Post #89

Excerpt from the Ottawa Citizen: The Pope gets real

November 26, 2010

Whether Pope Benedict's remarks about condoms represent a revolution or an evolution in the views of the Roman Catholic Church is something for church faithful to debate and watch.

For everyone else, what is important is that the Catholic Church is hugely influential and -- whether or not you believe the pronouncements of elderly, celibate religious leaders about sex are meaningful -- its views have an effect around the world, including in places in which using condoms can mean the difference between life and death.

The Pope took many people by surprise earlier this week when, as part of a book-length interview, he was quoted as saying that for a male prostitute to use a condom to stop disease from spreading would be a good moral decision.

That may seem self-evident to some, but to a church that strictly opposes any form of birth control on moral grounds, it is a statement guaranteed to make waves and have people asking questions about its broader implications.

It represents the first admission from a pope that condom use could ever be a good thing and, to some, that means the church acknowledges that there is room for discussion when it comes to the use of condoms, although officials have been quick to quash any sense that the church was loosening its views on birth control or even homosexuality.

"The church does not of course consider condoms to be the authentic and moral solution to the problem of AIDS," said the Vatican press office. "At the same time, the Pope considers an exceptional circumstance in which the exercise of sexuality represents a real threat to another person's life."

Still, the comment is a positive step. The mere fact the Pope is talking about the realities of life when it comes to sex reflects a perspective that may well have a ripple effect.

It also suggests the church that has been embroiled in a damaging sex scandal has listened to some of its critics, although that is open for debate.

It is unlikely the Pope's comments will change the way sex-trade workers conduct business around the world. But it may influence organizations that do charitable work and that could help make condoms more readily available in some countries.

The use of condoms effectively reduces the transmission of HIV and saves lives, but the reasons for failing to use them are complex.

Still, one more voice, and an extremely powerful one, calling the use of condoms a moral act, in some cases, can only be a good thing.

Sources include
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Pope+gets+real/3886491/story.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/weekinreview/28gibson.html
http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/light-of-the-world/?gclid=CKOLsMP9w6UCFQTNKgodiUl3Zw