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Benedict XVI Approves Artificial Contraception in Certain Situations
Brother Michael Dimond
This article recaps our audio program of November 28, 2010 – Benedict XVI Did Approve Condom Use! It also contains a response to the Vatican’s recent note about interpretations of Benedict XVI’s book, Light of the World. Defenders of Benedict XVI claim that the Vatican’s “clarification” proves that Benedict XVI did not endorse artificial contraception in any way. In this article, I refute that idea by examining the actual statements of Benedict XVI and the Vatican’s note which attempted to clarify them.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AapiLgZDZAw
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35I1oYyWkkE
In his book, Light of the World pages 117-119, Benedict XVI states the following:
If Benedict XVI’s position on condom use is that condoms can never be used, then he would have answered the direct question on that point with a clear “no.” He would have issued a statement such as: “The Catholic Church never allows the use of condoms.” Or he would have said: “The Catholic Church never allows the use of condoms in any situation.” Of course, Benedict XVI didn’t make any such statement, despite being directly asked about the issue. Did he say that condoms can never be used? No. He said that a person may have a basis for using a condom if that person has “the intention of reducing the risk of infection”.
Some people have claimed that Benedict XVI was only allowing or discussing the use of a condom in a case of homosexual sex. They focus on the fact that Benedict XVI used the example of a male prostitute. The first thing to consider, however, is that the term “male prostitute” does not refer to a person who engages exclusively in homosexual sex. Benedict XVI’s example can include heterosexual activity. Indeed, Benedict XVI does not even say that a “male prostitute” is the only one to whom his principle can apply. Rather, he gives a “male prostitute” as one example.
Moreover, after Benedict XVI’s statements on condoms were published, the Vatican’s press secretary, Father Federico Lombardi, had a conversation with Benedict XVI concerning the controversy. Father Lombardi proceeded to issue a clarification and an interpretation of Benedict XVI’s statements about condoms. Some of Lombardi’s comments were carried in The Telegraph:
As we see, Lombardi confirms that Benedict XVI’s statements apply to men and women, heterosexual and homosexual acts. That refutes the lies spread by some defenders of Benedict XVI on this point. Furthermore, John Allen is CNN’s senior Vatican correspondent. He admitted that Benedict XVI’s statement on condoms was essentially the same thing that a Vatican commission said in 2006. The 2006 Vatican commission said that condom use might be justifiable, if the primary intention was to avoid passing a deadly disease to another, not avoiding a pregnancy. Allen clearly understands what Benedict XVI is saying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxzAeTm_lMA (This video contains Allen’s reaction to Benedict XVI’s statements)
The Vatican decides to issue a special note concerning Benedict XVI’s comments on condoms
On December 19, 2010 the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a special note regarding certain interpretations of Benedict XVI’s book Light of the World. Supporters of Benedict XVI claim that this note proves that Benedict XVI never approved condom use in any situation. However, when we look at the evidence, we will see that the false traditionalists who use this note are wrong. The Vatican and Benedict XVI do indeed approve of condom use in situations where not using one would transmit a deadly disease.
Before I quote more of the note, it’s important to emphasize one point. As I mentioned earlier, many have said that Benedict XVI was only speaking about condom use by homosexuals (because he gave an example of a male prostitute). As we see here, the Vatican’s note speaks of any kind of prostitution. The Vatican’s note also cites the book, Light of the World, and the pages on which Benedict XVI’s statements were made. This demonstrates that the note is repeating what Benedict XVI put into the book, which we have quoted and analyzed above. As we showed, Benedict XVI does not exclude all condom use.
Also consider that the Vatican’s note does not state anywhere that Benedict XVI words were not accurately recorded. They could never say that the words were not accurately recorded because Benedict XVI personally approved the translations. Benedict XVI even assisted in the cover design of the German translation of the book: he personally wrote “Light of the World” on the cover in German.
Many false traditionalists have emphasized that, in its note of clarification, the Vatican boasts that Benedict XVI’s statements in the book “do not signify a change in Catholic moral teaching.” So what? Such a claim means nothing. John Kerry, who favors abortion, claims that he personally accepts Catholic teaching on that issue. A claim to be faithful to Catholic teaching means nothing. What matters is the substance of what one believes or teaches. Therefore, the only thing that matters is what Benedict XVI actually said and what the Vatican’s official position on condom use is articulated to be. I will now quote another portion of the note, and we will see even more clearly what the Vatican’s official position actually is:
As we see, the Vatican’s note indicates that those who use a condom to prevent someone from getting a deadly disease are doing the more moral thing. The note teaches that by using a condom, as opposed to not using one, a person is “taking the first step in respecting the life of another.” It even says that one who uses a condom intends “to reduce the evil connected with his or her immoral activity”! That is false and heretical. Using a condemn increases, not decreases, the evil connected with the immoral activity. It potentially removes the possibility of life for another, rather than respecting it.
According to them, it’s a worse evil to give someone a deadly disease than to possibly deprive someone of life by the use of the contraceptive. This is complete and total heresy. This is indeed a new teaching of the Vatican II sect. Since heretics always contradict themselves and use ambiguity, it doesn’t matter that the Vatican contradicts this affirmation in other places. The fact remains that it teaches that using a condom, to prevent giving a disease to another, can be the better thing to do.
Thus, contrary to the dishonest liars who will attempt to justify any heresy of Benedict XVI, the Vatican’s new position on condoms, which was articulated by Benedict XVI in his book, Light of the World, is as follows:
They are not giving a wholesale approval of condoms. They are not encouraging people to use them in general. They are quick and vocal to point out that you may not use condoms solely to avoid pregnancy, and that condom use is not the solution itself. However, Benedict XVI and the Vatican do approve the use of condoms in the situations where a person might otherwise transmit a deadly disease. Their position is that giving someone a deadly disease is worse than preventing a new life altogether. This is a completely heretical position. It proves that Benedict XVI and the Vatican II sect do not condemn artificial contraception in all situations.
Undoubtedly Benedict XVI’s statement has already caused (and will continue to cause) countless people to use condoms. Those people will justify their use of condoms by saying: “I might have a disease that could be passed on to my partner.” Those struggling with the issue of artificial contraception will use this “excuse” of Benedict XVI, and they will give in to their sinful desires as a result.
POPE PIUS XI CONDEMNING ANY USE OF ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION
POPE PIUS VI CONDEMNING AMBIGUITY IN TEACHING FALSE DOCTRINE
NOTES:
[1] Peter Seewald/Benedict XVI, Light of the World, Ignatius Press, pp. 117-119.
[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/8154992/Women-and-men-can-use-condoms-to-protect-themselves-from-Aids-Vatican-says.html
[3] L’Osservatore Romano, December 22-27, 2010 p. 11.
[4] L’Osservatore Romano, December 22-27, 2010 p. 11.
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