The Pope, Condoms, and Recycled News

Here we go again. I really thought the issue had died. My brother had commented to me that it was still alive, but I thought it was just in tiny little local papers… not the BIG NEWS. Apparently, I was wrong.

Because here it is again, right in the Washington Post:

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/georgetown/2009/03/wrong_message_from_the_pope.html

This specific article criticizes the way Pope Benedict talked about condoms. He was too blunt I guess. Didn't show any sympathy. Maybe he should have introduced the Church's teaching in small mouthfuls. You know—he could start off by saying people should poke holes in the condoms before using them, and then gradually build to not using them at all. Finally, he could give them the old birds and the bees talk. "Stick to marriage, and you won't have to worry about it."

It never really bothered me that they're all criticizing our pope or the Church in general over this teaching. Some people can't think with anything other than their genitals. The reporters can't seem to think with anything other than other people's genitals. But what bothers me is why they're choosing this specific episode to launch their attack.

There haven't been any changes. They could have picked up a Catechism at any time (the rules in America are the same as they are in Africa) and said all the same stuff. Why is it now, when he commented on it, that they are so filled with malice?

I'll tell you why.

Because they sincerely thought the Catholic Church was going to change. They really thought that our 2000 years of tradition was going to be abandoned. And they're pissed now that it isn't turning out that way.

Oh well. Maybe they'll figure it out now. I say to them, "Our doctrines are spelled out very plainly, and they're never going to change. Forget it. Get it out of your head. Eventually, you'll be able to move on with your lives, and find some news to report."

Incidentally, if you are looking for the teachings of the Catholic Church on condoms, birth control, and other questions about sex, you can read the Catholic Birth Control & Sex FAQ.