How Brave of Them

In yet another example of ignorance, amorality, and how religious institutions get stuck on policy dead ends that do not allow for escape towards common sense, the Catholic Church is preparing a major policy statement on the use of – shhh, say it softly – condoms.

The Vatican will soon publish a statement on the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS, an issue highlighted by a call from a leading cardinal to ease its ban on them, a Catholic Church official said. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, the head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, declined to reveal the contents of the document in an interview published in Sunday's la Repubblica newspaper, but said Pope Benedict had asked his department to study the issue.

"This is a very difficult and delicate subject that requires prudence," said Mexican-born Barragan. "My department is studying this closely with scientists and theologians expressly assigned to draft a document that will be issued soon," he said.

The Catholic Church, which runs many hospitals and institutions to help AIDS victims, opposes the use of condoms and teaches that fidelity within heterosexual marriage, chastity and abstinence are the best way to stop the spread of AIDS. It says promoting condoms to fight the spread of AIDS fosters immoral and hedonistic lifestyles and behavior that will only contribute to its spread.

Let's see. People are not supposed to have intercourse unless married. Anyone who is not married and uses a condom is living an immoral and hedonistic life. If married, you cannot use condoms because it is against God's wishes. Seems like that covers just about everyone, and we all know how everyone listens to the Catholic Church.

Last year there were ~4 billion condoms sold worldwide. Who's buying them all? Ahhh, I know who, they're being purchased by priests, practicing safe sex before they abuse little boys and girls. Who knew they were so considerate?
Posted on The Human Stain