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Pope: sex can become 'like a drug'



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"Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged Saturday that the Vatican's teaching against birth control was difficult as he praised a 1968 Church document that condemned contraception. In a speech marking the 40th anniversary of the document, Benedict reiterated the Church's ban against artificial birth control as well as more recent teaching against using artificial procreation methods.

Pope Paul VI's 1968 "Humanae vitae" ("On Human Life") encyclical prohibits Catholics from using artificial birth control.

"The teaching laid out in the 'Humanae vitae' encyclical isn't easy," Benedict said.

"What was true yesterday remains true even today. The truth expressed in 'Humanae vitae' doesn't change; on the contrary, in the light of new scientific discoveries, it is ever more up to date," the pope added.

Benedict appeared to be referring to artificial procreation methods, which in the Church's view offend the dignity of life and go against Vatican teaching that the only way to conceive a child is through intercourse between husband and wife.

"No mechanical technique can substitute the act of love that two married people exchange as a sign of a greater mystery," Benedict said.

Benedict expressed concern that human life risks losing its value in today's culture and worried that sex could "transform itself into a drug" that one partner had to have even against the will of the other.

"What must be defended is not only the true concept of life but above all the dignity of the very person," the pope added.

Paul VI was said to have agonized over whether to allow artificial conception in preparing the encyclical. Benedict described Paul's decision as the fruit of much suffering and the document as "a significant gesture of courage."

"Forty years after its publication, that teaching not only shows itself to be unchanged in its truth, but it reveals the farsightedness with which the problem was tackled," the pope said".

VATICAN CITY, Italy (AP)
MissJonaLyn

7 responses // Pope: sex can become 'like a drug'

  • Your article title is a bit misleading.

    But anyway, the 'Church' says that they want you to have sex but don't get addicted? In quoting the pope, that's like telling your followers to snort cocaine and but don't abuse it.

    And in the case of artificial procreation, what would the pope say to a woman who's incapable of bearing a child but wanted a child her entire life and finally has the chance to get pregnant. "There's a greater reason for your inability to conceive." ?

    Maybe my response seems a little naive but I never liked the church's rules.
    Enter
  • This is a surprise because I thought they'd want more 'for their side' in any method possible.. Isn't this why birth control is forbidden? Or did they change that?
    patsarts
  • It seems today as in the past, that even the social norm has demonized the very thought of sex. I find it funny that he compares sex to a drug addiction which is a bad analogy. Another really bad assumption is that if someone was addicted to sex, they may try to force it upon others when it is very well known and clear that the idea of having sex with someone and raping someone is completely different.
    anglcazn
  • This guy is a dumbass.
    lifterbaron
  • Well, a man can only live so long...You know? Only a matter of time before we get another new pope.
    MissJonaLyn
  • 'Sex can be like a drug'? Ha ha, whoooa Mr. Benedict, too much information about your personal life. ;-)
    mischabarrett
  • how come people that never have sex are telling he rest of us how to do it??

    why are people listening to him tell them what to do seeing as God gave us free will and a brain i think people should use it.

    and he looks evil as sin so i wouldnt trust him if i were you :/
    Joe_Leo

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