Dear Catholic Exchange:
As a Catholic turned non-Catholic, I am very disappointed with the Catholic leaders of today's world. I'm not even talking about the on-going scandals, molestations, etc. I am referring to trying to continuously get involved in how everyone runs their life. Instead of addressing global concerns, like over-population, the church is saying no to birth control. Guess what, how is the church supporting all of the young Hispanics that continue to get pregnant, can't provide for their kids and live in poverty while their frustrated kids grow up to drop out and join gangs. What is the Church doing about that?? Maybe if more time was spent on after school and week-end programs to keep kids out of trouble, instead of worrying about smoke and bells, this would be a better world for everyone.
Jeff
Jeff:
This silly meme (along with “The Pope killed millions by denying them condoms”) has acquired fresh blood since the papal funeral. However, not even all the Pope's critiques are able to make themselves dumb enough to buy it. See, for instance, Brendan O'Neil's amusing commentary, “Did the Pope spread AIDS in Africa? ” He's no Catholic, nor did he much like JPII, but he was honest enough to point out the bone-in-the-nose ooga booga childish African who haunts the racist liberal imagination of the “The Church is killing millions!” agitprop brigade.
Okay. So let's get this straight. The Pope says, “Sex is for marriage and don't contracept.” Africans (or, in your argument, Hispanics), in cringing childlike fear and obedience, nod blankly, and superstitiously avert their eyes as they pass the little hut with the Peace Corps medic. “Condom Bad!” they say in their barbaric tongue. “Great White Pope say condom bad! Me obey Pope!”
And then, in slavish obedience to the White Father, they stop in at the brothel next door and proceed to fornicate like rabbits? And that's the Church's doing?
Your argument boils down to the claim that, out of mindless fear of the Church, Hispanic teens won't use condoms but will go ahead and fornicate. I think it far more likely that out of mindless obedience to their television sets and a culture that is filled with voices urging them to have sex as soon and as often as possible, teenagers will fornicate and give no thought either to the teaching of the Church, nor to your exhortations to wear a condom.
The solution to this is not to rush teens into more sex. The solution is to say, “Sex is for marriage.” Oddly, that's what the Church says. And even more oddly, you think that's bad.
As to what the Church is doing to help pregnant teens, you might check out Rachel's Vineyard for starters. And, of course, there are a million other ministries out there for the poor and for pregnant teens. This compares quite favorably with the principal solution of Planned Parenthood, which is “murder babies.” But then, you would have known that if you'd really wanted to.
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
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