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A call for a new approach: the Pope's opposition to contraception

By Greg Sgammato
Issue date: 3/26/09

William Buckley was once quoted as saying "Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive." Try telling that to the Catholic Church, Will.

Last Tuesday, during a visit to Yaoundé, Cameroon, Pope Benedict XVI publicly stated that condoms are not the answer to the AIDS epidemic currently ravaging Africa. Indeed, according to the Pope, increased use of contraception will make the problem worse. Instead, abstinence and a more responsible attitude toward sex are the answer.

This attitude is certainly not new. The Catholic Church has been long opposed to any form of birth control, from the diaphragm to the pill. Their argument lies in the "unnatural" aspect of contraception; any form of sex should be for the sake of procreation only. Catholics use the natural argument to condemn any individual who chooses to practice safe sex. This reasoning also allows the Church to attack homosexuals as abnormal and, therefore, indecent. Although Pope John Paul II was beginning to move in the right direction - he condoned sex as a recreational activity between a married man and woman - the new man in charge appears to be much too set in the ways of his Church.

Unfortunately, this stance has never been pragmatic. In 2007, over 11 million African children were orphaned as a result of AIDS infections; over 300,000 of these orphans are from Cameroon. More lives are lost everyday; more children left without parents. The Church sits on its high horse, berating the world as sinners and heathens, but their words can't save these lives. As much as they would like to hope, preaching abstinence won't take away the allure of sex. Idealistic words can't save lives.

The purported goal of all religious organizations is to help people. Maybe an ex-con needs direction in his life. Maybe a widow needs an outlet for her grief. Maybe a person, terrified of death, needs something to look forward to. Maybe humanity needs something to believe in. Insofar as Church policy has proven ineffective, one would logically assume it must be scrapped. When people are ignoring what a priest says, it cannot possibly help them. Rates of teenage pregnancy are steadily rising in the United States; Africa is constantly suffering from the effects of HIV infection. It's safe to say that people aren't listening. At this point, archaic idealism cannot serve as an acceptable position. If the Church wants to help anyone, they need to compromise.

One could make the argument that a religious organization does not exist to bend to people's whims. It needs to set a standard, not compromise. Yet Catholics around the world will be the first to condemn the act of abortion, because it kills unborn children all over the world. The Church characterizes its stance as "pro-life." Bumper stickers read, "Abortion stops a beating heart." Obviously, the Catholic community respects the value of life.

Why, then, will they not support contraception in Africa? They undoubtedly have the influence to make a difference; Catholicism is the fastest growing religion in Africa today. If they were to endorse condoms and help distribute them, they would have the potential to save thousands of lives. Life is precious; on this point everyone can agree. When the Church stands by their stringent support of abstinence, they are virtually stating that imposing their morals on others is more important than saving lives. In a perfect world, abstinence may be preferable to contraception, but this problem wouldn't exist in that world. The Church exists to lead humans to salvation and redemption in Christ. If they want to save souls, they need to start saving lives.

Perhaps it will be helpful to put the problem into perspective. People have sex, and, through sex, transmit venereal diseases. Contraception greatly reduces the chances of these diseases being transmitted. It would be best if no one had sex, but, as it's been proven that people will, being safe is a reasonable alternative. Consider gun control: people want guns, and, by using these firearms, hurt themselves and others. Putting restrictions on who can obtain what gun will greatly reduce the damage wrought by these weapons; there is a reason a fifth grader is unable to purchase a magnum. It would be best if no one used guns in an unsafe way, but accepting that they do, gun control is the best possible alternative. This argument can be applied to alcohol abuse, teenage driving laws or any number of things. The middle ground is there for a reason.

The Church would do well to learn from experience. They have openly condemned sexuality outside of marriage, and the result has only been an increase in sex and the problems that come with it. Perhaps if they changed their stance to adapt with the times, these problems could be averted.

© 2009 News-Letter

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