Condoms are pro-life

...when you are faced with a deadly virus called HIV!
www.catholicsforchoice.org - bishopssupportcondoms

Some excerpts:
In an interview with the New York Times, South African bishop Kevin Dowling says: "I believe condoms need to be debated, and I believe theologically their use can be justified, to prevent the transmission of a death-dealing virus…. I see these young women and their babies, and the desperation and the suffering, and I think, 'What would Jesus want?' There's no way he could condemn someone like this."

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, Mexico

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, a Mexican who heads the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, says that while he opposes the distribution of condoms, because he believes it institutionalizes promiscuity, he finds the use of condoms acceptable when abstinence is not an option. "If an infected husband wants to have sex with his wife who isn't infected, then she must defend herself by whatever means necessary," he says. This position, Barragán said, is consistent with the tenets of Catholic moral theology, which teaches that acts of self-defense can extend to killing in order to not be killed. "If a wife can defend herself from having sex by whatever means necessary, why not with a condom?"

Cardinal Georges Cottier, Pontifical Household

Senior Vatican official Cardinal Georges Cottier, theologian of the pontifical household, tells news agency Apcom that while condoms cannot be condoned as a contraceptive, "The use of condoms in some situations can be considered morally legitimate" to prevent the spread of HIV. Cardinal Cottier explains that because "the virus is transmitted during a sexual act; so at the same time as (bringing) life there is also a risk of transmitting death. And that is where the commandment 'thou shalt not kill' is valid."

Trouble at mill

Well it's been a very difficult time I've been having recently - far too complicated to go into here. Just glad that I started studying law anyway!

It's easy to believe in the goodness of God when things are going well. Other times, we can only marvel at Job's famous patience. At least I haven't been martyred, but at least that would (possibly) be quick. Don't worry, I'm being flippant.

new laws against discrimination

It is worrying the number of laws, mostly about discriminating against homosexuals/transsexuals, that will put the Catholic Church in a very difficult position in the UK. The UK is becoming increasingly secularized, despite Messrs Brown and Blair's Christian faith. It's time to stand up and be counted, and rouse Catholics across the country. It will be terrible for the country is this is allowed.

Too much to do!

After having not too much to do for a while, now feel swamped! I have a lot of material for the forthcoming RCIA to review, I'm meant to be doing some research for a mock trial, I have to get together something for Lectio Divina on Wed, the in-laws are here and I have to empty the cat litter trays! Emptying the poo trays is beginning to sound the most attractive task....
I was also meant to be going to an Opus Dei circle meeting tomorrow night, but have sent my apologies - one little man can only do so much.
My wife got through her little op today OK, and it looks like the source of the problem has been found and eliminated - praise God!

"Pro-life" movement

One branch of Catholic activism I take issue with is the "pro-life" movement. People who identify themselves as "pro-life" often take stances that I regard as anything but "pro-life". They would deny people the chance of preventing the transmission of deadly viruses, they would deny a mother the chance of life and having more children. I am pro-life in the real sense of the word, but I would not want to assoicate myself with the "pro-life" movement.

Sources of encouragement

There have been lots of people who have encouraged me. My late mother although Pentecostal was just glad I was going to church. Fr James has been there to answer my questions, as well as the other senior Catholics at the RCIA. I have had some great cyberpals, esp Jay from Phoenix who sent me a great book and DVD about a Pentecostal preacher converting to Catholicism called "No Price Too High" - it really helped me on my journey.

How I came to the Catholic Church

I was brought up (in the sense of reared, not vomited) Pentecostal by my mum, who was a very devout women. I attended Pentecostal churches faifthfully throughout my youth and my time at medical school, but during my last year at medical school and my first year as a doctor (houseman year) I started drifting away - I was seeing things that clearly weren't of God or even rationality - an epileptic lady being "exorcised" for being confused post-ictally, and the pressure of my workload told also.
I continued to go to other Charismatic churches intermittently, namely the Church of God of Prophecy where I stood out like a white person amongst 99% black people! Even this tailed off.
My wife and I decided to get married, and at that stage the only church we attended was Catholic mass sometimes. The curate was a lovely local man with Polish roots, Fr Stefan. He went through the Catholic faith preparing me for our full nuptials. He got special dispensation for me to have Communion, and from then on the seed was sown. It took 8 years and many trials to bring me to joining the Church tho. I had to be humbled before I really came back to God.
I have really benefitted from the guidance of our current curate. At one stage I got very discouraged because of things I was being told by people on certain Catholic websites. I really worry about people who do not speak out of love - how many people are turned off by what are fanatics?
I am active in the church at the moment, running a Bible Study/Lectio Divina group.