Pope Benedict: Condoms Might Be OK For Male Prostitutes

Religion • Views: 24,297

I was going to write that Pope Benedict seems to be softening his position on this, but that just didn’t sound right: Pope: condoms can be justified in some cases.

Benedict said that for male prostitutes — for whom contraception isn’t a central issue — condoms are not a moral solution. But he said they could be justified “in the intention of reducing the risk of infection.”

This statement is still very weird. The Pope is asked if condoms can be justified at all, and the only example that occurs to him is … a male prostitute?

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55 comments
1 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 9:56:36am

It could be that the book gives more examples, but the report only cites the most “interesting” one.

2 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 9:58:22am

Rulings on sexuality by people who have committed to repress their own for life kind have to be—-a little weird, I think.

But as I said on Reine’s Page of this, any step toward reasonableness is welcome.

3 allegro  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 9:58:24am

Apparently then, by this logic, only women should be exposed to STDs.

4 bratwurst  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 9:58:41am

I am sure the large community of adherent Roman Catholic male prostitutes is applauding this.

5 Why I Never!  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 9:59:24am

re: #1 Sergey Romanov

It could be that the book gives more examples, but the report only cites the most “interesting” one.

Doubtful. The point for him is that condoms where conception is a possibility are a no go.

So, to recap: married man having sex with a male hooker? Have a condom!

Women who are fertile? Sorry, no condoms for you, ever.

Heckuva job, Benny.

6 Walter L. Newton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:00:48am

re: #4 bratwurst

I am sure the large community of adherent Roman Catholic male prostitutes is applauding this.

Or priests who have not worn condoms while buggering altar boys in fear of going to hell.

7 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:01:59am

Speaking of Catholics, my comment from the previous thread, in regard to the “Galileo was wrong” conference participants:

Here’s his interesting report on the geocentric conference:

[…]

BTW, while reading, I googled one of the names and turned out that one of the presenters, Jones, is an old-school hard-line Catholic who wrote a 1200-page antisemitic Bible called something like “The Revolutionary Jew”. I googled for the name of the book and found an enthusiastic review of this book by yet another conference participant, Sungenis, who is also a Catholic fundie and one of the most visible “Galileo was wrong” guys (dunno of they’re all sedevacantists or not, but they sure like to malign the 2nd Vat. Council). Crazy attracts crazy like crazy.

8 Randall Gross  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:03:20am

Hrmm… there was that recent Vatican scandal involving gay male prostitutes iirc…

9 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:03:52am

re: #5 iceweasel

Doubtful. The point for him is that condoms where conception is a possibility are a no go.

So, to recap: married man having sex with a male hooker? Have a condom!

Women who are fertile? Sorry, no condoms for you, ever.

Heckuva job, Benny.

Then that’s a highly weaselly statement by him (no offense, Ice! ;-)

10 Why I Never!  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:05:09am

re: #9 Sergey Romanov

Then that’s a highly weaselly statement by him (no offense, Ice! ;-)

None taken!

The weasel community and I refudiate Benny and all his works.

11 HoosierHoops  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:05:55am

re: #10 iceweasel

None taken!

The weasel community and I refudiate Benny and all his works.

Hi You!

12 SanFranciscoZionist  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:06:27am

Back in the 90s, the Irish bishops came out with a rather odd statement that condoms could be used, but only for disease prevention, rather than contraception.

They keep trying to straddle this line.

13 allegro  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:07:25am

re: #12 SanFranciscoZionist

They keep trying to straddle this line.

They keep straddling something…

14 Why I Never!  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:09:17am

re: #11 HoosierHoops

Hi You!

Hey hoops! How are you? (jimmah just got in so I’ll be off again in a bit)

re: #12 SanFranciscoZionist

Back in the 90s, the Irish bishops came out with a rather odd statement that condoms could be used, but only for disease prevention, rather than contraception.

They keep trying to straddle this line.

I didn’t know that— not surprised.

15 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:09:30am

Amount of time Jesus spent talking about sex = very little.

So why is the Catholic church so obsessed with it?

There were contraceptives available when Christ was alive. So one would think if he had any kind of problem with them, he’d have talked about that.

Ditto with homosexuality.

It’s nice to see the facade of the church about condoms promoting AIDs transmission cracking, but I still can’t believe that they’re still clinging to this insane policy of being anti-contraception.

16 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:11:26am

re: #15 Obdicut

Amount of time Jesus spent talking about sex = very little.

So why is the Catholic church so obsessed with it?

There were contraceptives available when Christ was alive. So one would think if he had any kind of problem with them, he’d have talked about that.

Ditto with homosexuality.

It’s nice to see the facade of the church about condoms promoting AIDs transmission cracking, but I still can’t believe that they’re still clinging to this insane policy of being anti-contraception.

Well, the Biblical morality is not limited to what Jesus allegedly had to say during his earthly life. Paul had much to say about this too, and since hewas allegedly inspired, it was actually Jesus doing the talkin’ (kind like Glenn Beck and Kermit ;-).

