Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on May 9, 2006 10:17:50 GMT -5
www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2006/04/24/vatican-condoms.htmlInteresting that they're only just getting around to this issue, what with the prevalent AIDS problem in Africa. The Vatican has been relaxing its stance on sex over the years, and I wonder if they will allow all married couples to use condoms, whether they have AIDS or not. I'm a bit disappointed that certain clergy have stated that relaxing the doctrine will take intense study, as if there hasn't already been a ton of research on the issue of safe sex already. Reminds me of big tobacco saying that the links between smoking and lung cancer are inconclusive. I know certain Protestant groups don't actually have the same problem with birth control as Catholics do. Thoughts? Meh, big development. Discuss.
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aric
demi-admin
I drink your milkshake!
Posts: 989
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Post by aric on May 11, 2006 23:06:33 GMT -5
Interesting that they're only just getting around to this issue, what with the prevalent AIDS problem in Africa. One could say it's almost criminal. I don't know what kind of influence the Church has in Africa, but considering the epidemic of AIDS on that continent, not endorsing safe sex practices might have been quite detrimental to the prevention effort there. The Vatican has been relaxing its stance on sex over the years, and I wonder if they will allow all married couples to use condoms, whether they have AIDS or not. WHAT?! Married couples can't use condoms? I'm a bit disappointed that certain clergy have stated that relaxing the doctrine will take intense study, as if there hasn't already been a ton of research on the issue of safe sex already. I guess those particular clergy don't want to admit so readily that they were wrong on the issue of safe sex. Reminds me of big tobacco saying that the links between smoking and lung cancer are inconclusive. I know certain Protestant groups don't actually have the same problem with birth control as Catholics do. Yeah, "some" Protestant groups like liberal and moderate ones. You still have a lot of Protestants, who I see to be socially conservative, opposing even sex ed. Just look at the existence of abstinence-only programs in some US states. - Aric
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Stouthorn
Junior Scholar
"POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!"
Posts: 341
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Post by Stouthorn on May 12, 2006 14:42:23 GMT -5
One could say it's almost criminal. I don't know what kind of influence the Church has in Africa, but considering the epidemic of AIDS on that continent, not endorsing safe sex practices might have been quite detrimental to the prevention effort there. Not any more detrimental to the already in place cultural ideas that to use one is to be less manly. The Church's stance here - that knowingly infecting another person with AIDS is murder (way to catch up with the legal system) - may change things. WHAT?! Married couples can't use condoms? The act of sex is supposed to be primarily for reproduction and secondarily to deepen the love and togetherness of the couple. Thus, all sex acts are supposed to be open to the possibility of reprodution. Kind of stupid. I guess those particular clergy don't want to admit so readily that they were wrong on the issue of safe sex. Well I think it's not exactly awful considering the prohibitions were in place long before AIDS was an issue, but it sure took them long enough to address AIDS.
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Post by Vorchia on May 14, 2006 9:48:05 GMT -5
Well if they DONT lift the comdom ban a seropositive person having sex would be breaking the 'thou shalt not kill' command... I think the commandments have more 'weight' then the 'go forth and reproduce' thing. Its little use reproducing if both partners and child will die of AIDS. (Sadly however condoms are expensive and retroviral therapy is FAR beyond what the average African can afford. *rolls eyes*) So even from a biblical standpoint, condoms are needed. Its just that in the Vatican things go sloooooooooooooooowly.
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