You can wear them if it rains but only for that reason. And only if you are gay. Others can't have condoms because trying to stop fertilization is wrongwrongwrong. That this also means only some men and no women can use protection against sexually transmitted diseases is something one may need to stress a bit more than has been done in the media.
That's a summary of Pope Benedict's new views on condom use and sex. I read a few articles on his pronouncements and found the eternal optimism of the liberal Catholics fascinating. He's moved his left eyebrow! This must mean that he will soon smile on us!
The guy is an arch-conservative misogynist. Face up to it so you know what you have to work with.
OK. Now the careful blogger post on the same topic:
It could be that the example of a male prostitute is just an example, not to be interpreted as the definition of who it is who can use condoms. It could be that even female prostitutes may use condoms under this rule? One needs to analyze Ratzo's eyebrows to know for sure. But this is what the Catholic News says:
Pope Benedict XVI sought to "kick-start a debate" when he said some condom use may be justified, Vatican insiders say, raising hopes the church may be starting to back away from a complete ban and allow condoms to play a role in the battle against AIDS.
Just a year after he said condoms could be making the AIDS crisis worse, Benedict said that for some people, such as male prostitutes, using them could be a step in assuming moral responsibility because the intent is to "reduce the risk of infection."
The pope did not suggest using condoms as birth control, which is banned by the church, or mention the use of condoms by married couples where one partner is infected.
So.
Parramatta Bishop Anthony Fisher have clarified that Church teaching on condoms has not changed, reports The Australian. The Catholic News Agency cites the Vatican spokesman saying the same.
Cardinal Pell said that although the issue was "difficult and delicate" for the church, Pope Benedict had not changed his teaching.
Bishop Fisher said the pontiff used the example of a male prostitute using a condom - in an interview contained in a forthcoming book - to give due credit to someone "trying to make some moral progress".
He said the Pope had made a clear distinction between homosexual acts - where contraception was not an issue - and the use of condoms for HIV prevention more widely.
"He was very clear, as in his previous statements, that he is against condoms altogether," Bishop Fisher said.