My dear brethren,

Much media publicity was given to the Pope’s recent remarks concerning condoms in his book-long interview with a German journalist, accompanied by sensational headlines stating that the Church has changed her teaching on contraception: “Pope Benedict XVI gives OK to condoms for Aids prevention” [Daily Mirror 24 Nov]; “The Pope’s shift on condoms is no surprise” [Guardian 23 Nov]; “Pope Benedict’s landmark acknowledgment that condoms are sometimes morally justifiable to stop Aids” [Reuters 23 Nov]. (These quotes are taken from the online versions.)

In chapter ten of the book, ‘Light of the World,’ the question of condoms was raised with regard to avoiding the risk of HIV infection. The Pope replied that “there may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralisation, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness  that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever ones wants. But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection. That can only really lie in a humanisation of sexuality.”

The interviewer continued: Are you saying, then, that the Catholic Church is actually not opposed in principle to the use of condoms.” The pontiff replied: “She [the Church] does not regard it [the use of condoms] as a real or moral solution [to HIV infection], but in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality.”

So it was that journalists and even Catholic commentators jumped upon the apparent justification of using condoms to avoid infection. For them it was clear that the Pope was simply conceding the obvious; that an evil (condoms) can sometimes be tolerated so as to avoid a greater evil (infection from the Aids virus).

Such an understanding is based upon a false application of the  principle of moral theology known as ‘indirect voluntary,’ which does not allow a good effect (the avoidance of grave illness) to come directly from a bad action (the use of condoms). Here it must be remembered that the use of condoms is gravely sinful, not just because they frustrate the natural law by preventing insemination, but also because they render the conjugal act unnatural.

In  any event, although the Pope’s remarks implied that it would be a lesser evil in a given case to use a condom to avoid infection - controversial and confusing as these remarks certainly are - they should not be construed as meaning that such would be morally good or permissible. In much the same way as it is a lesser evil to murder one person that to murder ten people, it may be a lesser evil to reduce the risk of infection through the use of condoms, but that in no way means that either sin is justifiable or morally permissible.

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For other news:

I was happy to have been able to visit the Society’s fine church in Cork recently, accompanied by Father Sherry, and there to have celebrated Sunday Mass. Following this we travelled on to the Mass-centre in Tralee where the faithful organised a reception for the occasion following Holy Mass. It was encouraging to experience the enthusiasm in both places, not least with regard to the Fatima and pro-life apostolate. I am looking forward to visiting St John’s Church in Dun Laoghaire for Sunday Mass on 6th December, as well as Newry and Belfast on 8th December.

With regard to Confirmations next year, please note Bishop Tissier de Mallerais’ itinerary in Ireland and Great Britain as given elsewhere in this newsletter for the period February 5-14th 2011.

Similarly, the 2011 retreat schedule is included and totals some twelve retreats and recollections counting those for the priests, Brothers and Oblates respectively. The minimum number of retreatants  required to enable a retreat to go ahead as planned is four, but in the event of a under-subscribed retreat, it will always be possible to undertake a guided but private retreat so as to avoid disappointment or wasted plane tickets.

The recent weekend seminar at St Joseph’s Church in London on aspects of the Church’s social teaching was successful, both in terms of the interest shown and the opportunity  to socialise with the faithful from different parts of the country.  It was also encouraging to see a  number of new-comers  present who are finding their way to the Church and Catholic Tradition via a wholesome cynicism for mainstream politics.

Contrary to the opinions of some (even in our own circles), who would see the Church’s role, and that of her ministers, as being  restricted to spiritual affairs only, the Church and her members are necessarily concerned with matters political and social because the Church is the divinely instituted guardian of the moral order, and anything morally wrong cannot be politically good. So it is that ‘the field of Catholic Action is immense as it is excludes nothing which in any way, directly or indirectly, belongs to the divine mission of the Church.’ [St Pius X, Encyclical ‘Il fermo proposito,’ June 11th 1905]  Hence it is anything but surprising that individuals interested in real politics will look towards the true religion and will be attracted by Catholic Tradition.

We are now close to acquiring a replacement  church in Liverpool, where Sunday Mass is presently being celebrated in a hired venue, and so may I confide the intention of a successful completion to negotiations to your prayers?

With the official launch of the ‘Christmas Season’ taking place in November accompanied by the switching-on of the ‘festive lighting’  we are reminded of how easy it is to anticipate the ‘festive season’ and to forget about  Advent altogether. Nevertheless, the sacred liturgy, Advent devotions, recollection, appropriate reading, and some self-denial may together help us to consider the great mystery of the Incarnation and thereby to prepare worthily for the joyful Feast of the Divine Child’s Nativity.

With every good wish and blessing,

Father Paul Morgan

Superior