Staying alive – some Catholics choose to defy Vatican fruitcakes

IT takes a little time, but some Catholics, it seems, get the message that there’s a toss-up between enabling a potential life and preserving one that is here, one that is now, one that is proven to exist, one that is made of flesh and blood and skills and smiles and hugs.

On World AIDS Day (which is today), it’s good to be able to report that many Catholics realise that the Vatican has been spouting a load of utter tripe, and that wearing a condom is pro-life because it can save the existing lives of existing people. The ambiguous term “pro-life” is usually taken to stand in opposition to the “murder” that is abortion or even preventing a potential life by preventing sperm and egg from getting together.

But, according to the ever-helpful Ekklesia website, “A new multinational poll has shown that many Catholics around the world believe that using condoms is ‘pro-life’ because it prevents the spread of HIV and AIDS.”

The poll showed that Catholics in Ghana, Ireland, Mexico, the Philippines and the USA “support condom use overwhelmingly”.

The Ekklesia story continues,

Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, commented: “From Mexico City to Manila and Accra to Los Angeles, Catholics know that using condoms is pro-life. More and more bishops and priests have been speaking out against the Vatican’s opposition to condoms.

“This is a battle with very high stakes. Every day, more people are infected and die. While Catholics recognize that the hierarchy’s position is wrong, it would help significantly if the Vatican came out and supported the use of condoms. There are substantial theological grounds – and even more humanitarian and compassionate grounds – to change this policy. It is high time for that change to happen.”

It’s refreshing to hear stories like this, when so may nutters are refusing to sell morning-after pills at pharmacy counters, Vatican fruitcakes have even tried putting it about that rubbers are deliberately made with holes in them to allow viruses to get through and other Catholic “leaders” have called on Catholics to ignore Amnesty because it makes a case for a woman to decide on matters concerning her own reproductive health in some circumstances.