Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the radio advice maven, takes up the side of logic on the condoms v. abstinence v. AIDS issue, and finds the Pope there. From her blog:
The Pope, The Rabbi and Condoms
March 25, 2009
During his recent African trip, Pope Benedict XVI said that the distribution of condoms would not resolve the AIDS problem. The Pope has made it clear that abstinence is going to be the best way to fight AIDS.
Google “Pope” and “condoms,” and you’ll never run out of reading material excoriating the man for his observation and opinion. Many health advocates have gone ballistic in their criticism of his comments. They feel it is one thing to promote abstinence as part of the Catholic religion, but that it is an entirely different thing to preach it to the world.
On a person-by-person basis, wearing a condom does, of course, offer some protection against contracting various venereal diseases and (of course) unwanted pregnancy. It is also true that condoms sometimes break, slip, or are put on incorrectly (taut to the very end). Everything has its limitations…except abstinence.
I remember listening to a rabbi describing a situation that occurred to his kosher family. His 7 year old child was invited to a birthday party for a classmate at one of those fast-food hamburger establishments. When he came to pick up his child at the end of the party, one of the mothers - clearly annoyed - chastised him for the pain he caused his son. “All the children had hamburgers, chicken nuggets, french fries and dessert, and your little boy had to sit there and eat none of it. Imagine how terrible your son must have felt? How could you do this to him? Food is food. There is nothing sinful about food. What you are doing to him is just cruel.” Just about at the end of her tirade, his son bounded up to him, gave him a huge hug around the waist, and said “I had a great time. This was a fun party.”
The woman blanched and walked away. The rabbi followed her and gently told her the following: animals will eat whatever is around, even if it will make them unhealthy. Humans are to rise above animals and become masters of their urges. Imagine my son in a dorm room where harmful illicit drugs are being passed about. We already know that peer pressure and urges will not force him to relent and give in to the impulse. Learning at his early age to control impulse and desire is not a harmful trait - many times, it might be a life-saving one. Look at him. He enjoyed the company of your son and the rest of the children without giving up his values. He looks happy and satisfied. We really need to bring up our children to be masters of their instincts, not slaves to them, don’t you think? The woman scowled, but listened to him.
Yes, in any one instance, a condom could protect, but in the overall scheme of humanity, why do so many people wish to push away the enormous protective power of moral values?
When the Pope suggests that human beings are best off saving their sexual passion for the stability of a covenant of marriage, he is making a statement that the act of sexuality is elevated by the context, and ultimately protects both man and woman from a myriad of hurtful consequences from venereal diseases to unwanted pregnancies (complete with abortions, abandonment, single-parenthood, and homelessness to name a few).
The naysayers all have one thing in common: they refuse to want, believe or accept that human beings can commit to a higher spiritual state of thought and behavior. The Pope believes in us more than that.
I am not Catholic, so this is no knee-jerk defense of my spiritual leader. The truth is that he is simply correct and too many people don’t want to hear it, because they want to live lives unfettered by rules. It is sad that they don’t realize that this makes them a slave to animal impulse versus a master of human potential.
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"...they want to live their lives unfettered by rule." Is this the description of Americanism or Protestantism... or both?
Prekast
I'm very glad you reprinted Dr. Laura's post. Otherwise, we might never know of Pope Benedict's unusual friend.
Anonymous,
Rejecting of rules is definitely not just an American trait. Most other countries are leading the way in immorality. Sadly, many "Catholics" are leading in the race, not just Protestants.
Dr.Laura I believe is Jewish. God bless her.
It's nice to know that the Pope has such a famous supporter over here! Thanks for posting this article by Dr. Laura.
Dr. Laura's parents were mixed-- one Catholic, one Jewish. She identified herself as Jewish until recently, I think, and (I think, not sure) she said publicly she no longer holds to this, but has sounded more Christian-like in her statements. But obviously, not Catholic either.
