IN response to Julian Cole's derogatory column on Pope John Paul II (April 7), I would comment on his reference to the Pope's "potty papal decree" on birth control.
Like so many others Julian Cole hasn't bothered to engage his brain before writing. The teaching of the Catholic Church is that sexual intercourse should only take place between married couples, ie not before marriage and after marriage only with one's spouse.
The teaching on the use of condoms (regardless of whether catholics follow it or not - Julian Cole suggests not) only applies to married couples as sex outside marriage is not permitted.
If everybody in the world followed the Pope's teaching on sex then every sexually transmitted disease including Aids would be wiped off the face of the earth.
The fact that this isn't the case is a damning indictment on the permissive society - not the teaching of the Pope.
Individuals who ignore the teaching on sexual intercourse per se are hardly likely to bother following the teaching on the use of condoms are they?
Tony Taylor,
Grassholme, Woodthorpe, York.
Updated: 09:28 Tuesday, April 12, 2005
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