Cardinal backs use of condoms

[kayell]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/pope/story/0,12272,1121962,00.html

Suggested role in preventing Aids breaks Catholic taboo

John Hooper in Rome and Andrew Osborn in Brussels
Tuesday January 13, 2004
The Guardian

A Belgian cardinal who is among the leading candidates to succeed Pope John Paul yesterday broke the Roman Catholic church's taboo on the use of condoms, declaring that, in certain circumstances, they should be used to prevent the spread of Aids.

Godfried Danneels, one of the few moderate cardinals in the church after more than a quarter of a century of conservative rule by the current pontiff, was careful to say he preferred abstinence as a means of prevention.

But he added that if someone who was HIV-positive did have sex, failing to use a condom would be sinful - a contravention of the sixth commandment: thou shalt not kill.

His comments were a further sign that the ailing pope may be losing some grip on the more liberal wing of his immense church. Shortly after being named a "prince of the church" last September, Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland said that the ban on contraception should be debated, along with such issues as priestly celibacy and homosexual clergy.

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[Maccagirl]

1. He won't be a cardinal for long

eom

[yellowcanine]

2. well he won't be the next pope anyway

The Catholic Church doesn't encourage this kind of pragmatic thinking.

[Bridget Burke]

4. Cardinals don't "get fired"

The position is for life--unless there's a promotion. Retirement because of health problems is possible but removal from office would be a huge undertaking.

And for all those who know exactly what the Church will do in the future--who predicted that there would be a Polish pope? The Church moves slowly but change can come; it's managed to endure a fairly long time.

[PATRICK]

6. The rate of change

has to be updated again or by the time the world demolishes itself over issues neglected by the institutional Church they will be just in the process of studying the possibility of a female clergy. The discussions would have to carried over into Purgtory where I bet that would speed things up.

Why is is it moderate or liberal to be sane and rational and compassionate and notice what is going on today? What does that make the conservative authorities?

[arwalden]

3. He's Belgian... That's Almost The Same Thing As Being FRENCH

why should anyone listen to him?

-- Allen

P.S. It is encouraging that there are a few islands of sanity and reason within the RCC.

[cally]

5. I'm kicking

because it's wonderful to see this. :kick:

[Dookus]

7. Good for him...

nice to see at least ONE reasonable member of the College of Cardinals.

His name cracks me up, though. I keep thinking of W.C. Fields exclaiming "Godfrey Daniels!"