Benedict XVI was recently quoted as saying:
"There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility," Benedict said.
The church "of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but in this or that case, there can be nonetheless in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality," according to an English translation of the book obtained by The Associated Press.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_POPE_CONDOMS?SITE=WCNC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Assuming the quotes are accurate, his statement is odd in several respects. What makes him think male prostitutes use condoms? Or is that just hypothetical?
More to the point is the motive which he assigns to the male prostitute. I assume a male prostitute would only wear a condom for one of two reasons: (i) to lessen the risk of infecting himself, not the john; (ii) if the john demands it, as a condition of payment.
I don’t assume a male prostitute would wear a condom out of consideration for the john. Prostitution is a degraded business transaction.
What the pope’s answer seems to reveal is his gaping ignorance of human nature. His gaping ignorance of real world psychology.
That doesn’t surprise me. Except for his compulsory stint in the Hitler Youth, he’s led a socially sheltered life. And he had precious little pastoral experience.
Here is the head of the world’s largest ostensibly Christian denomination, a man 83 years old, yet he seems to lack a basic understanding of what motivates sinners.
"AIDS has quietly caused the deaths of hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in the United States although other causes may be listed on some of their death certificates, the Kansas City Star reported today. The newspaper said its examination of death certificates and interviews with experts indicates several hundred priests have died of AIDS-related illnesses since the mid-1980s. The death rate of priests from AIDS is at least four times that of the general population, the newspaper said. Kansas City Bishop Raymond Boland says the AIDS deaths show that priests are human."
ReplyDeleteRead the rest at The Gay Priest Problem.
Perhaps some of the Catholic priests who died from AIDS might not have died if both they and their partners had worn condoms. As a secondary moral obligation, that is.
Is this papal suggestion binding only upon Romanist male prostitutes, or does it apply across the board?
ReplyDeleteAlso what about the morality of not engaging in sodomy in the first place?
Just wondering out loud here...
The devout Roman Catholic sodomite will dutifully wear condoms henceforth, and the grace infused into him by this most blessed act of pious obedience will not only stave off the systemic ill effects of whatever else might be "infused" into him during his "lovemaking," but the infused grace will simultaneously -- when renewed/energized by regular confession, monetary gifts and the immaculate prayers of the Virgin (should he be able to reach her voicemail) -- function as a sanctifying "gateway sacrament," bringing our godly sodomite closer with every such act to entirely abandoning his sinful lifestyle, marrying a good Catholic wife and making lots of Catholic babies for Papa Bete.
ReplyDeleteTranslated from Papa's Latin: "To bareback is abominable; to wear a jimmy hat, divine."
Oh, I see aztexan; the faithful wearing of the prophylactic during male-male sodomy will eventually morph into a means of grace as has occurred with several other dogmas peculiar to Rome which have accreted over time.
ReplyDeleteI can see how ritual prostitution could make a real comeback under this emanation.
Thanks for shedding light on this most sacred duty, Papa Benedict; the Vicar of Christ has spoken!
You've got it exactly, CD. But it goes without saying that only lambskin "hosts" are acceptable for this sacrament, for, to wear latex during such a glorious rite as Sacred Sodomy (nickname: Extreme Bungtion) would be grossly unnatural and obscenely sacreligious. If lambskin is an inferior barrier against infection, so be it. As I explained above, the Virgin's bottomless treasury of grace is amply sufficient to negate the paltry consequences of Adam's fall.
ReplyDeleteIf the pope would simply substitue "priest" for "male prostitute", then their victims could at least have a lessened fear of receiving a chrismation of std's.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, for now, the pope is trying to protect the Romish supply of male protitutes. Sort of like the idea that it's easier to keep an employee rather than train a new one.
Craig French said: ...rather than train a new one.
ReplyDeleteMr. French, please. We don't like to think of it as "training." Grooming if you absolutely insist on being indelicate, but we rightly see it as discipling. Please do endeavor to be a bit less vulgar in the future, thank you.
Regards,
Fr. Tex