Believers find mixed blessings in Pope’s comments
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Some Catholic believers in the Americas greeted Pope Benedict XVI’s comments on condoms as a sign that the church was stepping into the modern debate in the fight against AIDS, though the church was adamant Sunday that nothing has changed in its views banning contraception.
Churchgoers had praise and wariness for the pope’s comments that condoms could be morally justified in some limited situations, such as for male prostitutes wanting to prevent the spread of HIV.
Others cautioned it could open a doctrinal Pandora’s box. And the exact meaning of what the pope said was still up for interpretation.