Faith

Vatican Clarifies on Condoms: Contraception Is Still Forbidden

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Sunday cautioned that there is nothing “revolutionary” in Pope Benedict XVI’s startling assertion that condom use in exceptional circumstances can be a responsible act in the fight against the spread of HIV.

The Holy See’s chief spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, issued a statement stressing that the pope’s comment in a book being published Tuesday neither “reforms or changes” church teaching, which forbids use of condoms and other contraceptives.

Neither was Benedict “morally justifying” the unbridled exercise of sexuality, Lombardi added.

The pope maintains that condom use to lessen the danger of infection is a “first assumption of responsibility,” the statement said, quoting from the book.

“The reasoning of the pope cannot certainly be defined as a revolutionary turn,” the spokesman said.

The pope spoke in an interview given to a German journalist. Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano on Saturday published excerpts from the book, “Light of the World,” three days ahead of publication.

In the interview, Benedict says that in certain cases, such as for a male prostitute, condom use could be a first step in assuming moral responsibility for stemming the spread of the virus that causes AIDS.

Lombardi noted that the pope emphasized the church’s main advice in the fight against AIDS — sexual abstinence and fidelity among married couples. He cited Benedict’s words that the church “of course does not regard it (condom use) as a real or moral solution.”

“With this, the pope isn’t reforming or changing the teaching of the church, but reaffirming it, putting it in the context of the value and the dignity of human sexuality as expression of love and responsibility,” the spokesman said.

Comments (54)

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  • Joaquin
    Posted on November 22, 2010 at 7:47am

    Maybe there are many comments here from people that not went to 8/28 correct?

    How about to be “Obedient” to the teachings from Our Lord?

    Think about these, when you attack on earth, the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ:

    1. Are you obedient to Our Lord?
    2. Or are you partner in promoting deception with the master of deception Satan?

    Report Post »  
  • jackelope
    Posted on November 22, 2010 at 1:28am

    So little understanding of history here, and so much hate. What has happened to the conservatives of 828?

    Report Post »  
  • Okpulot Taha
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 7:55pm

    I am happy as a dead pig lying out under sunshine to be a heathen injun not all messed up on the Lord. Life is so much better and so much more fun not wearing those shackles and chains of Christianity.

    Okpulot Taha
    Choctaw Nation

    Report Post »  
  • percivalba0
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 7:36pm

    For the Catholic Church, when a husband and wife come together in an intimate manor, you are to be open to the possibility of children. There is an approved way to prevent pregnancy which works because I and many other Catholics use it. It is natural family planning. It uses the natural changes that occur during the month between periods. When a woman is fertile there is some clear discharge. My husband and I have been using this method for almost a year now and have not had any surprises. Its not the old rhythm method because not every woman has a nice neat 30 day cycle.

    Report Post »  
  • bradthedad
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 7:01pm

    It’s funny how every faith that was created by man and can be traced back to a not so long ago beginining has the right to mock catholics. Conservatives and the tea party are real quick to reference history on everything political, but quick to ignore when it makes their spiritual life and morality easier. The Catholic faith can be traced back 2000 plus years and yet we ignore its teachings.

    Report Post »  
  • ElAnneinPA
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 4:38pm

    Leave it to the Know-Nothings to only obsess over crotch-covering instead of the Church’s own messages. The press took a line out of context in one of his books and had to be corrected.

    Christ, it‘s like I’m really on DailyKos and Netroots with the anti-Catholic circlejerk going on here.

    Report Post » ElAnneinPA  
  • john654
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 4:33pm

    Just curious, who is the guy in the above video?

    John

    Report Post »  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:14pm

    i know next to nothing about the Catholic faith and what I do know I do not understand.. BUT why cant we ALL agree that in the case lined out by the pope maybe he should have said ABSTINENCE was the best way to prevent AIDS being spread..my next question is is it only the males that get to be protected// what about women who also sell themselves?

