Papal Stance on Condom Use – Does it teach moral responsibility?

Amid booming population, the Catholic Church was clear that it will not favor contraception. In many predominantly Catholic countries, the issue in condom use has created controversy. In the Philippines, for instance, Catholic priests condemned the move of handling condoms to the public by health officials only a few months back before Pope Benedict the XVI disclosed his stance regarding condom use. Because in this case, I hear what those people in medical uniforms say better. What caught my attention was not the issue on contraception, though, but the level of immorality and morality that the Catholic Church can denounce and tolerate.

“The Pope clarified his stance in an interview with a German journalist, saying that in certain cases, such as for male prostitutes, contraceptives could be a first step in taking moral responsibility for stemming the spread of the virus that causes AIDS,” edmonton.ctv.ca reported. Do prostitutes really take moral responsibility for stemming HIV spread if they use condom? That is merely stemming spread of HIV, but hardly being morally responsible.

On the other hand, the local catholic churches that are ever loyal to opposing contraception, were swift at saying the new stance is not a fundamental shift. But that their allegiance is to abstinence and fidelity is still paramount to their faith. It is highly important for people to practice effective ways of preventing sexually transmitted diseases, and recommending the use of condom is a good move made by the Catholic Church. However, mentioning male prostitutes as examples creates an entirely different idea as to whether the Catholic Church denounces or tolerates prostitution. Or, that, the Catholic Church is really talking about contraception as means of being morally responsible.

I personally don’t know where he based his stance. Was it Bible-based, just another personal view, or simply some words to tickle the ears?

My view of moral responsibility is univocal to doing what is right according to the Bible principles, in whatever aspect of life.