Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Dissident Catholic Groups Publish Letter Citing "Catastrophic Effects" Of Church's Ban

(AP)  More than 50 dissident Catholic groups from around the world have written an open letter asking Pope Benedict XVI to lift the church's ban on birth control.

Taking a half-page ad in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, the groups said Friday that the Church's ban on artificial birth control has had "catastrophic effects," particularly in the fight against AIDS.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the accusation was "clearly unfounded" and insisted the Church is active in combating AIDS.

The groups published their appeal on the 40th anniversary of the 1968 encyclical "Humanae Vitae" ("On Human Life") — the document issued by Pope Paul VI that prohibits Catholics from using artificial contraception.

The initiative was spearheaded by Catholics for Choice, a Washington based pro-choice advocacy group, but the letter was signed by organizations from countries across the Americas and Europe.

The ban on contraception "has had catastrophic effects on the poor and weak of the whole world, putting in danger the lives of women and exposing millions of people to the risk of contracting HIV," the letter published in Corriere said.

It urged Benedict to begin a "reform process," saying that, especially in poor countries, the Church was using its influence to block family planning programs and condom distributions.

Lombardi denounced the ad "as paid propaganda for the use of contraceptives."

"Policies against AIDS based mainly on the distribution of condoms have largely failed," Lombardi said in a statement. "The answer to AIDS requires deeper and more complex interventions, in which the Church is active on many fronts."

[brianstillwa]

Well, grammawamma the door is always open to you.
peace

[grammawhamma]

Posted by brianstillwa at 10:44 AM

I am very happy I broke away from the catholic church...I have never regretted it and I will NEVER go back to it. The catholic religion is the religion of hypocrisy.

[libsluv2spit]

Although rarely used since the popularity of the BC pill, condoms do prevent spreading AIDS. They are not 100%, nor is anything else, even abstinence, but they are better than nothing.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 01:30 PM : Jul 26, 2008
+ report abuse
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Actually is condom is that EFFECTIVE on stopping the spread of AIDS..then why are we still havin discussions about AIDS...

bottomline..you can life that catholic ban..you can pass condoms all day long..but it WILL NOT WORK..because people REFUSE TO USE IT..

its just easier to blame the church...

[brianstillwa]

Sorry that you felt it necessary to leave the church. I invite you to come home. If you were baptised catholic, and raised so, it is forever in your heart. I would encourage you to reconsider your stance. The church is Christ''s family. In families, there are disagreements and disputes. One does not walk away from their family because of what divides, one stays because of the things shared in common. The church teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, that he lives in unision with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Church is on a pilgrimage through time and it''s understanding of inheriant truth evolves as it matures, much the same way we as human beings do. So, give it another shot grammywhammy. There is room for all in God''s holy church. PAX

[grammawhamma]

The Catholic Church is not a democracy the teachings do not change every ten years, the truth is always the same.
Posted by smc021 at 11:50 AM
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Oh really? Seems to me they do. See my previous post.

[grammawhamma]

It''s about freaking time! But I wouldn''t hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

The Catholic church could change the "don''t eat meat on Friday" and if you do by accident then puke it up law. They changed the "you can''t touch the communion host" or you will burn in hell law. They changed you "have to attend mass on every Sunday" and now Saturday also counts as Sunday attendance law. I left this cult in 1971 so I''m not sure what other die hard rules have since been changed. The Catholic church defines hypocrisy at its finest.

I am pleased to see so many people are not fooled by the "Church". The only larger evil in mankind than Catholicism is Islam. I believe in God, but certainly not the ones devised by mens'' wanton depravity for their own gain. To resrict birth control is the height of hubris and the cause of great worldwide suffering.

[goldsummer]

As for the thread and story.. since when did birth control prevent AIDS?

Posted by GoldSummer at 01:27 PM : Jul 26, 2008

Although rarely used since the popularity of the BC pill, condoms do prevent spreading AIDS. They are not 100%, nor is anything else, even abstinence, but they are better than nothing.


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Posted by tuckerndfw

My question was retorical... And your right .. condoms are not 100% effective.. and yet they do cut the spread of AIDS. The real question here is if the Catholic church is going to come out of the dark ages and recognize the fact that uneducated people of some countries still don''t know what CAUSES things like pregancy and diseases like AIDS ? The Vatican is pushing old laws on a new world.

[rejectedaphd]

Remember ''The world is flat'' and ''the sun goes around the earth'' dogma by the Vatican because the people aren''t ready for facts?
Perhaps it is time for the Pope er.al. to read and disseminate "The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment by Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich " because human population concentrations can no longer be controlled by migration. The earth really is finite.

[jennmarikp]

I do believe in god, however have no faith in the church. It truely amazes me how much people follow what the church says. Church to me is a building made by man (not god), where they collect your man made money (god has no need for money) and preach to you about right and wrong meanwhile you have to worry that the priest your listening to is molesting your child. Please people wake up! You do not need to go to church and pay to talk to god. I speak to god on a daily basis and haven''t stepped foot in a church (except for funerals) in years.