The latest from the infallible Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. He's not backing down on the Church's view that condoms would be bad for Africa.
His Holiness describes the situation in Africa where millions are dying from AIDS as
a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems
The first part is technically true, money alone is not enough. An enormous amount of will and work on the ground must also be done by NGOs and African governments to get people medical care, educate and change behaviour patterns. Of course, most of that will and effort is already present. His second point is totally wrong. Condoms are the simplest, most effective single thing that could help Africa get a grip on this problem. And the Catholic church provides the convenient excuse to every man refusing to use one that 'its a sin'.
The church has an opportunity to save millions of lives by using their distribution network, their trusted network of nuns and missionaries and charities to distribute condoms and educate people about their importance. Instead, they continue to barrel on about abstinence as if millions of years of lack of evidence of lack of human restraint does not exist. As if this evidence does not even exist within their own church of celibate priests. Abistinence is against human nature, we are sexual beings. We surely can say that anyone knowningly having sex once they are infected with AIDS is committing a grevious crime/sin. But, that is not enough, that will not save people's lives. That will not reduce the number of orphans or infected children. That will not begin to heal Africa.
Africa needs many things to heal, but one of them is most assuredly condoms and the removal of the roadblock of the Cathloic church to their more widespread usage. As a Bayesian Catholic I am ashamed of my church for continuing this stance. I am sure it is ashamed of me for many things but there are many of us modern Catholics out there who see the church's ban on passive contraceptives for what it is. Cowardice and hypocrisy pure and simple.
It says that the potential life is worth more than the real one. It says that every sperm is sacred and the intent to stop conception is a sin, even if that conception is not certain and only passing of disease is certain. It asks normal mortals, sinners all that we are, to behave as saints. Meanwhile those who demand such purity cannot even attain it themselves and when they are found out cannot even face the responsibility for those they have hurt and betrayed.
This is why so many Catholics ignore their church. We find the faith itself, the ceremony, the symbols as beautiful and deep messages to us. But the church itself and its politics are mostly alien to us, stuck in the middle ages. When will the church reform and fully accept the reality of the world?
I don't mean the modern world, I mean the world.
Disease, human sexuality, equality of men and women. These are not cultural inventions of the twentieth century. They are facts built upon science and centuries of human knowledge. There is no shame in admitting you were wrong about them just as you were wrong about Gallileo's views on the Earth going around the Sun.
No shame at all. More than that, it is shameful not to. If you believe God, or Jesus, or St. Peter will meet you in the end, do you think H/he'll praise you for sticking to your guns? For staying true to St. Augustine and the bigotry of the middle ages? Do you think you'll be rewarded for not changing even after you found out things about the world that all of your predecessor's could not have known or understood? Would not God want you to use all of your body, soul and mind to bring more Love into the world? Isn't that the most important goal of the church? Why does the sexual behaviour of people have to do with saving lives and bring Love into the world?
If God does judge people in the end, I think its a very pragmatic test that takes account of everything you knew and everything you should have known. You should know better, your Holiness, swallow your pride and change this policy.
Bb.
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