Dr. Janet Smith: Condoms and Pope's Book, 'The Light of the World'

11/23/2010
Zenit News Agency (www.zenit.org)

Pope Benedict XVI was advocating conversion, not condoms, in the striving for moral behavior.

'In the case of homosexual sexual activity, a condom does not act as a contraceptive; it is not possible for homosexuals to contracept since their sexual activity has no procreative power that can be thwarted. But the Holy Father is not making a point about whether the use of a condom is contraceptive or even whether it reduces the evil of a homosexual sexual act; again, he is speaking about the psychological state of some who might use condoms. The intention behind the use of the condom (the desire not to harm another) may indicate some growth in a sense of moral responsibility.'

Dr. Janet Smith

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DETROIT, (Zenit.org) - A book-length interview with Benedict XVI, due to be released on Tuesday, is already causing controversy in the public spotlight due to the Pope's comments on the use of condoms. Some quotes from the book, "Light of the World" (Ignatius Press), were published ahead of the release date, prompting media opinions and a statement of clarification by Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office.

Janet Smith, a consultor to the Pontifical Council on the Family who holds the Father Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Ethics at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and has published extensively on the topics of sexuality and bioethics, explained in this interview the source of the controversy and what the Pope is really saying. She noted that in the book (p.119), to the charge that "It is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms," Pope Benedict replied (This paragraph is at the end of an extended answer on the help the Church is giving the AIDS victims and the need to fight the banalization of sexuality.):

"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, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection. That can really lie only in a humanization of sexuality."

The interviewer asked the Pontiff, "Are you saying, then, that the Catholic Church is actually not opposed in principle to the use of condoms?" The Holy Father replied, "She 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."

Smith explains in the following interview, which she sent to ZENIT, how Benedict XVI was advocating conversion, not condoms, in the striving for moral behavior.

Q: What is Pope Benedict saying?

Smith: We must note that the example that Pope Benedict gives for the use of a condom is a male prostitute; thus, it is reasonable to assume that he is referring to a male prostitute engaged in homosexual acts. The Holy Father is simply observing that for some homosexual prostitutes the use of a condom may indicate an awakening of a moral sense; an awakening that sexual pleasure is not the highest value, but that we must take care that we harm no one with our choices.

He is not speaking to the morality of the use of a condom, but to something that may be true about the psychological state of those who use them. If such individuals are using condoms to avoid harming another, they may eventually realize that sexual acts between members of the same sex are inherently harmful since they are not in accord with human nature.

The Holy Father does not in any way think the use of condoms is a part of the solution to reducing the risk of AIDs. As he explicitly states, the true solution involves "humanizing sexuality." Anyone having sex that threatens to transmit HIV needs to grow in moral discernment. This is why Benedict focused on a "first step" in moral growth.

The Church is always going to be focused on moving people away from immoral acts towards love of Jesus, virtue, and holiness. We can say that the Holy Father clearly did not want to make a point about condoms, but wants to talk about growth in a moral sense, which should be a growth towards Jesus.

Q: So is the Holy Father saying it is morally good for male prostitutes to use condoms?

Smith: The Holy Father is not articulating a teaching of the Church about whether or not the use of a condom reduces the amount of evil in a homosexual sexual act that threatens to transmit HIV. The Church has no formal teaching about how to reduce the evil of intrinsically immoral action. We must note that what is intrinsically wrong in a homosexual sexual act in which a condom is used is not the moral wrong of contraception but the homosexual act itself.

In the case of homosexual sexual activity, a condom does not act as a contraceptive; it is not possible for homosexuals to contracept since their sexual activity has no procreative power that can be thwarted. But the Holy Father is not making a point about whether the use of a condom is contraceptive or even whether it reduces the evil of a homosexual sexual act; again, he is speaking about the psychological state of some who might use condoms. The intention behind the use of the condom (the desire not to harm ...

