T O P I C R E V I E W
blackbird
Member # 4159
posted 07-31-2001 05:28 PM
While I was having my lunch today, I bought a copy of the SF Chronicle and read this . The Roman Catholic Bishops in South Africa do not believe that condoms should be used to stop the AIDS virus and that married couples can use them in "limited" situations.What do you think of this? South Africa has the highest concentration of AIDs-infected people on this earth. Is religion really a factor in some people's decisions not to use condoms because of the inhibition of the creation of life? How would bishops know anyways because Roman Catholic bishops in general never marry or reproduce. Isn't that alone stopping their own reproduction? Who came up with this idea anyway that condoms are immoral?
*if you missed the link in the paragraph, click here
------------------ "1970 called. Al Pacino wants his car back."
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[This message has been edited by blackbird (edited 07-31-2001).]
Daniel
Member # 2870
posted 07-31-2001 05:34 PM
The Catholic position, as stated by the Pope, is that the only sexual contact allowed is during marriage. Most Catholics to my knowledge ignore this, and I expect that those most at risk of the disease, i.e. the promiscuous, ignore it too. Well, I would hope they would....
emsily0
Member # 2059
posted 07-31-2001 07:24 PM
well, i think the point in this case is that the roman catholic church as a whole condemns the use of condoms (and all other forms of birth control besides the rhythm) as going against God's will, as in the catholic view sex should only occur within the confines of marriage, and only for procreation. personally, i think that is an impractical stance to take, especially for a religious institution with a large african following who are at high risk for contracting HIV. however, the blame should go on the church's doctrine, composed by a slew of individuals, not only on the south african bishop, who is simply following that doctrine.
em
------------------Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk. Not courting talk - real straight talk about souls - for life is holy and every moment is precious. I heard the Denver and Rio Grande locamotive howling off in the mountains. I wanted to pursue my star further. -Kerouac
morganlh85
Member # 785
posted 07-31-2001 11:11 PM
OhMy
God...
Thats all I have to say.
Sapphire85
Member # 2709
posted 08-01-2001 02:55 PM
You know, I read once that Catholic priests are the group with the highest percentage of HIV/AIDS cases in the world. So , if you separated us all into little tiny groups, these priests would have more HIV/AIDS victims than any other. Hmm.. and they're not supposed to have intercourse, right? Sounds a bit fishy to me, like those priests are doing something behind our backs. But anyhoos, I think that the Roman Catholic Church needs to rethink some of their doctrines.. and alter them according to the times we live in today. (Like that is ever going to happen.) Perhaps if they endorsed safe sex with the use of condoms, not as many of their priests would be afflicted with disease, as well as thier people. Telling members of the congregation NOT to use condoms when there is such widespread disease is very hurtful.. doctrine or not, there should be some exceptions made. ------------------ "Do what you will, always.. Walk where you like, your steps... Do as you please, I'll back you up.." ~DMB
John Doe
Member # 3836
posted 08-01-2001 03:28 PM
As Earl Butz (Secratary of Agraculture in the Nixon Administration) put it refering to Pope Paul VI's position of birth control."He a no playa da game, he a no make a da rules"
blackbird
Member # 4159
posted 08-01-2001 04:46 PM
I went to Catholic school up through 8th grade and not once did they ever talk about sex. It was my impression that it was one of those "don't talk, don't tell" type of deals. I have found that the rules of the Catholic Church are very archaic and don't fit in with modern society. It's basically like they're just hoping that people will follow their rules without question and of course that doesn't happen.As for priests and AIDS, it seems like many priests have been accused of sexually molesting alter boys. I can't think of any stories right now, but I do know that I've noticed it in the news more than once.
I was thinking about it yesterday and if the Catholic church considers condoms immoral for the inhibition of the creation of life, then what does AIDS do? It certainly cuts off a lot of people's life lines rather short since there is not cure for it. It seems like a Catch 22 to me.
------------------ "1970 called. Al Pacino wants his car back."
blackbird's blog
Frae
Member # 2001
posted 08-03-2001 04:46 PM
I think this post has been generally unfair to Catholic clergy. I would be very interested in reading whatever report you know of that claims that Catholic priests have a higher concentration of HIV per capita than any other social group - because that is plainly rubbish and incredible.South African bishops condemn condoms. So do all other Catholic bishops - and indeed all other Catholics. Catholicism as I have always been thought is a take it or leave it philosophy and in my 14 years of Catholic education (Ive just finished actually) I have never found that sex in itself is a taboo subject.
If this condemnation of condoms by the S.A clergy causes an increased difficulty for all South Africans to obtain condoms (which it may very well), then there is cause for concern. But you cant criticise them for holding an opinion.
Iluvpunkguys
Member # 4885
posted 08-03-2001 07:46 PM
I think the whole idea of a religion condemning condoms is absurd. Birth control is a godsend for people who would otherwise have 12 kids, which further serves to overpopulate the Earth. I'm not gonna get into one of my rants because I don't want to offend anybody. This is part of the whole reason I'm anti-organized religion and a self-proclaimed agnostic (actually, I'm in between deciding right now).Ashley
------------------ "I said I'll thank you, we'll always thank you, more than you will know, than I could ever show, and I love you, we'll always love you, there's nothing I won't do, to say these words to you. That you're beautiful forever."
"You go out on Friday night, I'll stay in but that's alright cuz I have found a clique to call my own."
[This message has been edited by Iluvpunkguys (edited 08-04-2001).]
emsily0
Member # 2059
posted 08-03-2001 11:05 PM
guys, i really think frae has a good point. i for one am not at all comfortable with anyone calling a religion "absurd." i think in this case people need to consider the reasons why the catholic church has condemned the use of birth control in most situations. i also think that we need to remember that if people follow the tenets of catholicism as a whole, they are quite unlikely to get HIV as a result of sexual activity. the real problem, as frae says, would be if the catholic stance on birth control would make it more difficult for people who want condoms to get them.
and you know, iluvpunkguys, some people want 12 kids. some people believe that birth control is wrong. i'm not really comfortable with "anti-religion" people sniping at others' beliefs, especially because there haven't been any religious people sniping at atheists in this thread.
em
------------------Boys and girls in America have such a sad time together; sophistication demands that they submit to sex immediately without proper preliminary talk. Not courting talk - real straight talk about souls - for life is holy and every moment is precious. I heard the Denver and Rio Grande locamotive howling off in the mountains. I wanted to pursue my star further. -Kerouac