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

11/23/2010

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another) may indicate some growth in a sense of moral responsibility.

In "Familiaris Consortio (On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World)," John Paul II spoke of the need for conversion, which often proceeds by gradual steps: "To the injustice originating from sin ... we must all set ourselves in opposition through a conversion of mind and heart, following Christ Crucified by denying our own selfishness: such a conversion cannot fail to have a beneficial and renewing influence even on the structures of society.

"What is needed is a continuous, permanent conversion which, while requiring an interior detachment from every evil and an adherence to good in its fullness, is brought about concretely in steps which lead us ever forward. Thus a dynamic process develops, one which advances gradually with the progressive integration of the gifts of God and the demands of His definitive and absolute love in the entire personal and social life of man. (9)"

Christ himself, of course, called for a turning away from sin. That is what the Holy Father is advocating here; not a turn towards condoms. Conversion, not condoms!

Q: Would it be proper to conclude that the Holy Father would support the distribution of condoms to male prostitutes?

Smith: Nothing he says here indicates that he would. Public programs of distribution of condoms run the risk of conveying approval for homosexual sexual acts. The task of the Church is to call individuals to conversion and to moral behavior; it is to help them understand the meaning and purpose of sexuality and to help them come to know Christ, who will provide the healing and graces that enable us to live in accord with the meaning and purpose of sexuality.

Q: Is Pope Benedict indicating that heterosexuals who have HIV could reduce the wrongness of their acts by using condoms?

Smith: No. In his second answer he says that the Church does not find condoms to be a "real or moral solution." That means the Church does not find condoms either to be moral or an effective way of fighting the transmission of HIV. As the Holy Father indicates in his fuller answer, the most effective portion of programs designed to reduce the transmission of HIV are calls to abstinence and fidelity.

The Holy Father, again, is saying that the intention to reduce the transmission of any infection is a "first step" in a movement towards a more human way of living sexuality. That more human way would be to do nothing that threatens to harm one's sexual partner, who should be one's beloved spouse. For an individual with HIV to have sexual intercourse with or without a condom is to risk transmitting a lethal disease.

An analogy: If someone was going to rob a bank and was determined to use a gun, it would better for that person to use a gun that had no bullets in it. It would reduce the likelihood of fatal injuries. But it is not the task of the Church to instruct potential bank robbers how to rob banks more safely and certainly not the task of the Church to support programs of providing potential bank robbers with guns that could not use bullets.

Nonetheless, the intent of a bank robber to rob a bank in a way that is safer for the employees and customers of the bank may indicate an element of moral responsibility that could be a step towards eventual understanding of the immorality of bank robbing.

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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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