Nobel prize nominee Fr Shay Cullen has attacked Catholic theologians over their opposition to the use of condoms to control sexually-transmitted diseases, which had ‘‘brought much suffering on innocent men, women and children’’.
The Dublin-born priest, who is best known for his campaigning work against child trafficking and sex tourism, was commenting on Pope Benedict’s landmark acknowledgement that the use of condoms was sometimes morally justifiable to stop the spread of Aids.
‘‘If it is true that a piece of latex can be used to prevent the transmission of a death dealing disease and save lives now, then it was also true for the past decades.
What a shame we did not know it," said Cullen, head of the Preda Foundation, which rescues children who are abused in the Philippines. ‘‘Had the Church said it long ago, thousands of lives might have been saved," the Columban priest said.
The Pope’s position, which emerged in a book published last week, has been described as a shift in the Catholic Church policy.
‘‘Now that we are enlightened, those who campaigned against the condom as a means to prevent incurable HIV infection have to reverse the harm done and educate the people [who were]misled that it is reasonable and right to use condoms to prevent harm and save lives. Irresponsible, immoral or abusive sex acts must never be condoned," Cullen said.
He said that the Pope’s statement was ‘‘an acknowledgement of the long-held moral principle that we are bound to choose the lesser of any two evils [but] . . . needless to say, for the most of humankind, using a condom is not a wrong or evil act’’.
The Dublin-born priest, who is best known for his campaigning work against child trafficking and sex tourism, was commenting on Pope Benedict’s landmark acknowledgement that the use of condoms was sometimes morally justifiable to stop the spread of Aids.
‘‘If it is true that a piece of latex can be used to prevent the transmission of a death dealing disease and save lives now, then it was also true for the past decades.
What a shame we did not know it," said Cullen, head of the Preda Foundation, which rescues children who are abused in the Philippines. ‘‘Had the Church said it long ago, thousands of lives might have been saved," the Columban priest said.
The Pope’s position, which emerged in a book published last week, has been described as a shift in the Catholic Church policy.
‘‘Now that we are enlightened, those who campaigned against the condom as a means to prevent incurable HIV infection have to reverse the harm done and educate the people [who were]misled that it is reasonable and right to use condoms to prevent harm and save lives. Irresponsible, immoral or abusive sex acts must never be condoned," Cullen said.
He said that the Pope’s statement was ‘‘an acknowledgement of the long-held moral principle that we are bound to choose the lesser of any two evils [but] . . . needless to say, for the most of humankind, using a condom is not a wrong or evil act’’.
SIC: SBP/IE
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