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:13pm

    I, too, am sick of the Catholic bashing. No religious faith is perfect. What happened to the unity from 8-28? We can disagree without name calling & hateful comments. If you can’t have a discussion without resorting to name calling you have no case. We are better than this. God, please bless the people who correspond here & unite us with your love.

    Report Post »  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:03pm

    As an American, facing mixed messages about copulating from the Pope, and mixed messages on what I choose to eat from this administration, we MUST be on some kind of precipice for sure.

    Aren’t those the two most basic urges everyone in the world has?

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • john654
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:46pm

    Obedient Catholics don’t use contraception. The rest of you are dying out! Bye Bye!

    John

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  • TheGreyPiper
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:37pm

    In the 1950s, virtually ALL churches were unanimous in holding that contraception (as well as divorce) was a sin. This wasn’t just a religious stance, doctors were prohibited under medical ethics from providing advice about birth control. It was the Supreme Court, as usual, that led the Protestant denominations by the nose in deciding morality. The Church of Rome, virtually alone, stood firm by her assertion that contraception was a sin, and further asserted that this was a touchstone issue — the first domino — and that if contraception were allowed, it would only be a short time until abortion, euthanasia, and infanticide were also permitted. And where are we now? You know where we are with all those.

    Report Post » TheGreyPiper  
  • TheGreyPiper
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:31pm

    Oh yay, a good ol-fashioned Catholic-bashing gang-bang. Get the hoods boys, them coloreds are too dang smart fer us these days.

    Report Post » TheGreyPiper  
    • ElAnneinPA
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 4:35pm

      Oh, look. Leave it to a Catholic thread to bring the jerkasses out. Christ, I feel like I’m wading through DailyKos right now.

      Report Post » ElAnneinPA  
  • gzwrbc
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:06pm

    As a Catholic all i’ve got too say is that judging by the kind of remarks posted to this story, I am saddened that spirit of 8-28, apparently, did not include me or my faith.

    Report Post » gzwrbc  
    • jcons114
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:27pm

      I’m saddened to agree with you…Catholic (faithful catholics that is) seem to have no place in politics or in public discourse except as a whipping boy and the butt of perverse jokes. Today interestingly is the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. Lets us remember who really runs things here. Vivat Jesus Rex!!

      Report Post »  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:20pm

      As an ex catholic I can say Catholic people are Great but the Pope is corrupt
      and the Church thrives by hidding knowledge. Nobody can be judged for not knowing
      But you must ask yourself as a Catholic why was Ted Kennedy not EX communicated ?
      Gay Rights and Abortion go against Catholic Dgma yet the Priest hood is
      full of Homosexuals ? why not clean house and make things right ?
      Take the time to read the bible as I did then decide for yourself.

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • KITA
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 11:21am

      How is it they hide information ? It’s there, you just have to take the time to read and find it out for yourself ? Mass isn’t the time to “explain the faith” it’s a ceremony to consecrate the Eucharist. If you wish to know more about the faith, apply yourself and learn. I pray you find the right outlets if you choose to do so. Googling “Why the Catholic Church is the Horror of Babylon” won’t give you any truth. Why would you say the Church is “FULL” of homeosexuals ? Because the media jumped on board with all the hideous cases of priest molestation ? Do you think the Catholic Church is the only church where the Priest molestes little kids ? Its not. The Catholic Church and many other religions are full of sin and it will be until the day our Lord returns. Its up to “You, the individual” to make the difference.

      Report Post »  
  • Parkeralan
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:46pm

    Hey Papa, What if I my wife received a blood transfusion and got HIV, can I wear a condom then?

    Report Post » Parkeralan  
  • krevello
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:28pm

    I’m very disappointed at the comments being posted here about the Catholic church. We’re the Conservatives, we’re supposed to be the better ones. I don‘t care if you don’t agree with the religion, there are lots of religions I don‘t agree with and I don’t mock them.