17 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:14:49am

re: #16 Sergey Romanov

One would think that people would get kind of suspicious that Paul was going on and on and on and on about stuff that Jesus apparently never gave a shit about.

It’s not like Jesus wasn’t around long enough to cover those topics, if he had wanted to.

18 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:15:44am

re: #17 Obdicut

One would think that people would get kind of suspicious that Paul was going on and on and on and on about stuff that Jesus apparently never gave a shit about.

It’s not like Jesus wasn’t around long enough to cover those topics, if he had wanted to.

Hey, that’s religion, what do you want.

19 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:16:21am

George Rekers will be so relieved to hear this!

20 brownbagj  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:16:35am

Maybe he means for the priests that, well, you know the scandals.

Yes, that was a low blow but about the only way I can figure the Pope came up with that.

21 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:17:02am

re: #18 Sergey Romanov

I’d love to see a version of Christianity that focused on Christ. That’d be really cool.

22 brownbagj  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:18:11am

re: #21 Obdicut

You will probably have to search hard for that version as that one is not boastful, lives to serve others and tries to live its own life as an example instead of what we have today.

23 Kronocide  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:19:20am

Contraception is evil because it stops the making of babies, which turn into customers.

Male prostitutes? That’s not an issue, so yeah, it helps with disease.

24 Lidane  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:19:59am

re: #15 Obdicut

Amount of time Jesus spent talking about sex = very little.

So why is the Catholic church so obsessed with it?

1. Because they don’t allow themselves to have it.

2. Because controlling someone’s sex life is a way to control them.

25 brownbagj  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:20:20am

re: #23 BigPapa

I think this is the correct observation. Condoms lower the rate of the growth of the church. With male prostitutes, not so much.

26 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:21:11am

re: #21 Obdicut

I’d love to see a version of Christianity that focused on Christ. That’d be really cool.

Frankly, I wouldn’t, since Jesus had lots of weird (alleged) stuff to say, but here’s an attempt:

[Link: en.wikipedia.org…]

Of course, Tolstory was excommunicated.

27 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:22:10am
Tolstory

PIMF

28 Gus  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:38:49am

Freudian slip. He had male prostitutes on his mind. And since when to male prostitutes check with the Pope regarding sexual matters? Bleh.

29 Walter L. Newton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:40:07am

re: #28 Gus 802

Freudian slip. He had male prostitutes on his mind. And since when to male prostitutes check with the Pope regarding sexual matters? Bleh.

He had priests on his mind.

30 allegro  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:40:08am

re: #28 Gus 802

And since when to male prostitutes check with the Pope regarding sexual matters?

When they’re priests?

31 Gus  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:41:30am

re: #29 Walter L. Newton

re: #30 allegro

You mean the Pope was thinking about the “Johns” ergo the priests?

32 webevintage  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:43:24am

I guess it is better then nothing.
sigh.

OTOH the Pope said the other day that health care is a right and that it is the job government to make sure that happens.
I think it maybe a slight bitch slapping of the American Bishops who met last week without mentioning health care or the poor or the economy.
The seemed to forget all of Catholic Social Justice teaching.

That is probably it for me, time to put the tree up.

No I normally do not put my Christmas tree up this early but my parents are coming for Thanksgiving and we will be exchanging gifts and I am a masochist who wants to kill myself by both decorating for the holidays, wash my monster dogs, wash my carpets, clean my house like a madwoman and then cook a turkey dinner.
I hate myself…..

33 Walter L. Newton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:44:34am

re: #31 Gus 802

re: #30 allegro

You mean the Pope was thinking about the “Johns” ergo the priests?

What?

34 goddamnedfrank  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:46:03am

Gigolos are a type of male prostitute, who get paid to fuck women, can they wear condoms?

Male rapists fucks women against their will, can they wear condoms?

Beni seems to be focusing on gay prostitution only, which seems like an odd subgroup for a Pope to start providing indulgences to.

35 Gus  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:46:32am

re: #33 Walter L. Newton

What?

Customers of prostitutes are known as Johns in the USA.

36 Walter L. Newton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:47:07am

re: #35 Gus 802

Customers of prostitutes are known as Johns in the USA.

I know… but what does that have to do with priests?

37 Gus  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:48:19am

re: #36 Walter L. Newton

I know… but what does that have to do with priests?

Oh whatever. I’m out of cigs and now I’m out of food and my car insurance is expired and one my tires is going flat. I really don’t give a fuck about any of this crap right now.

Bye.

38 Walter L. Newton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:51:16am

re: #37 Gus 802

Oh whatever. I’m out of cigs and now I’m out of food and my car insurance is expired and one my tires is going flat. I really don’t give a fuck about any of this crap right now.

Bye.

If you need something… you got my email and phone number.

39 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:52:08am

Security Protest Could Disrupt Thanksgiving Travel

“Just one or two recalcitrant passengers at an airport is all it takes to cause huge delays,” said Paul Ruden, a spokesman for the American Society of Travel Agents, which has warned its more than 8,000 members about delays resulting from the body-scanner boycott.

It doesn’t take much to mess things up anyway — especially if someone purposely tries to mess it up.”

