One of our Bishops here in SA was interviewed on national TV. He resides in an area that is being dessimated by HIV Aids epidemic. With approx. 30% and more of the population infected. Years of the governments condomize campaign has promoted a culture of promiscuity and erosion of moral values amongst all South Africans. In its very quest to control the population and reduce AIDs, the government has achieved the opposite.

The Bishop concerned was interviewed. He was shown amongst the people, caring for them and helping them. He also aired his views, saying that in his particular pastoral situation the lesser of the evils is the use of condoms. An example he gave: The husband has Aids and forces his wife to have sex with him. What does the women do? How does the Bishop council the wife? He comes out against Church teaching saying that his specific pastoral situation demands such a response and that protection of life is paramount.

Am I right in concluding that the Bishop is talking about the internal forum and that he should never have said what he said on national TV?

-- Franc (francois.de-fleuriot@unilever.com), November 27, 2003

Answers

The husband has Aids and forces his wife to have sex with him.

Isn't that the same thing as rape someone or even "kill" someone ??

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), November 27, 2003.

They don't see it that way. A man can have sex with his wife when he wants to, it's part of their understanding of marriage.

-- Franc (francois.de-fleuriot@unilever.com), November 27, 2003.

In other words , the wife has to shut up her mouth ??

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), November 27, 2003.

Happens every day.

-- Franc (francois.de-fleuriot@unilever.com), November 27, 2003.

In my country (B) , it's a crime !!

Both partners should get the same rights !!

Salut & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), November 27, 2003.

Yes both should get the same rights, but it is a different country with different customs. I am not in that Bishops situation but i beleave we cant take the lesser of two evils, we should stick to the teachings of the church... But thats just my opinion.

Happy Thanks Giving all!!

KeV

-- Kevin Wisniewski (Kez38spl@charter.net), November 28, 2003.

A husband has a responsibility to protect his wife. If he has a sexually transmissible disease as a result of his own immoral behavior, he has an obligation to place his wife's safety above his own desires. If he isn't man enough to have such concern for his wife, then she has every right to refuse him. The Church doesn't even require a woman to carry a baby to term when doing so would pose a genuine threat to her own life. The Church certainly does not require her to risk her own life to satisfy her wayward husband's sexual urges.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), November 28, 2003.

lets make one thing certainly clear... there is never any such thing as the "lesser of two evils." we always have a choice to do right, because God will never force us to choose evil. hence all our choices look like this: the right thing OR evil 1, evil 2, evil 3, etc etc etc.

now, i know what youre thinking... this is a choice between life saving (using condoms-- evil) or death by spread of aids(hence second hand murder-- also evil). but the choice is not that simple. there is one moral answer which is readily apparent to me: preach celebacy and virtue to the people. if someone has aids they need to be taught to put the condom down and stop having sex with ANYONE (wife included). all the people should be taught NOT to have sex outside of marraige.

if you look at it in that light, moral vs not moral instead of the false dichotomy of "lesser of two evils" then no, the bishop had no right to publicly overule the dogma against birth control, and God would never require that action in any case.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), November 29, 2003.

Paul H, you have wisdom beyond your years. If only I had known as much, at your age, as you do -- and if only I had had your faith and willingness to sacrifice -- my life would have been very different and far more pleasing to God.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 29, 2003.