The Catholic Retreat

I applaud Pope Benedict XVI's recent success in relegating his archaic establishment to the history books where it belongs. His announcement last month regarding the acceptable use of condoms is welcomed turn around, and not only for the estimated 35 million people suffering from AIDS worldwide. It also marks another important step in the church's retreat from center stage to the bleachers.

While the Pope did attempt to reduce the impact by specifying the use of the-here-to evil contraceptive by male prostitutes only (as a "first step towards moralisation"), this turn about face did not go unnoticed.

The Economist cottoned on when it stated in its article "No kidding: A slight shift in position on condoms":

If its use is acceptable for a male prostitute, it would be harder to deny that a female one seeking to protect herself, or her clients, from disease should do likewise. (Indeed, the Vatican later clarified that female and even transsexual prostitutes were included.) But if so, then what about married couples where one partner is HIV positive? The pope’s arguments seem to open the door to Catholics choosing the lesser of two “evils”.

Would this be the first time the Catholic church has had to concede its once all powerful position in the face of social pressure, unavoidably facts and scientific proof? Not at all. One only has to think of Galileo. or the Spanish Inquisition. or Joan of Arc.

I know the next argument. People are fallible, they are the ones who make mistakes, not god or religion. But try telling that to the poor Catholic who fervently believes (as one of the major pillars of their religion) that the Pope has direct communication with God. In fact, the pope is Infallible, by dogma.

I ask only this: How human is it to slowly give in when backed into a corner? Why hasn't God rushed in to save this failing, flailing dinosaur of a religion?