Pope: condoms can be used to prevent HIV/AIDS
AP reports that the Pope has expanded his remarks on the use of condoms to include any protection from HIV/AIDS, including married heterosexuals even though that would act as birth control also:
Using a condom is a lesser evil than transmitting HIV to a sexual partner — even if that means a woman averting a possible pregnancy, the Vatican said Tuesday, signaling a seismic shift in papal teaching as it further explained Pope Benedict XVI's comments.The Vatican has long been criticized for its patent opposition to condom use, particularly in Africa where AIDS is rampant. But the latest interpretation of Benedict's comments about condoms and HIV essentially means the Roman Catholic Church is acknowledging that its long-held, anti-birth control stance against condoms doesn't justify putting someone's life at risk.
"This is a game-changer," said the Rev. Jim Martin, a Jesuit editor and writer.
...
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, told reporters Tuesday that he asked the pope whether he intended his comments to only apply to male prostitutes. Benedict replied that it really didn't matter, that the important thing was the person in question took into consideration the life of the other, Lombardi said.
"I personally asked the pope if there was a serious, important problem in the choice of the masculine over the feminine," Lombardi said. "He told me no. The problem is this ... It's the first step of taking responsibility, of taking into consideration the risk of the life of another with whom you have a relationship."
"This is if you're a man, a woman, or a transsexual. We're at the same point. The point is it's a first step of taking responsibility, of avoiding passing a grave risk onto another," Lombardi said.
Wow! And it took the pope only years to come to this conclusion. However, this IS good news, and it is a game-changer.
Still, I think of those who became infected with HIV and those who died during the years while the pope was making up his mind.
June Butler
Posted by GrandmèreMimi![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 23, 2010 1:44 PM
As far as I can tell the pope is saying that if you know you are HIV positive and you are about to have sex wearing a condom is permissible. Of course unprotected sex in this case can result in a charge of manslaughter or more -- it's like driving while highly intoxicated and running into another car.
In other words, the use of condoms is not permitted even if you have had multiple sex partners and could be HIV positive but do not know that you are. It absolutely is not an endorsement of a safe sex policy.
If this is the thin end of the wedge it's mighty thin.
Again I ask: what if you know you're a wife and knows your husband has had multiple affairs. Where is the good news in this?
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 23, 2010 2:55 PM
If this is the thin end of the wedge it's mighty thin.
John, I thought immediately of the thin-entering wedge. The wedge is thin, indeed, but a wedge increases in size as it is inserted.
Now leaving the stage....
June Butler
Posted by GrandmèreMimi![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 23, 2010 4:29 PM
"God bless the grass
Which grows through the crack..." (Malvina Reynolds. See/listen here)
JC Fisher
Posted by tgflux![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 23, 2010 7:24 PM