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1 - 10 of 15 Comments

Sam
2 years ago
@ rafaelmarie November 23rd, 2010 4:16 pm: That is in fact not the point. We are not at all speaking here of the contraceptive use of the condom, rather the disease-prophylaxis use. Benedict is merely stating that the good intention behind using a condom in those situations (to prevent disease) is the first step towards realizing that he/she is sinning, leading towards a cessation of sin. They have already committed a mortal sin, one more isn't going to harm them all that much.
As Beth stated above, it is important to recognize that he is not changing whether certain acts are sinful; sinful acts remain sinful, even condom use. However, the desire to use a condom to prevent suffering on the part of either participant is a good first step. It was important for Benedict to state this; hopefully this will lead to a reduction in HIV cases in Africa and elsewhere.
Beth
2 years ago
"The latest news is that the ruling applies to female prostitutes as well. I think the bullets are back in the gun. This destroys all moral. How can something like this be affirmed?"

But this isn't a "ruling". It was an interview with an author, not an ex cathedra proclamation by the pope. And like Dr. Smith said in the article, you have the objective nature of sin (which never changes), then you have the psychological state of the sinner (which does change). I really don't think the pope's comments were intended to define what is "permissible" from a moral standpoint.
Pam
2 years ago
It is no surprise that the "first responder" - media would put their usual "bias" on Pope Benedict's words. The sad thing is many, if not most people have embraced a contraceptive attitude toward human sexuallity, so the mind is readily moved in a coarsened direction of understanding (or lack thereof) of what the Pope was saying. Dr.Janet's article is excellent! Thank you! I hope this (and other clarifying articles I've seen--e.g.,Cardinal Raymond Bourke) reaches lots of other people who may be disheartened if they think the Pope is relaxing Church teaching--in a matter of "faith and morals"--in an "interview"--that, from "that" perspective, doesn't really carry any weight as Church teaching.
John Grimes
2 years ago
Why there is controversy about Benedict's remarks mystifies me. I can only conclude that public education has finally triumphed in this country, and that no one is capable of reading and understanding anything, even the simplest argument, any longer. The pope was crystal clear in his exchange with Seewald and only someone deaf, dumb, blind, and perverse could misunderstand what he said there. It is little wonder that the nauseous trash spewed forth daily on American TV has such vast audiences. The idiots would watch paint dry and be content, so enfeebled are their minds.
rafaelmarie
2 years ago
THE REAL HARM IS THE MORTAL SIN COMMITTED USING CONDOMS!!!
Graeme
2 years ago
Reply to John November 23rd, 2010 11:35 am

I imagine that female prostitutes would have abortions or use morning-after pills if they ever conceived, so using a condom would be the first step in the right direction of moral sense. In any case, just because a female prostitute can physically conceive a child, their "love-making" is just as sterile as a male prostitute's.
philipedmund
2 years ago
When a person uses the extreme example, the exception, to attempt to justify a position, it usually comes across entirely wrong. He should have just stuck to the general issue...you shouldnt be having sex if you're not married, and contraception within marriage demonstrates a lack of trust between the partners.
John
2 years ago
The latest news is that the ruling applies to female prostitutes as well. I think the bullets are back in the gun. This destroys all moral.
How can something like this be affirmed?
Timothy Kumah
2 years ago
Good teaching coming from the papacy. I think with an article like this to make clear what the condom saga is all about with regard to the pope's statement alot of people will be able to understand better. Though the pope meant well for humanity, others give different interpretation to such statement just to atract attention to their view against the church. If clear and distinct explanation continues to flourish like this the problem of wrong interpretation will not surface anylonger.
John
2 years ago
Nino,

The Holy Father only seems vague to someone who thinks that the Church can change Her teachings on faith and morals. When you realize that the Pope can't just change the Churches mind and say that condoms are okay to use, then it is easy to see what he is really saying. Take what he says in the context of the Church that has not changed it's teachings for 2000 years and the vagueness drops away. God bless,

John

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