Is the Pope right about condoms?
| 10:05 UK time, Monday, 22 November 2010
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This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 22 November 2010. Listen to the programme.
UPDATE 23/11/10:ÌýÌýThe Vatican has clarified the Pope's comments about the use of condoms being justifiable in certain circumstances. It said they refer to sexual activity involving men or women. The Pope had said, in a book released today, that condom use to prevent the spread of AIDS could be seen as an act of moral responsibility -- and he gave male prostitution as an example. A Vatican spokesman (Federico Lombardi) asked Pope Benedict whether he meant his remarks to apply only to men, and the Pope said it didn't matter -- the important thing was to take the other person's life into consideration
In a new book out this week the Pope talks about :
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 moralisation
When asked if the Church is not, in principle, opposed to the use of condoms he says:
She 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.
This has sparked a debate about whether this means the Church is relaxing its ban on contraception. And whether that is a a good idea or not, especially in the fight against HIV.
Christina Odone thinks the Pope's ruling is a
He has shown that theology... is capable of evolving. Context may not be everything, but it matters: authority, even when it is spiritual, needs to take account of contemporary reality.
Catholics from to support the Pope's comments and in there's been a cautious welcome from aids activists, although the general secretary of the Treatment Action Campaign, said they "still fall below what we expect" from the Catholic Church.
But not everyone is hailing this as a step forward. In a spokesman for the Church said:
Crucially, the Pope is not saying that the use of condoms is moral or virtuous. Nor is he saying that their use can be justified on pragmatic grounds as a policy of Aids prevention.
EditorCT commenting on the thinks:
the pope is wrong to even give the appearance of promoting the same message as the condom pushers - CAFOD will have a field day now - this has been their position all along. In season and out of season, whether it is popular or unpopular and without watering it down in any way, popes must proclaim the teaching of Christ and His Church - end of.
And here's some comments from people emailing the ´óÏó´«Ã½...
Miakpo in Nigeria says: Sex outside wedlock is a sin and must not under any guise be condoned by the church. Prostitution itself is also a sin and cannot also be condoned by the church. Abstinence remains the only real solution to the spread of HIV.
Jake in North Dakota: Whoa, whoa, whoa... So the Catholic Church is condoning the use of condoms by prostitutes, when the Church forbids both prostitutes and condoms separately? I sense moral hypocrisy.
Martin who's a Catholic in Germany: Thank god, he finally makes this official statement - his position on condoms has been painfully embarrassing for many catholics. This announcement really does change a lot for the catholic church. I believe this to be is an important step towards a modern and more enlightened way of religious practice.
warns progressive Catholics not to get too excited.
Benedict's careful strategy of releasing his idea apparently casually in an interview rather than in a formal teaching is the Vatican equivalent of a politician running an idea up a flagpole and seeing who salutes. If the response is too negative, it can easily be denied as yet another "misinterpretation".
The comments certainly doÌýleave a lot of question marks. Kelechi in LagosÌýon our Ìýwonders if it will make any difference at all:
The comment of Pope indicated the first line of cracks in the precept of catholisim regarding HIV control. However, I can bet u that milions of catholic faithfuls world over are using condom regardless of the institutional teachings from the seat of Vatican.
And Andrew in Ghana asks:
What about a married person who has HIV, can that person use condom in order to protect the patner?
Is the Pope right about condom use? Is this a step in the right direction for the Catholic Church? Post your comments here.
