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
*****************

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[rushlimpdrug]

go for it..better go now before some atheist liberals thinks he is jesus and decide to muscle a law to ban donuts ..to save you..HUMM SOUNDS LIKE RELIGION...
Posted by libsluv2spit at 12:51 PM


Thank you.

how will we know you are real and here?

Give us a sign.

Any sign

Although a funny hat will suffice.

[hungry1968]

Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban





Yes!! PLEASE LIFT THE BAN!!!

There are WAY TOO MANY catholics in this world!!

[goldsummer]

"The Church is not a democracy it is an institution formed by God" Posted by smc021

Correction .. the church was not formed by God. It was formed by man. A church is nothing more than a building which houses a fellowship of people who have the same beliefs.

Two persons having a conversation about God , on a park bench in what God made.. NATURE.. is more of a fellowship than sitting in some stuffy building. For that matter all it takes is one person having an open dialogue by prayer. Am i Christian.. Yes because i believe God is my savior.. not a building.

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

[libsluv2spit]

Ok, but for now can I go get a donut?


Posted by rushlimpdrug at 12:17 PM : Jul 26, 2008
+ report abuse

**********

go for it..better go now before some atheist liberals thinks he is jesus and decide to muscle a law to ban donuts ..to save you..HUMM SOUNDS LIKE RELIGION...

[rushlimpdrug]

1.
"The Church is not a democracy it is an institution formed by God . . "
Posted by smc021 at 12:05 PM


So God formed the Roman Catholic Church?


" To all of you who hate the Church and its teachings that is why there is a Hell and that is where you are going."
Posted by smc021 at 12:05 PM


Ok, but for now can I go get a donut?

[smc021-2009]

For all you fools who don''t believe in God or accept the teachings of the Catholic Church how''s this for size. The Church is not a democracy it is an institution formed by God to be a means of salvation for all those who accept and follow it teachings. That is why Christ placed Peter and his sucessors in charge so that they could shepard his flock to heaven. All those who are true Catholics know and accept this as a gift from God to his people so they would always have the truth and not be blinded by the falsehood of the world. That is why the Catholic Church will always stand in opposition to the mores of the world because it cannot be decieved not will it decieve as the fallen Protestant Churches are now. To all of you who hate the Church and its teachings that is why there is a Hell and that is where you are going. As Christ said '' he who accepts you accepts Me and He, Who sent Me, he who rejects you rejects Me and He, Who sent Me.'' Stick that in you pipe and smoke it.

[downsteamjim]

I would like to hear what John Edwards has to say. Although it''s banned on CBS, his love child shows his dislike for contraceptives.

[downsteamjim]

The was an old joke from the Nixon administration. You no play uh the game, you no make uh the rules.

[rushlimpdrug]

I suspect most of you on this board are hypocrites in several manners. Imagine that you declared all of your moral positions to the word... ...Then imagine that everything you said and did was published. What would the world think of you and your morals and your moral conviction?
Posted by blazercoach1 at 10:57 AM



So let''s have an inquisition.


Imagine a "good" Roman Catholic
having an abortion, or taking "the pill", etc.

Naw, a good Roaman Catholic would not do that.

[smc021-2009]

These are not real Catholics they are merely front groups for persons and organizations that hate the Catholic Church, everybody knows that by now except it seems your editor. This merely a way of pretending that there are large numbers of Catholics who are against the accepted teachings of the Church. Any real Catholic knows the validity of these teachings and accepts the moral authority of the Church in matters of *** and morals. Why don''t your reporters investigate who is really behind these so called Catholic organizations. They have no following they are merely funded front groups that use the media and say willing to pretend that their are large numbers of Catholics who disagree with the teachings of the Church. To be a Catholic is to accept the teaching of the Church and the authority of the Pope otherwise you are a Protestant and we can see where they''re going. The Catholic Church is not a democracy the teachings do not change every ten years, the truth is always the same.