Spanish bishops defy Vatican over anti-Aids condoms

[emad]

Telegraph
Isambard Wilkinson, Madrid Correspondent, and Jonathan Petre
(Filed: 20/01/2005)

The Spanish Roman Catholic Church has for the first time broken with traditional doctrine and espoused the use of condoms to combat Aids, prompting a swift rebuke from the Vatican.

Mgr Juan Antonio Martinez Camino, the secretary-general of the Spanish bishops' conference, said on Tuesday the prophylactic ''has its place in the context of the integral and global prevention of Aids".

He added: ''The Church is very worried and interested by this problem.''

Mgr Martinez made the statement after a meeting with the Spanish health minister, Elena Salgado.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/20/wcond20.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/01/20/ixportal.html

[mutus_frutex]

1. Good for them..

Finally some catholics with balls enough to do the right thing. And from Spain, no less. Let us see how long they last in their positions. They probably took the Opus Dei by surprise.. :-)

[Kagemusha]

2. I saw a post last night saying they'd already folded.

Spanish gays called the original stance an "attack of lucidity".

[mutus_frutex]

4. That was fast..

Still, the fact that they were able to challenge this, even for a day, it is quite an accomplishment.

What I'm wondering is, where are the american bishops? Where are the american "liberal" catholics on this? Are they putting pressure on they dioceses?

[xchrom]

3. i hope they don't fold.

the current feel of the catholic church -- well, one has reason to be concerned.

[UL_Approved]

5. Progress is upheld in some parts of the world

It looks like Spain has a firm progressive streak after the train bombings. This is good. Maybe somebody will actually stand up for something that will advance the human race for a change.

I find it hard to respect the Vatican. They promote no birth control or measures to stop the spread of disease. They operate as a for-profit organization. They have little place in a world with severe disease epidemics and other such ailments. Don't forget, the Black Death is what made people abandon the control of the Catholic church in favor of the Renaissance. I just feel sorry for all of the Christians who have been led down the wrong path by such an organization.

[donsu]

6. they did fold - here is the story

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1856&ncid=732&e=9&u=/cpress/20050120/ca_pr_on_wo/spain_catholics_condoms


Spain's Catholic Church reverses statement in support of condom use


The Catholic Church in Spain backtracked late Wednesday from a leading bishop's groundbreaking statement in support of condom use to fight the spread of AIDS (news - web sites), saying instead the church still believes artificial contraception is immoral.

A ruling Socialist politician involved in health-care issues said she was mystified by the church's about-face in the space of 24 hours. Gay groups said they regretted the church's return to old policy after its "attack of lucidity." A liberal theologian said the church had quickly backpedalled after the Vatican (news - web sites) reaffirmed its opposition to condoms.

The Vatican states that condoms, being a form of artificial birth control, cannot be used to help prevent the spread of HIV (news - web sites), the virus that causes AIDS.

-snip-

It said abstinence and fidelity among sexual partners are the best ways to combat the spread of AIDS and that scientists agree with this approach. "In accordance with these principles, it is not possible to recommend the use of condoms, as it is contrary to a person's morals," the statement said.

"The only truly recommendable practice is responsible use of sexuality, in accordance with moral norms," it added.
-snip-
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how immoral of the Pope

the Vatican is like our Supreme Court - mired in muck and slime

[Moderator]

7. Duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1164778