In March 2009, the Pope caused a uproar when he had this to say about condoms:
“You can’t resolve it with the distribution of condoms,” the Pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane headed to Yaounde, Cameroon, where he began a seven-day pilgrimage on the continent. “On the contrary, it increases the problem.”
Now, he apparently has a new take on bags:
Pope Benedict XVI says that condom use is acceptable “in certain cases”, notably to reduce the risk of HIV infection, in a book due out Tuesday, apparently softening his once hardline stance.
In a series of interviews published in his native German, the 83-year-old Benedict is asked whether “the Catholic Church is not fundamentally against the use of condoms.”
“It of course does not see it as a real and moral solution,” the pope replies.
“In certain cases, where the intention is to reduce the risk of infection, it can nevertheless be a first step on the way to another, more humane sexuality,” said the head of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics.
Well, I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks every now and again. May the pontiff continue his path down the road of enlightenment.
Curtsy to the mean old queen!
You mean a glimmer of a conscience finally flickered in that 19th century skull? I thought she was infallible?
This problem arises by considering action and inaction morally neutral by default – it isn’t; a human being is graced by their very existence and nature scarred by original sin – nothing is inherently morally neutral; but morally ambivalent – the condom use does not merely NOT tip the balance into further moral disorder; it tips it the other way albeit the minutest fraction – Therefore His Holiness is correct in his assessment of it being a movement towards…
Mark said “nothing is inherently morally neutral”.
That’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard anyone say. According to Mark when I scratch my a*s that has moral implications.
Mark said “a human being is graced by their very existence and nature scarred by original sin”.
The concept of people being scarred by “original sin” is not only one of the dumbest concepts ever invented, but people who treat others as though it were true are cruel, and therefore immoral.
Right Richard, what could be dumber than the idea that you inherit the guilt of your ancestors and that’s supposed to be a just and loving god – give me a break.