Out of touch
- 28 Comment
It’s often said that two subjects to avoid are politics and religion and so I usually refrain from touching these subjects here. Today, however, I’m going to make an exception, so please bear with me!
I was raised Catholic but many would say that I have “drifted” in that I no longer attend church. I have my beliefs and I also respect the beliefs of others – just don’t preach those beliefs to me!
In the past few weeks the Catholic church has demonstrated that it is completely out of touch with reality. International Women’s Day was celebrated a couple of weeks ago and the Vatican had an interesting message for the women of the world – “give thanks for the washing machine.“ According to the Vatican, “this humble domestic appliance had done more for the women`s liberation movement than the contraceptive pill or working outside the home.“ And then, in the past week while in Africa, the Pope continued his opposition to the use of condoms as a way to fight AIDS saying that distributing condoms only increases the problem. According to the Pope “combating the spread of AIDS requires a spiritual and human awakening, friendship for those who suffer and a responsible, moral attitude toward sex.“
The Catholic Church is out of touch with reality if they believe that putting the emphasis on education and focusing on personal responsibility will solve the problem considering that 22 million Africans have the virus that leads to AIDS and where most health officials recommend condoms as a way to prevent its spread.
that’s the way I see it.
28 Comments on this post
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rico said:
I agree with your position here. I think the kind of advice the Pope offers may work for people who are already practicing abstinence or already in the Catholic faith. For people who are already having sex, condoms may be a good way to keep them safe. I talk a little more about this on my own blog here: http://www.ricoexplainsitall.com/politcs-economy/2009/3/20/condoms-the-pope-and-africa.html
rico´s last blog post..Condoms, The Pope and Africa
March 22nd, 2009 at 9:13 am -
Catana said:
Not that I ever thought the pope’s pronouncements had any value in the real world, but some of these latest ones make me wonder if he is succumbing to senility. What a dilemma for the devout who believe in his infallibility.
Catana´s last blog post..Is comment spam a measure of success?
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 am -
C.B.Jones said:
You have to wonder though…What if someone else(maybe a celeb.) made the same comments. would this have turned into such a big issue if t wasn’t somebody trying to push their religious views upon everyone else?
It would be great if a scientist or three stepped up to the plate and confirmed if the HIV virus can be transmitted through the pores of condoms. I’ve read multiple articles that say different things this issue.
C.B.Jones´s last blog post..An oldie, but a goodie!
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 am -
Patricia said:
Also, not too many washing machines ever get angry and rape women. And how many poor women in Africa even have washing machines to be grateful for? Their personal safety and health are far greater issues. You are right. The Pope means well but is totally out of touch with the world we live in.
Patricia´s last blog post..Everyday Mind Reading
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:52 pm -
Jan from BetterSpines said:
As another lapsed Catholic, I agree with you. Even I have been saying that the pope has totally lost it if he thinks not using condoms is a good thing. But that ties in with the whole thing about not using contraception either. Can’t win, either way.
Jan from BetterSpines´s last blog post..Whiplash - new treatment guidelines
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:15 pm -
Ann said:
I have never been nor will I ever be Catholic. Living in the land of the Vatican, where they have way too much influence on Italian politics, is not easy. In my opinion, since “the church” is so out of touch, this affects everything else here.
Off topic, thanks for the comment! Tomorrow both the hubby and I are gonna try to go “cold turkey”.
Ann´s last blog post..Offline
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:46 pm -
Samuel said:
I agree here. It’s not in touch with reality to think people will suddenly start being responsible, smart, human beings in how they fornicate. But I suppose it’s the Church’s business to over-value humankind, where as the rest of us kind of think we’re all assholes.
Samuel´s last blog post..Grandma Plim published!
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:09 pm -
mantra2 said:
The Pope is only trying to force his belief system on africa. I wrote about it myself in my blog:
http://www.thisisawebsite.info/2009/03/22/pope-says-no-condoms-for-africa/
check it out if you want too
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:10 pm -
martin in bulgaria said:
I’m glad this came from a catholic raised blogger and not from another religious domain otherwise they wul dhave been gunned down for blasphamy.
martin in bulgaria´s last blog post..Work From Home - Look Carefully
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:50 am -
ettarose said:
What a great article. For one thing why does the Pope think he should push his beliefs on on others. I understand if you want to be Catholic and believe the way he does, but how in the world does this help non Catholics? A washing machine? I am totally offended that a washing machine is thought to be WOMAN’S greatest device. S@#$w the Pope.
ettarose´s last blog post..Sunday Silliness on Monday
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:45 am -
RobinB said:
Rico .. I’ve visited countries where the predominant religion is Catholic (Dominican Republic) where the people live in poverty and yet still have lots of kids because their religion doesn’t allow them to use condoms. It’s a sad situation.
Catana .. I think most Catholics probably don’t adhere to a lot of the Church’s doctrine and it’s about time the Church realized this.
CB … a lot of scientists and health organizations have in fact condemned the Pope for his stand.
Patricia .. I have no doubts that the Pope means well. In fact, I was a great admirer of the former Pope who got out and visited people worldwide. But it’s time to bring the Church into the 21st century!
Jan .. One of the reasons I became a “lapsed” Catholic is that I couldn’t stand the hypocrisy of people who went to Church one day a week just to demonstrate that they were “Christian.” As far as I’m concerned you don’t have to go to Church in order to be a good person.
Ann .. I’m totally against the Church interfering in politics. I’m glad that I live in Canada when I see how religion is having more influence on political issues in the States. It gets out of hand when your preacher is telling you how to vote, as happens a lot in the States.
Samuel .. it’s one thing for the Church to take the moral high road, but it’s quite another when what it preaches will only lead to more human suffering.
