, and if this gets staunchly catholic people (Catholicism is VERY big in Africa) to accept condom use I can‘t see how it’d hurt.
Report Post »john654
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:45pmMale prostitutes are already in Mortal/deadly sin as outlined in the Bible. The pope would probably like a killer not to use bullets in a gun too. The Pope wants to keep these people alive in the hopes that one day they repent and in the mean time they don’t kill anyone. Contraception is an intrinsic evil that says no to the Holy Spirit.
John
Report Post »jcons114
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:32pmI never said that it never happens. sadly it has. but less than 1% have done it (and yes that is 1 too many, I totally agree). and the people who covered it up were the incompetent bishops who bought into the “send them to therapy and they’ll be fine” BS (which is how everyone treated a pedophile in those days).These cases were all from before the 80s. and I know for a fact that the church has better screening for its seminarians (being that I was a seminarian). Canon law has been revised and new proceedures are in place. I’m sorry, Apatriot for jumping down your throat, but your comment just seemed to be yet another cheap shot against the priesthood that i love and respect. something which I have grown tired of.
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:43pmI meant no disrepect to you. But I have a habit of wanting to say what is true. Maybe too much so, but I see no other way than the truth. I am not against religion, never have been. I hold my close and dear. I also do not shy away from what is wrong in organized religion. Turning the light on makes that which is hidden be seen. And so much needs to be seen. In every subject we could ever discuss. Truth is what makes me go round. Lies makes me crazy.
To those I offened with the truth, I apologize. And I leave you to your Blaze. I think Glenn would be disappointed.
GeeWhiz
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:05pmBut partial truth isn’t the whole truth. There is a difference between alluding to SOME priests have done this as opposed to an open ended slam which implicates all priests or the entire religion, and then hiding behind wanting to ‘tell the truth’.
And that‘s important if you think that the ’truth’ is important. What one leaves out is just as important as what one puts in.
On a side note, priest jokes/slams are old. If someone hates the Catholic church, it’s far more honorable to me to flat out say that they hate it versus the drib drab one-liners. Most especially because no priests or church administrators ever read these posts, and therefore, only the Catholics themselves get to be insulted over something that they had nothing to do with.
This said as someone that was raised Catholic and is currently not a practicing anything. Even for myself, it gets old. Almost as old as blaming Bush for bad weather or a bad hair day. Yeah yeah, tell another blonde joke, it’s so funny. :p
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:24pmHey Obama_2012, Good news, you can wear a condom at work!
Report Post »khandahar&jalalabad
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 8:51pmBam!!!
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:47pmWonder if catholic priests can use them when they molest little boys to prevent passage of std’s
jcons114
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:55pmThat was uncalled for!! The vast majority of Priests are faithful to their vows and have never been guilty of wrongdoing. I though ppl on this site were supposed to be respectful. God bless our Priests and pray for vocations.
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:58pm@jcons114
Are you saying it never happened or happens? Because it did and does. Not by a majority, but even a few is more than enough. Especailly when it is hidden and covered up.
APatriotFirst
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:02pmI was respectful…and honest. Do you know which priest is a molester? NO! Not until they are caught. Then it is covered up.
dontbotherme
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:24pmAre you angry at all religious denominations that have black marks anywhere in their history or are you just targeting your anger towards Catholicism?
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:36pm@dontbotherme
Neither. Why does the truth get people bent out of shape? I have nothing against any religion. Except for the radical islamic muslims. Who totally disregards the koran.
If what I say bothers some, so be it. But the truth is there to be spoken. And perhaps thopught about and discussed. Perhaps I was wrong about Mr. Beck wanting truth to prevail.
Steverino
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:01pmApatriot-
I think the issue is the tone you used. I’m no holy roller, but if it was an attempt at humor, which it may have been, I think you missed the mark.
There have been, and will continue to be, major head cases in the Catholic (or any) faith. Human nature does not intrinsically change. There always will be “bad apples.” I have often wondered if the vow of celibacy plays a role. Sexual congress is a basic human instinct, and I believe denying that takes more willpower than the vast majority of us could handle.
Just my two cents,
Steve
Report Post »Check my Blog:
http://stephencharles-poppin-off.blogspot.com/
Byzantine-Catholic
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:04pmCheap shot.. This says more about YOU than the pope
Report Post »westy98530
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:05pmWhy don’t you inform your opinion before you buy into the liberal distortions that have been spread by the media about the Catholic Church. While any abuse is inexcusable, abuse by Protestant clergy actually exceeds abuse by Catholic Priests annually, and both are vastly below the rate of abuse by teachers. Like I said, this doesn’t excuse anybody, but it needs to be looked at IN CONTEXT. The reality is that the Catholic Church is singled out by the liberal press because of its largely conservative stance on moral issues (abortion, sexuality, etc). By undermining the Church’s moral authority, they successfully silenced a potent threat to the pro-abortion, pro-gay, anti-christian movement of the left.
Report Post »helgothjb
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:08amIf you did any research you would know that it was gay priests that were committing homosexual acts with post-pubescent males, not children. This was and is a gay problem.
Report Post »jcons114
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:46pmNote that this does not change church teaching on contraception…it is still immoral! Stop thinking that the Pope can change whatever he want please…its not in his power to do so. And Mrbutcher, Yes the Pope is the shepherd of the Catholic flock and is its teacher in all things of faith and morals…Wher Protestants continuously bicker and divide over doctrine…Catholics remain united under the care of the Petrine ministry!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:16pmCatholics are are slightly ignorant but dont worry God still loves you
Byzantine-Catholic
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:05pmAmen Brother!
