Pope says you can now wear a johnny

[Gromit]

The Pope has changed his mind and you can now use a condom without it being a sin.

http://www.telegraph....n-historic-shift.html

Can't help but feel this decission though welcomed, is a little late. What are yor thoghts?

[jaydah]

more like the pope changing church dictates.

[woofgang]

I am gobsmacked...to be honest, never thought I'd see it in my lifetime.

[naomi24]

Praise the Lord!! - so to speak!! Let's just hope his workforce takes the trouble to pass the message to the faithful - in no uncertain terms - but I have my doubts about that.

[ummmm]

About bloody time...!!

[boxtops]

It's a very specific context though - only to prevent the spread of infection - last night on the radion the bit they read out specifically mentioned gay prostitutes using one so as not to spread HIV. No news on contraception though.....

[naomi24]

The only problem is of course this backtracking is specifically aimed at preventing infection, which whilst being a good thing doesn't help the world's poorest in stopping them from continuing to produce children they can't afford to keep. The pope needs to join the real world and think again.

[ummmm]

It's better than nothing.

[MarkRae]

> The pope needs to join the real world

The real world and religion are mutually exclusive...

[boxtops]

Indeed - a step in the right direction. You're no longer criticised (I guess) for having a packet in the house, you can argue that you need to keep your family safe from infection. Perhaps.

[mike11111]

Long time since I heard them called a Johnny.

[naomi24]

ummmm, yes it is, but it could be better still.

[Sqad]

I am an Atheist so the utterances of the Pope mean little to me except last year when he said that wearing condoms may INCREASE the spread of Aids.

I just wonder what damage that did to the efforts of Anti-Aid Associations?or indeed to the spread of Aids?

Sheer madness by the head of the Catholic Church but happily the church has persuaded it´s leader to see common sense.

[ummmm]

It could be much better Naomi but it's a step in the right direction. Hopefully 'the word' will be spread quickly.

[Sqad]

ummmm....if his doctrine is wrong about Aids, might we assume that it is inadequate or wrong about other Pontiff utterances?

[naomi24]

Yes, it certainly is a step in the right direction, but whether the word will be spread quickly or whether the messengers will remain silent on the subject remains to be seen. I can't help feeling that people who have long-established ideas on religion are going to find it very difficult to change them despite the pope's ruling..

[joggerjayne]

If the rules can be changed, it's a tacit acknowledgment that the "rules" are not are not divine, but "man made".

Or has "God" changed his mind, and told His Holiness to pass on the message?

It's unlike the Supreme Creator to be so fickle !

[Sqad]

JJ....naughty...but....LOL

[ummmm]

Of course Sqad. Same with most religions....

[Sqad]

ummmm.....;-)

[oranger]

Will this mean fewer smelly irish pikeys