An ancient blog post talked about protesters who planned to disrupt the Catholic World Youth Event in Sydney in 2008. They want to hand out condoms to Catholic youth and children to promote their own personal unholy trinity: condoms, promiscuity and abortion.
This stems from many non-Catholics taking offense over the Catholic Church's stance on contraception, and the use of condoms. In some ways, it's a strange attitude.
I say this because when people protest against the Church's stance on contraception they conveniently ignore that this is part of a bigger message. At the very least, we could mention four things, not one:
1. Contraception is bad
2. Sex outside (before) marriage is bad.
3. Adultery is bad.
4. Divorce is bad.
In reality non-Catholic people don't give a toss what the Catholic Church's position is on these points, and they generally don't know or care to know the reasoning behind these points.
Sure, they get offended at the Pope expressing an opinion, but they wouldn't stop for a second and think "what would the Pope say about my behaviour?"
These messages ultimately only apply to Catholics. No-one else listens, except to scoff, protest or act offended.
And for Catholics, the contraception message is not meant to be taken in isolation; the kinds of Catholics that reject the first message are just as likely to reject reject the second, and are just as prone to failing on the third and fourth items as non-Catholics.
Why would a Catholic think "The Church is against sex before marriage, but I'm doing it anyway" and then in the same thought say: "Gee, I wish I could use a condom, but the Pope said no." ?
For married Catholic couples, in a committed and loving relationship with no thoughts of infidelity, the only issue for them is the one of contraception - and I urge them to read up on Pope JPII's "Theology of the Body".
There seems to be a fear factor (or hate factor) in play by liberals (and some other groups) on all matters to do with the Catholic Church.
The Pope may be able to change the hearts and minds of Catholics, who in turn have some small influence in our democracy and in representing Catholic values. In a democracy, you convince enough people of an idea, and they can change the rules. We see it all the time with various interest groups tugging society in different directions. Scary!
Non-Catholics don't listen to the Pope, but they fight every word.
What is their greatest fear? That Catholics will listen to the Pope? Unfortunately, not that many do.
And does the world see any signs of liberal policies becoming less liberal?
I suspect we'd see laws imprisoning Catholics for their "outdated" beliefs before we'd see a law banning sex before marriage, the use of contraceptives, and even adultery is no longer a big deal.
(A rehash of a previous post in 2008)
Related Link: Catholic Youth to be targetted
This stems from many non-Catholics taking offense over the Catholic Church's stance on contraception, and the use of condoms. In some ways, it's a strange attitude.
I say this because when people protest against the Church's stance on contraception they conveniently ignore that this is part of a bigger message. At the very least, we could mention four things, not one:
1. Contraception is bad
2. Sex outside (before) marriage is bad.
3. Adultery is bad.
4. Divorce is bad.
In reality non-Catholic people don't give a toss what the Catholic Church's position is on these points, and they generally don't know or care to know the reasoning behind these points.
Sure, they get offended at the Pope expressing an opinion, but they wouldn't stop for a second and think "what would the Pope say about my behaviour?"
These messages ultimately only apply to Catholics. No-one else listens, except to scoff, protest or act offended.
And for Catholics, the contraception message is not meant to be taken in isolation; the kinds of Catholics that reject the first message are just as likely to reject reject the second, and are just as prone to failing on the third and fourth items as non-Catholics.
Why would a Catholic think "The Church is against sex before marriage, but I'm doing it anyway" and then in the same thought say: "Gee, I wish I could use a condom, but the Pope said no." ?
For married Catholic couples, in a committed and loving relationship with no thoughts of infidelity, the only issue for them is the one of contraception - and I urge them to read up on Pope JPII's "Theology of the Body".
There seems to be a fear factor (or hate factor) in play by liberals (and some other groups) on all matters to do with the Catholic Church.
The Pope may be able to change the hearts and minds of Catholics, who in turn have some small influence in our democracy and in representing Catholic values. In a democracy, you convince enough people of an idea, and they can change the rules. We see it all the time with various interest groups tugging society in different directions. Scary!
Non-Catholics don't listen to the Pope, but they fight every word.
What is their greatest fear? That Catholics will listen to the Pope? Unfortunately, not that many do.
And does the world see any signs of liberal policies becoming less liberal?
I suspect we'd see laws imprisoning Catholics for their "outdated" beliefs before we'd see a law banning sex before marriage, the use of contraceptives, and even adultery is no longer a big deal.
(A rehash of a previous post in 2008)
Related Link: Catholic Youth to be targetted