Vatican: Condom use less evil than spreading HIV

[Liberal_in_LA]

Vatican: Condom use less evil than spreading HIV


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/23/international/i062557S61.DTL#ixzz16AHjoHfP
In a seismic shift on one of the most profound — and profoundly contentious — Roman Catholic teachings, the Vatican said Tuesday that condoms are the lesser of two evils when used to curb the spread of AIDS, even if their use prevents a pregnancy.

The position was an acknowledgment that the church's long-held anti-birth control stance against condoms doesn't justify putting lives at risk.

"This is a game-changer," declared the Rev. James Martin, a prominent Jesuit writer and editor.

The new stance was staked out as the Vatican explained Pope Benedict XVI's comments on condoms and HIV in a book that came out Tuesday based on his interview with a German journalist.

The Vatican still holds that condom use is immoral and that church doctrine forbidding artificial birth control remains unchanged. Still, the reassessment on condom use to help prevent disease carries profound significance, particularly in Africa where AIDS is rampant.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/23/international/i062557S61.DTL#ixzz16AHLr1Ql

[cbdo2007]

1. This really is a game changer and is shocking to see the Vatican do something

so helpful and completely flip-flop it's viewpoint on something. That should give all of us hope that they'll change more and more of their backward thinking in the future.

It was also interesting to note that the Vatican said they approved of condom use for male prostitutes. Normally they would just come out and say "prostitution is bad so there really is no condom issue to address, just don't do prostitution and you'll be fine, but now they're acknowledging that people are doing something bad and they're helping those people do it safer because their voice is otherwise irrelevant.

This really is a big deal and could signal an even greater shift in the church in the future.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. agreed.

[lunasun]

6. Are there really a lot of male prostitutes who decide on condom use based on the Pope??

Perhaps the pope thinks of male prostitutes, but how many of them honestly listen to the words of the Catholic church so strictly? seems so bizarre that there would be such strict catholic prostitiutes that follow the vatican regarding condoms in this day and age

[WinkyDink]

2. Unwanted babies are just swell, though.

[lib2DaBone]

3. Tell me we are living in 2010... and the Pope realizes condoms are better than AIDS....

We actualy have to deal with people who have mind sets such as this... like going back 200 years... what a bunch of fools..

[applegrove]

4. For a bunch of people whose main job it is to teach about good vs. evil

they are very late. That is why people give up on the church. They are behind the times. Now if only they will fight for all of a woman's reproductive health.

[jbnow]

7. Of course it is late but because millions who still listen I was glad

to hear this. especially when he clarified it went beyond male prostitutes
Not to birth control, except where aids threat is involved it would still be birth control for those users which might help some women whose partner does frequent prostitutes or whatever.

Yes, too little too late but a major and unexpected and positive change