    Report Post »  
    • C. Schwehr
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:09pm

      Dissagreement is not mocking…..I consider myself to be a “recovering catholic” and current Deist…The catholic church still has the attitude that it is a moral arbiter and has an effect on the morality of the world…this has not been the case for some 200 + years, ever since the church enforced “divine right of Kings” was eliminated as a governmental choice….Since then, the catholic church has become more and more of a moral relic of a time long gone….

      Report Post »  
    • KITA
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 11:07am

      A moral relic… “Ouch” Sorry to hear that from you. The Church will stand and the gates of hell will not prevail against it as Jesus told Peter. Your “moral relic” comment is a knock at Church’s door, lol. When you enter “man” into any religious equation, you don’t always get a good outcome. As wicked as the church has been in the past and still possibly in the future (hope not), The Gates of Hell will not Prevail and the Early Church Doctrine still remains the same- it was never changed to say “it is now ok to assasinate a pope, but only if…” . Our whole mass is in rememberance of our Lord, the Lamb of God. We don’t pick our favorite sermon on Sunday, we have a liturgical calendar and the Bible is read in completion every 3 years. We then move on to the “Doing this in remembrance of me- the Euchrasitic Prayer, the blessing of the bread and wine” He didn’t say Read this in remembrance of me, he said to “do it” and not with Grape Juice. Sorry, I’ll step down from my soap box, it’s just that so many are so ignorant to what it really means to be Catholic and they spread nothing but lies and hurt the church… just as Satan wishes.

      Report Post »  
  • DonoRomantico
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:24pm

    And the pope is sapposed to be God’s right hand man. Ha!

    Report Post »  
  • teahugger
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:20pm

    In a perfect world, where everyone was chaste until marriage and remained faithful to their spouse, condoms wouldn’t be needed to prevent infection. My understanding of the Bible leads me to believe that the world would be a better place if we stuck to the 10 commandments (in other words, there are practical reasons to follow them rather than religious reasons alone). However, I don’t think that male prostitutes care what the Pope says regarding condom use or anything else, so its a moot point.

    Report Post » teahugger  
  • T.E.A.PARTNER
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:07pm

    I was raised Catholic, have 6 brothers, don’t recommend it what with the possible economic future we face. I’m a widower now,don‘t use a condom because I don’t have sex, and won’t until/if I marry another WOMAN. THAT should be the message comming from ALL pulpits. Unfortunately, the ‘free love freaks of the sixties started a ball rolling that I fear we will never recover from.

    Report Post »  
    • bookofwisdom
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:49pm

      Please don‘t blame it all on the 60’s. A lot of the morals that you see today were learned from watching and being around people of other cultures and also on children raising children and never teaching them right from wrong. Abstinence is what everyone should “preach”, and not just from the pulpit. May God Bless.

      Report Post » bookofwisdom  
  • cykonas
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:46pm

    Forgive them Father for they know not…

    Report Post » cykonas  
  • Ronko
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:40pm

    Screw the church there is nothing wrong with using contraceptions they need to get real. God wouldn’t want you to spread diseases to other people.

    Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:51pm

      RONKO comments, “Screw the church”

      Please remember to wear a condom when you do.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • Parkeralan
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:13pm

      What God wants God gets, God help us all…

      Report Post » Parkeralan  
  • TantumDicVerbo
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:39pm

    For anyone who understands the Catholic moral teaching, this is a complete non-story. Hey, but don’t let that get in the way of the Catholic-bashing.

    Report Post »  
    • Sayre
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:04pm

      I agree. I think too many poorly catechized Catholics who find the Church’s teaching on contraceptives to be inconvenient and at deference with their personal choices. Christ gave us the power to be free of him, free of his church and free of His teachings. But freedom without Christ, isn’t freedom… it’s free-fall. These teachings are there for anyone who really wishes to understand it. This requires the first step of acknowledging the possibility of their opinions and life style may be in error. It requires the understanding that “It’s not your way, It’s Yahweh!”
      It is much easier to stand in the outer darkness with clinched fist held aloft proclaiming, the church is wrong, or non serviam! When a person is in such darkness, only Divine Grace (the First Grace) will get them moving back to the Light of Christ. The immediate effect of sin is to darken the mind and weaken the will… The immediate effect of repentance is to enlighten the mind and strengthen the will.
      As for the Catholic haters, only God’s Grace can help them. The very reality of hate short circuits their only ability to accomplish any good whatsoever. Hate is like a nail in the soul and the tears to shreds all ability to see the truth. And any good acomplished in the shadow of hate, is built on the sand foundation of hate is doomed from its onset.

