I assume you mean that the application of the principle of double effect is bunk in this particular case (not necessarily in all cases). One of the biggest problems is that people are in the mindset that married abstinence is one of the evils, as opposed to the idea that refraining from sex is a means of demonstrating someone's greater love for another, hence a good that invalidates application of the principle of double effect.
Theocoid | Homepage | 04.28.06 - 10:11 am | #

The article states: ""In 1968 the most persuasive reason advanced in favour of retaining the ban on artificial birth control was that to lift it would signal that the Church could change its mind"

That is totally wrong and un-Catholic. The most persuasive reason was the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that would not allow the Pope to teach lies. The most persuasive reason was the Truth regarding God´s law, and the Church could never depart from the Truth in matters of Faith or morals.
Prof. Antonio Basto | 04.28.06 - 12:00 pm | #

Let's see if I'm on track here.
Married couple, one has HIV.
Sex without contaception will infect your spouse. Sex with a condom MAY protect them. This is not a sure thing.
How exactly is allowing couples to play Russian Roulette a show of compassion by the Church?
Dean | 04.28.06 - 12:17 pm | #

Russian Roulette would be having sex with a condom.

Not having sex isn't Russian roulette, and that's what the presumed Church teaching is.

Get the picture?
AmericanPapist | Homepage | 04.28.06 - 2:33 pm | #

I believe that if you read it again Thomas carefully you will see that what you said about Russian Roulette is exactly the same as Dean had already said.
Prof. Antonio Basto | 04.28.06 - 5:27 pm | #

I believe, professor, that we are saying two different things.

Dean says "allowing couples to play RR by having sex without a condom is not a show of compassion by the Church."

I say the Church isn't saying couples should have sex without a condom (RR) and should rather NOT have sex in the first place(NOT play RR, which = sex with or without a condom).
AmericanPapist | Homepage | 04.28.06 - 7:52 pm | #

Under the doctrine spelled out in the encyclical Humanae Vitae in 1968, any use of condoms, for whatever reason, is immoral.

I would like to see someone point to the passage in HV that says this. I think this claim begs one of the key questions at issue.
Kevin Miller | Homepage | 04.29.06 - 9:05 pm | #