Body scans take as little as 10 seconds, but people who decline the process must submit to a full pat-down, which takes much longer. That could cause a cascade of delays at dozens of major airports, including those in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta.

“I don’t think it would take that much on the busiest day of the year to slow things down,” said Gerry Berry, a Florida-based airport security expert. “If I was an airport guy, a screener, a traveler — I’d be concerned.”

40 (I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was)  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:52:20am

re: #15 Obdicut

Amount of time Jesus spent talking about sex = very little.

So why is the Catholic church so obsessed with it?

Because they got in bed with politics and controlling sexual morality is the lever for controlling biological population reproduction. Was pretty important after the black plague hit Europe and deprived its feudal Lords from massive ammounts of their working population.

41 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:52:54am

re: #37 Gus 802

Hang in there.

42 Michael Orion Powell  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:53:11am
This statement is still very weird. The Pope is asked if condoms can be justified at all, and the only example that occurs to him is … a male prostitute?

If any conspiracy could be believable, it’s that the Catholic Church was set up to closet homosexuals from persecution. Just look at comments like that and the ridiculous consistency of sex scandals.

Just saying. =P

43 Walter L. Newton  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:54:43am

re: #42 OrionXP

If any conspiracy could be believable, it’s that the Catholic Church was set up to closet homosexuals from persecution. Just look at comments like that and the ridiculous consistency of sex scandals.

Just saying. =P

When you say “set up,” do you mean it’s cardinal, original purpose was a safe haven for homosexuals?

44 SanFranciscoZionist  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:55:03am

re: #34 goddamnedfrank

Gigolos are a type of male prostitute, who get paid to fuck women, can they wear condoms?

Male rapists fucks women against their will, can they wear condoms?

Beni seems to be focusing on gay prostitution only, which seems like an odd subgroup for a Pope to start providing indulgences to.

It’s because the contraception issue isn’t there.

45 Velvet Elvis  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:55:35am

Are condoms acceptable for priests diddling little boys?

46 Velvet Elvis  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:57:35am

And now I go back and reread the thread and it’s full of priest jokes.

47 Varek Raith  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 10:57:36am

What an odd statement…

48 _remembertonyc  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 11:02:14am

Pope Benedict also approved the use of condoms as water balloons.

49 rwdflynavy  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 11:04:41am

re: #48 _remembertonyc

Pope Benedict also approved the use of condoms as water balloons.

Different people fill them with different things…

50 Lidane  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 11:06:18am

re: #47 Varek Raith

What an odd statement…

Statements from celibate people about the sex lives of others usually are.

51 goddamnedfrank  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 11:06:43am

re: #44 SanFranciscoZionist

It’s because the contraception issue isn’t there.

Which is the worse sin, raping a woman in the first place, or trying not to get her pregnant in the process? The Catholic Church has made it’s position crystal clear, rapists must make every effort to pass on their genes by force during any violent sexual assault upon a woman’s body, and the church will force that woman to carry the fetus to term.

Logically then any women who has had a hysterectomy or has gone through menopause should be able to demand condom use to protect themselves from STD’s during consensual intercourse. The church is only interested in controlling the lives of fertile women.

52 _remembertonyc  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 11:07:06am

I am posting from my car heading west on the NY State Thruway just after Albany … On the way to tonight’s epic UConn-Syracuse football game … Youngest son is driving and I’m on my iPad … Life is good!

53 Sol Berdinowitz  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 1:37:20pm

re: #6 Walter L. Newton

Talk about “covering your a**”…but really, last thing the Pope needs is a case of a priest spreading AIDS or STDs to his flock…

54 Eclectic Infidel  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 5:52:58pm

It’s a start. The Vatican juggernaut is at least attempting to consider rational thought.

55 lostlakehiker  Sat, Nov 20, 2010 8:36:15pm

re: #51 goddamnedfrank

Which is the worse sin, raping a woman in the first place, or trying not to get her pregnant in the process? The Catholic Church has made it’s position crystal clear, rapists must make every effort to pass on their genes by force during any violent sexual assault upon a woman’s body, and the church will force that woman to carry the fetus to term.

Logically then any women who has had a hysterectomy or has gone through menopause should be able to demand condom use to protect themselves from STD’s during consensual intercourse. The church is only interested in controlling the lives of fertile women.

This is putting words in the church’s mouth. Church teaching on the use of condoms during rape, I will hazard, is, don’t rape.

And I would hazard that the rape is deemed a mortal sin, and the use of a condom during the rape is beside the point.

In practice, Catholic women use birth control, and abortion as a backup. The church can ask them not to, but it cannot force them. Church teaching also touches on the matter of forgiveness. A Catholic pamphlet I discovered in a cathedral some months back asked the rhetorical question, is abortion unforgiveable? And gave its own answer: no. Forgiveness is broad and wide. It also gave its view that the practical merits of abortion can be more attractive ahead of time than looking back

I had an abortion because my boyfriend said he’d leave me otherwise and I didn’t want to lose him. Now I’ve lost both.

So yeah, they’re making their case. But it’s not fire and brimstone die damn you die talk if the woman doesn’t conform her conduct to the teaching.


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