“International Criminal Court proceedings for the Vatican’s stance on condoms” – this was one of the questions asked when discussing the question of HIV and AIDS in Southern Africa at the Osnabruecker Afrika Festival. “Surely not” – so my clear answer, but the question shows how much people are bothered by the outdated views on condoms regarding the pandemic on HIV and AIDS. It is getting more and more difficult to reason the case for all the consequences of Humanae Vitae and honestly: the battle is lost for the church. The faithful are not only not following the church in this anymore but feel more and more irritated about the fact, that this is even worth a discussion in our days. How much ground have we lost through this debate about a piece of rubber? Too many for my taste.
And what to tell the youngsters of the Ursulaschule, the diocesan High School in Osnabrueck – those who are experiencing their first love and – depending on the given family values – know that they should abstain (what they don’t do) as marriage in Germany is more and more a thing for people in their 30’s – and once again: who really waits that long? So what to tell them in their realities?
With the changes of the liturgical words “pro multis” Pope Benedict XVI has shown that he can and is willing to rectify decisions of his predecessors – so why not in this case a correction that ends debate and let us move forwards to all the other important questions we have to answer in these modern days.
Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, Benedict XVI, benedikt XVI, Catholic, church, Church Matters, condom, Friedensfestival, Humana Vitae, international criminal court, Osnabrueck, rubber, school, students, Ursulaschule
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