Martin .. just as I believe we have a right to criticize our politicians I also feel we have the same right to criticize the Church when they overstep their bounds and get involved with political issues.
ettarose .. apparently the washing machine allows households to change their bed linen more than once a week!
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:30 am -
Joel said:
I too share your views. The Catholic church is out of touch. They are turning the faith into a cult wherein realities of life are not considered anymore. Their continued opposition to family planning is causing poverty around the world.
Joel´s last blog post..Keeping An Open Mind
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:43 am -
phuckpolitics said:
Why is it so hard for the Pope to come out and say, “Don’t be a fool - cover your tool”?
phuckpolitics´s last blog post..Suck a dick CNN
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 am -
Jude said:
Since I’m not Catholic I usually ignore what the Pope says right along with all the other religious leaders as far as I’m concerned they are not the keepers of the gate nor do they rule my soul so I make my own choices in everything.
Jude´s last blog post..Shadow’s Transportation/Bill Wants A Newer Harley
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:04 pm -
Lori said:
I am also a “drifted” Catholic and I agree with you completely. It seems the Catholic church still believes we can change things as if we were living in the stone ages. The world is progressing, for better or for worse, and the Catholic church needs to progress as well.
Lori´s last blog post..Please Stop the Ride, I Want to Get Off
March 24th, 2009 at 8:02 am -
Jena Isle said:
I’m also a catholic, but I agree with you. It’s just too late now to think of a long term solution to the problem , especially that those who need the “education” lack the means to avail of it. “Desperate times, need desperate measures,” so they say.
Jena Isle´s last blog post..The Boy Who Saved Christmas - 14th Story for the Inspirational Book
March 25th, 2009 at 11:04 am -
The Mother said:
And I agree.
The whole anti-birth control thing frosts me. And I don’t really understand why an entire religious community allows a bunch of pseudo-celibate priests dictate sexual policy.
The Mother´s last blog post..Conversations with School Nurses
March 25th, 2009 at 11:42 am -
rachel said:
I like your blog, so organized ,something I have never been. I found your blog on blog explosion and thought to check it out, will have to come back and read more.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:21 pm -
Jenera said:
I think it’s irresponsible to be AGAINST condoms as birth control and for stopping the spread of AIDS. But I do agree that people need to take a different look at sex. Yes, it’s fun. Yes, it’s great. We can all do what we want when we want. But I think we’ve taken on too lax a view on sex itself. Not just with AIDS but with our youth today-and adults as well. We’ve drifted away from sex being an act of love and towards sex as something to pass the time.
Jenera´s last blog post..What A Day
March 25th, 2009 at 11:05 pm -
phuckpolitics said:
People in Africa have so much sex because it’s free and there’s nothing else to do.
phuckpolitics´s last blog post..Let’s take a trip down memory lane
March 26th, 2009 at 8:55 am -
Mamaflo said:
We’ve been made to believe plenty of “stories” made up by man (literally) including the bible.
This lifetime (as others) is merely an illusion made up because of our separation from God. God did not make AIDS, God didn’t make anything that is imperfect or hurtful or hateful or ugly or destructive - Man did this.I too was born and raised Catholic and I believed everything the church rammed down my throat, I lived my life in fear of displeasing God. What I learned is that God loves me if I love others - period.
March 27th, 2009 at 10:43 am -
Andrew said:
You’re right Robin, two subjects to avoid are politics and religion; prior to Iraq every war that has been fought has been about one or the other.
This is another fine example of why churches the world over are experiencing a decline in numbers of attendees. This comment from the head of a church that had denied the presence of pedophiles within itself for years, and more recently had a holocaust denier in it’s ranks.
At least under JP II most people respected the man and listened to what he had to say; perhaps the Catholic Church should ‘clean it’s own house’ before advising people on how to manage their own?…
Andrew´s last blog post..To all my valued EC droppers
March 29th, 2009 at 6:22 am -
Retired and Restless said:
Same here, Robin, raised in the Catholic church, but fell away as I grew old enough to think for myself and realized how far from Christ’s teachings the clergy have become. At about age 13, I began to doubt that the priests even believed what they were preaching. The position on contraception has become an embarrassment.
Retired and Restless´s last blog post..April Better Bring Showers and Flowers
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am -
Rob said:
I can’t quite read the grim reapers punchline, but I get the gist of what you are saying here.
Rob´s last blog post..December Sun #2 - Page 11B
April 6th, 2009 at 10:48 am -
John Tedder said:
I started doubting the teachings of the Catholic church when I did a term paper in junior high school about the Spanish Inquisition. The churches’ views on contraception and the use of condoms are ridiculous too. These are the same people who persecuted Galileo for saying that the earth revolved around the sun.
John Tedder´s last blog post..Schuylerville School Superintendent
April 6th, 2009 at 1:41 pm -
apples said:
I guess we’ve all heard we should avoid those topics.. but you add ’sex’ to the list of ‘religion’ and ‘politics’, those things are what I like talking about the most. Where’s the fun in talking about topics everyone agrees on and nobody cares about?
apples´s last blog post..Fucking on the Freeway
April 13th, 2009 at 3:54 pm -
Jack Web Design Services said:
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June 18th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
[...] the way i see it placed an observative post today on Out of touchHere’s a quick excerptIt’s often said that two subjects to avoid are politics and religion and so I usually refrain from touching these subjects here. Today, however, I’m going to make an exception, so please bear with me! I was raised Catholic but many would say that I have “drifted” in that I no longer attend church. I have my beliefs and I also respect the beliefs of others – just don’t preach those beliefs to me! In the past few weeks the Catholic church has demonstrated that it is completely out of touch [...]