      Report Post » Sayre  
    • wheelz0505
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 10:35am

      Well said TantumDicVerbo!!! @Sayre….Thank you for your excellent post. I have followed the teachings of the church my whole life. I am in my mid 40s. It has been so incredibly fulfilling!!!!! It has taken a lot of discipline, but it’s been great!!! I am a better person because of it.

      Report Post »  
    • KITA
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 11:23am

      Amen to Both of you !

      Report Post »  
  • T.E.A.PARTNER
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:36pm

    The ‘Church’ is still stuck in the Papal edicts of old. Notice that he didn’t include ANY members of the Catholic church in his acceptance of condom use. The old attitude of SEX IS FOR PROCREATION ONLY adds oodles of paritioners to fill their coffers. Maybe the Pope should reread the Song of Solomon (Song of Songs in the Catholic Bible I believe). I don’t think there is much reference to procreation in there….HUBBA HUBBA! My wife and I practiced sheathed sex when we didn’t want to have any more kids. Do you think all Catholics practice unfettered sex? Don’t see a lot of my Catholic friends with a boat load of kids these days. Must be supernatural intervention, huh?

    Report Post »  
    • Fear The Voices
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 7:41pm

      You hit on a very good point. Besides, if God could send our savior via divine intervention, could He still not cause something as simple as contraceptive failure?

      However, it is people who wish to change the teachings of their churches…… God is not open to public debate or opinion polls. His word is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow….. though I don’t think he really said anything about contraception being wrong.

      Report Post » Fear The Voices  
    • PrideOIreland
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 8:45am

      For anyone interested in context (it seems like we complain an awful lot about being taken out of context ourselves) read this:

      http://catholicvote.org/discuss/index.php?p=11735

      Report Post » PrideOIreland  
  • Rational Man
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:28pm

    The Vatican is a joke!
    I don’t need them to dictate morality to me.
    Jesus provided direct access to the Father for me.
    I go to the source!

    Report Post » Rational Man  
  • M31Sailor
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:24pm

    Sounds alot like Barry’s transparency. Clear as mud. I hear the footsteps of more Catholics leaving the church
    Sailor

    Report Post » M31Sailor  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:44pm

      Can I use my MasterCard or do I have to pay cash to get a pass for my sins?

       
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 3:07pm

      REALLY ???? why not excommunicate politicians like Ted Abortionist Kennedy ?????
      That bastard even got a Catholic Funeral .
      Joe SCUM Biden ? f ing hypocrites !!!! like all religions.

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • vault214
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 5:28pm

      @truth talker–
      dude we dont sin like its candy idiot,
      we try not to sin, and confession is helping us to stop sinning, because once we sin, its MENTALLY hard to go to confession, its embarrassing, but it HELPS us because it makes us realize that we can stop commiting these sins with the help of God through the priest.

      Report Post »  
    • wheelz0505
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 10:20am

      In response to vault214…….AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • KITA
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 10:38am

      What he is saying is that the Church isn’t saying its ok to be sexually active, he’s saying that it might be a step in the right direction for a risky individual. A way to be more responsible and not to spread diseases. How is this not understandable ? Or is it that you and many others can’t wait to sensationalize something about the Catholic Church ?
      Only those who do not truely know the Church.

      Report Post »  
    • KITA
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 10:40am

      Sorry… I didn’t finish.
      Only those who do not truly know the Church and it’s teachings will leave.

      Report Post »  
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