Comments on: Worst…Pope…ever

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:56:04 +0000

Andrew

The thing to consider here is context. The AIDS epidemic in Africa is primarily of heterosexual making. Deeply ingrained cultural concepts of male viriliity needing validation by a man having sex with scores of women, even after marriage, are fueling the crisis. The tragic scenario of an infected man infecting his wife who in turn infects their unborn child is playing out time and time again. The Pope’s comments should be viewed within the wider context of the Catholic Church’s doctrine of expecting sexual monogamy within marriage. The fact is that while condoms do have a part to play in combating the epidemic, there are clearly other strategies that must be put into practise. Condoms alone will not win this war.

By: Terry Wright

Terry Wright — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:05:07 +0000

Howdy Andrew. I like your writing. Apart from looking evil, the latest pope is, er, well ... evil. The quickest way to send the catholic church into submission is for pope Benny to keep up his current ramblings. The obvious flaws in the church's dogma appeals only to right wing conservatives and moral crusaders who care not for anyone but themselves. It has nothing to do with faith anymore ... if it ever did. I only just finished writing about a similar subject. http://theaustralianheroindiaries.blogspot.com/2009/04/harm-minimisation-christian-thing-to-do.html

By: Andrew M. Potts

Andrew M. Potts — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 06:37:59 +0000

Hi Philippe, I do realise that Catholics hold the Popes to be infallible in matters of spiritual doctrine, not in personal action- I brought up the Borgias to be flippant.

The current Pope is certainly causing many Catholics to question that infallibility with his pronouncements on abortion in rape cases and on contraception.

By: Philippe

Philippe — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:01:23 +0000

<<>>

Andrew, you seem to misunderstand the concept of Papal Infallibility. Infallibility, as defined explicitly in the 19th century, involves the Pope issuing a solemn on faith/morals. You are confusing this notion with impeccability – i.e.: freedom from moral fault, or sin. A declaration on the truth/falsity of something is DIFFERENT from personal liability to sin in general.

By: Godwyns

Godwyns — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:48:03 +0000

If only the world is liberal as it supposed to be; if only we all have the same rights since no particular one owns the damned world; just if only, just that.

Then what Mr. Pope has said would not matter just as it does not matter to me and will never. I do not subscribe to his faith nor see him as a leader… So his non-sense blabbings are just a whiz of wind to me. But we cant ignore such idiocy.

And oh! no human is infallible. Let him swear he never had sex since he took the oath of celibacy.

By: Andrew M. Potts

Andrew M. Potts — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:36:18 +0000

PS- Avaaz (the international equivalent of GetUp!) is running a petition calling on the Vatican to stop condemning proven AIDS prevention strategies like condoms. At the time of posting 100,000 people have already signed. Help them get to 150,000- http://www.avaaz.org/en/pope_benedict_petition/

By: Andrew M. Potts

Andrew M. Potts — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:48:43 +0000

Hi Timothy, I think even a very cursory glance at history would reveal many, many Popes who were fallible in their morality and faith. The name “Borgia” comes to mind.

By: Timothy

Timothy — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:19:21 +0000

>”Yet if thinking Catholics had any doubts about papal infallibility, this Pope has crystallised them,”

Thinking Catholics have NO doubts regarding papal infallibility, as thinking Catholics already know that the Pope’s recent comments are not an instance of papal infallibility. Pope Benedict remains infallible regarding morals and faith.

God bless…