ARCC spot LIGHT (analysis of Church issues by the ARCC Publications Committee, R. Schutzius, ed.)
Forever in Conflict?
Apr 15, 2009
Apr 15, 2009
The world was shocked when we heard the news about the comments of Pope Benedict XVI about the use of condoms not preventing AIDS, but might even be the opposite. Taken in a global context, the use of condoms is not going to eliminate AIDS. So, from one perspective the Pope is right. However, practically speaking, condoms do offer a medically proven defense against contracting this deadly disease. The medical profession, AIDS workers, and governments seeking the common good of the community all disagree with the Pope, as does the general consensus of the world population.
Don't expect a Papal retraction anytime soon. The Church's long-standing opposition to this and other forms of contraception is not going to change even in the face of reality. Here is yet another ever-present conflict between Catholic teachings and scientific evidence. The scientific community is just as definitive and dogmatic as is the Pope, but at least science gives way to new and better understanding of reality. Galileo is the classic example of religious recalcitrance, while science offers but a passing glimpse of reality in the history-book of the universe.
With condoms, again the Church pits a current teaching against what appears to be reality. Is there no middle ground? Fortunately, a Brazilian bishop did state the common-sense-obvious - that it would be wrong for a HIV-positive spouse not to use a condom to protect his/her partner. The same can be said of any such coupling, sinful or not.
Failure to recognize that we, and the world we live in, are a "work in progress", i.e. not fixed, but growing in our understanding of reality, leads to these conflicts time and time again. Fortunately, the definitive declarations from either camp no longer carry the stamp of infallibility anymore but must be tested over time. This leaves the interim period of our current understanding open to the individual's well-informed conscience. With a conscience informed by the one important mandate of Christ, "love one another as I have love you", try to be the best "work in progress" you can in your attempt to know, love, and serve God better.
4/19 Second Sunday of Easter - Mark 16:1-8
4/26 Third Sunday of Easter - Mark 16:9-14
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