Knee-Jerk Anti-Catholic Sentiment

[davidklecha]

In a move sure to piss off a lot of people who read my LJ, I have to say that I think the latest backlash against the RCC, regarding the condoms and AIDS thing, is misplaced.

Abstinence, when practiced consistently and correctly, is the only 100% sure method of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS through sexual intercourse. This is not, I think, a difficult concept to comprehend. Though, I'm certain, it is a difficult concept for people who believe that sexual freedom is the supreme, inalienable right of all humanity.

Yeah, it's hard. So are a lot of other things. When it comes to your life, and the lives of those around you, though, I don't think you should fuck around. Literally.

Go ahead, hate on me all my liberal/anti-Catholic friends. It's cool.

Comments

[pewtergryphon.livejournal.com]

I almost didn't reply to this. But then I decided that I'd give it one more try.

First, you made a major point of how the quotes for the priests, nuns, etc might have been taken out of context. Yet when you quoted me the second time above, you left out the "If" statement in the second quote, which makes me sound considerably more rigid than I am. I chose my wording very carefully to allow for the possibility the nun and priests in question had been mis-represented. I'd appreciate it if you'd try to exercise the same care in quoting people who disagree with you that you expect other people to use for those on your own side.

As for the relative moral culpability of the priests cited in the next-to-last paragraph of this (http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,1059068,00.html) story and the WHO representatives likewise quoted (assuming for the moment that all parties are represented accurately) I'm afraid I can't agree with you.

I see a considerable difference between the WHO officials saying "Scientific studies show that using a condom properly will reduce the risk of your contracting AIDS" and a priest saying "Using a condom will cause you to become infected with AIDS because the condom is itself the cause of the infection."

The first is scientifically verifiable fact. The second is a flat-out lie. They are not in any way morally equivalent.

But we're obviously not going to agree on this, so I won't carry this discussion any further in this forum. If you want to continue it, I believe you have my e-mail address.