Report Post »Buttercup
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 4:27pmPsychosis, you are an anti-Catholic bigot!
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:43pmHe made a comment about male prostitutes using a condom in order to help stop the spread of Aids. Hmmm…. common sense change in order to help humanity. The rest of this article did not give the context of his comments, so it doesn’t mean much.
Report Post »jcons114
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:50pmI agree, there is no context….what was this in response to? of course it doesn’t matter when it comes to Catholics, especially faithful Catholics and the hierarchy. We get targeted by the MSM and MSNBC all the time for everything and anything we say or do since it doesn’t conform with the progressive mindset.
Report Post »Rita
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:07pmCome on…..If your a male prostitute how religious can you be and do you really care what the Pope says about condoms? What about female prostitues, do they get to pass out condoms to their tricks? Why do women always get the shaft in organized religion?
Report Post »Pyx
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:36pmThe Pope used the word, “the” !!! OMG ! He said, “T-H-E” !!! The world is coming to an end ! Everyone run for your life ! … or not.
Report Post »Pyx
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:41pmPerhaps my comments are to subtle. In short, context counts.
Report Post »BubbaCoop
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:33pmThe pope also said that if a pope is physically, psychologically or spiritually capable” of doing his job, then he has the “right, and under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign.”
What?
Report Post »MozarkDawg
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:51pmThat stuck out to me as well — I’m wondering, was there a translation/transcript error, perhaps it was supposed to be “incapable”? That would make more sense.
Report Post »M31Sailor
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 11:13pmHow about a president??
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:36amWe will have to wait and read the book to understand what that was all about. It has me scratching my head also.
PatriotShops.com
Report Post »cotuit
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:26pmI hope the Pope will also make an exception for 13 gen.. Think of the consequences.
Report Post »Rita
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:59pmGood one!
Report Post »SubHuman
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:20pmInteresting ruling coming from the “Glory of the Olive”. Oh well, time is short…
In the last persecution of the Holy Roman Church, Peter the Roman will hold the see,
Report Post »who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations:
and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed,
and the terrible judge will judge his people.
Danglinbags
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:09pmMaybe now the priests will use them to prevent spread of disease to the children.
Buttercup
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 4:26pmYour comment is hateful and despicable.
Report Post »dilitzthorn
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:03pmInteresting statement coming from the previous enforcer of the catholic doctrine. The times are a changing!
Report Post »krevello
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:48pmthe question is why is he taking this stance when sodomy is a sin?
Report Post »SHTFMilitia.com
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 7:09amYea galileo, aliens, and now sodomy.
If you are prepared you may survive,
Report Post »http://www.shtfmilitia.com
MrButcher
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:03pmtook him long enough.
do we really need a pope to tell us such things?
Report Post »Nvrforget
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:26pmWe? Probably not. Catholicism isn’t exactly the biggest Christian sect in America.
Deeply religious Africans however might benefit from his comments.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:57pmI think they would benefit more from rejecting celestial dictatorships and terrestial despots like the pope and instead try to aquire knowledge and reasoning capabilities enough to know that unprotected sex can kill you.
MAULEMALL
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:01pmWe cput them over the barrels of our rifles … Kept out the dirt and water..
Thanks Popeguy..
Report Post »felina g
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:08pmGee Wally, does this include the Duggars ?
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:13pm@felina…………the duggars can afford their kids
Report Post »A1955Rosie
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 7:28pmGod gave man a woman the beautiful freebie of sex. It was up to us to use it wisely to prevent unwanted children. Condoms, birth control, things of that nature work great to that extent. Why oh why would the church take such a stance here yet continue to deny women (for we all know they are the ones left holding the bag) a real supportive stance. Instead the give women “crickets” support on birth control to which leaves government and their muddy feet stepping in on abortions and they believe that’s fine all the way up to TWO YEARS OF AGE. Women…can we get togeather and have our own resolve for future generations to a goodness of moral value and mankind? Men….clearly are not capeable of offering up real solutions that have resolved morally.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:43pmI was raised Catholic.. the last time I listened to the pope was……………………….oh ya NEVER.. .. he’s merely a guy who got ahead of the rest of the priests by being OLD.. None of the CATHOLIC leaders have EVER impressed me.. a good priest making a good Sunday sermon NOW that impresses me.. those that worship the Pope are no more Christian than those who worship other idols over our Lord..
Report Post »jzs
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:39pmA1955Rosie, I’m not sure I follow you, but I think I’m on your side. In my opinion, the Catholic idea that procreation should not be prevented (except by abstinence) is outdated and harmful I think. Religious opinions have to evolve to adapt to a changing world if they want to continue their good works. And the world is changing, and no person, no group, no government, no religion can’t stop the change. I’m taking a position on whether I think the changes are good or bad, but no one can stop the changes whatever they are. We all can all adapt or be left in the dustbin of history.
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:33amMrButcher,
Why do you go out of your way to mock Chistians and our faith?
PatriotShops.com
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:40amMr. Butcher…its nice to see some things don’t change.Your still nuttier than a 3 dollar bill. Get off your mom’s laptop.
Report Post »nsblues
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:03amCould you all be any more ignorant of catholic teaching. Bashing what you don’t understand makes you know better than liberals and progressives.
Report Post »nsblues
Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:04ammakes you no better* Take your anti-catholic hate elsewhere.
Report Post »