It's nice to hear from Dr. Laura again. Our talk station in DC dropped her for more political programming in the wake of 9-11. People didn't really want to hear about the moral foibles of listeners as much as national security and the like, in DC. Timman you are right about Dr Laura's current religious situation. She really was thrown by her mother's (Catholic parent) death. I have wondered if she'd come to Rome soon. I'll pray for her.
She also happened to be on FOX last night promoting her new book singing the praises of stay-home moms.
Yes, I get her weekly posts, and she often sounds more Christian than many Catholics and Protestants combined. This book is GREAT for any marriage, "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husband," by Dr. Laura. Schlessinger.
Before you ladies get upset, this book can literally make you understand and appreciate your husband so much, that he becomes the same way to you! It makes you look real hard at yourself.
The Rabbi's comments are powerful because they illustrate the intersection of Religion and Natural Law.
Revelation and the reasonableness of natural law are like twin support columns which incline toward each other till they join at the apex and form the architectonic of truth.
The reb's views were worthy of Moses Maimonides the Jewish commentator on Aristotle. Heck they were worthy of Thomas Aquinas.
Nice post.
The Rabbi's point of not being a slave to one's urges is good advice -- especially in these days when much of what constitutes 'capitalism' depends on one ignoring one's better judgement, and responding instead to powerful, advertisement-enhanced urges to eat, drink, spend, and buy.
But if you notice, Dr. Schlessinger also points out that this Rabbi's family is *kosher*. This fact is the overwhelming reason behind the Rabbi's son's refusal to eat "at one of those fast-food hamburger establishments," and not merely because the Rabbi is teaching his son to avoid the urge of stuffing himself with great-tasting hamburgers, shakes, and french-fries; as Dr. Schlessinger explains.
Since the food at that establishment was not kosher (or not verifiably kosher), a Jew who observes kosher food-practices is not allowed to eat that food. Dr. Schlessinger either missed this point (which is hard to believe, since she did identify this Rabbi's family as being "kosher"); or it is the case that she simply chose to tell her story from another angle (that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and this Rabbi are correct to lead us and our behaviors in the direction of higher purpose).
Also, as your blog-readers point out, if Dr. Schlessinger is indeed leaning towards becoming a Catholic -- then this religion-friendly blog-post of hers was a perfect opportunity to highlight even greater theological insight: That uncleanliness, defilement, and evil are not found in food or drink, but come from a man's heart.
Catholics, of course, understand that kosher food-practices do not aid in one's salvation or sanctity; and are explicitly condemned repeatedly by Jesus the Christ Himself and His Apostles, without ambiguity, throughout the Books of the New Testament.
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man: but what cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said to him: Dost thou know that the Pharisees,
when they heard this word, were scandalized? But he answering them, said: Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be
rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind, and leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit. And Peter answering, said to him: Expound to us this parable.
But he said: Are you also yet without understanding? Do you not understand, that whatsoever entereth into the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the privy? But the things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from the heart, and those
things defile a man. For from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands doth not defile a man.
-- The Gospel Of Jesus The Christ According To His Apostle Saint Matthew, 15:11-20
And calling again the multitude unto him, he said to them: Hear ye me all, and understand. There is nothing from without a man that entering into him,
can defile him. But the things which come from a man, those are they that defile a man.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was come into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked him the parable. And he saith
to them: So are you also without knowledge? understand you not that every thing from without, entering into a man cannot defile him: Because it
entereth not into his heart, but goeth into the belly, and goeth out into the privy, purging all meats? But he said that the things which come out from a man, they defile a man.
For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile a man.
-- The Gospel Of Jesus The Christ According To His Apostle Saint Mark, 7:14-23
Also, see: Matthew 12:3-12; Matthew 23:1-4; Matthew 23:23-25; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:3 and 14:5; Colossians 2:16-23; Galatians 4:6-10; Romans 14:1-10; Acts 20:7.
- Keith
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