As is the case with much of the West, secularization is becoming more popular as people embrace an atheistic mindset and live their lives accordingly.
This, unfortunately, is also the case in the United Kingdom, where after a recent and brief resurgence of religious professions, the public, yet again, seeks a barren, secularized lifestyle.
This explains British Prime Minister Tony Blair's outspoken advocacy for condom distribution to help end the spread of AIDS in Africa.
Of course, it is common to hear people pushing the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS in the horribly ravaged region in Africa.
But this begs the question: What's so special about Blair's remarks?
The problem lies with his subsequent comments, in which he claims, "The danger is if we have a sort of blanket ban from religious hierarchy saying it's wrong to do it, then you discourage people from doing it in circumstances where they need to protect their lives."
This implied criticism of Catholic teaching is completely unfounded and rightfully drew criticism from the British Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, as reported by The Catholic World Report.
When the cardinal spoke with Catholic bishops in Africa, they stated "that their dioceses are flooded with condoms . . . and it has meant more promiscuity and more AIDS." It seems, then, that Prime Minister Blair is determined to separate himself from the Catholic Church-which could be in fact a key ally in any humanitarian effort-as he claimed it is "silly" to believe that moralistic solutions will curb the epidemic in Africa.
What Blair and many other people fail to realize, however, is that the Catholic Church alone puts more money and resources in relieving the suffering of people from all ailments than many wealthy governments, especially Western governments.
For example, in the United States, the Catholic Church runs 17 AIDS clinics in San Francisco alone, as opposed to five clinics in the same area run by the gay community.
Such profound spiritual and physical healing, based on moralistic solutions and offered by the Church, is occurring worldwide-without a single condom in sight. The modern secularized public often chooses not to believe that humans can willfully abstain from sexual intercourse.
Fortunately for victims of AIDS, the Church recognizes the dignity and ability of man and therefore correctly teaches abstinence as the best way to prevent AIDS. In fact, this fosters great success.
Hopefully the West will begin to listen to Church teachings as proclaimed by people like Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor.
Only then will we see progress in healing our own ailments, especially those that corrupt us, both body and soul.
This, unfortunately, is also the case in the United Kingdom, where after a recent and brief resurgence of religious professions, the public, yet again, seeks a barren, secularized lifestyle.
This explains British Prime Minister Tony Blair's outspoken advocacy for condom distribution to help end the spread of AIDS in Africa.
Of course, it is common to hear people pushing the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS in the horribly ravaged region in Africa.
But this begs the question: What's so special about Blair's remarks?
The problem lies with his subsequent comments, in which he claims, "The danger is if we have a sort of blanket ban from religious hierarchy saying it's wrong to do it, then you discourage people from doing it in circumstances where they need to protect their lives."
This implied criticism of Catholic teaching is completely unfounded and rightfully drew criticism from the British Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, as reported by The Catholic World Report.
When the cardinal spoke with Catholic bishops in Africa, they stated "that their dioceses are flooded with condoms . . . and it has meant more promiscuity and more AIDS." It seems, then, that Prime Minister Blair is determined to separate himself from the Catholic Church-which could be in fact a key ally in any humanitarian effort-as he claimed it is "silly" to believe that moralistic solutions will curb the epidemic in Africa.
What Blair and many other people fail to realize, however, is that the Catholic Church alone puts more money and resources in relieving the suffering of people from all ailments than many wealthy governments, especially Western governments.
For example, in the United States, the Catholic Church runs 17 AIDS clinics in San Francisco alone, as opposed to five clinics in the same area run by the gay community.
Such profound spiritual and physical healing, based on moralistic solutions and offered by the Church, is occurring worldwide-without a single condom in sight. The modern secularized public often chooses not to believe that humans can willfully abstain from sexual intercourse.
Fortunately for victims of AIDS, the Church recognizes the dignity and ability of man and therefore correctly teaches abstinence as the best way to prevent AIDS. In fact, this fosters great success.
Hopefully the West will begin to listen to Church teachings as proclaimed by people like Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor.
Only then will we see progress in healing our own ailments, especially those that corrupt us, both body and soul.
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce