I am neither a "cafeteria Catholic", nor a fundamentalist, and try to answer the following questions, which came up in the Goanet, with the light that I have received from my study and experience. But the answers will be brief. When opportunity offers, I shall elaborate the points.
1. Do you see any problem with artificial birth control? Married love should be open to life. No selfishness, nor hedonism. Family planning through natural means is allowed. Artificial birth control is not allowed. It is not healthy. Yet, the conscience of the parents should be well formed and then respected. 2. Would you advise an AIDS patient not to use a condom in his/her marital relationship? In the marital relationship, the AIDS patient may use the condom, if it is necessary for the marital relationship, but s/he has to inform the partner of his/her disease. 3. Do you believe homosexuality is evil? Homosexuality is an aberration. It is abnormal. Yet, the individuals should be respected and taken care of. There can be different factors in the lives of the homosexuals. They have to be investigated, the individuals should be treated as human beings, but with concern and compassion. I am not going to the details of the question. But we should not forget the good of the family. There cannot be "gay mariages"... 4. Do you believe abortion should not be legal under any circumstances, including medical contingencies involving the life of the mother? Procured abortion is a murder. It is a sin, if it is directly willed. It if comes as a result to help the mother, it is not a sin. 5. Would you advise a couple to remain married in the face of an abusive and dysfunctional marital relationship? Marriage is a partnership of love and of life. Preparation is necessary for such a responsible state of life. When the relationship becomes dysfunctional, all means are to be taken to help the couple. 6. Do you believe that embryonic stem cell research is immoral, and should be banned? Embryonic stem cell research is not immoral, if it is for therapeutic means. It is to be supported. But it has limits. It cannot treat human beings as objects. Cloning human beings should not be allowed. Stem cell therapy is licit. 7. Do you believe a man and a woman were created by special creation apart from animals? Human race has been well planned by God. Evolution of human race from lower species is accepted, provided that we accept that the Universe has origin from God, and Man has evolved with freedom. God has given superior status to Man and Woman. There is vast difference between human race and animals. Man cannot live without God's Grace. It is the implicit or explicit experience of Man and Woman. It is my daily experience--I know what is good and evil, but quite often I am tempted to do evil. God is the strength for all of us. Freedom is God's gift. We have to enjoy it by building up values. 8. Do you believe all human beings alive today are sinners because their original male ancestor, thousands of years ago, had sex with his solitary female companion? No, I do not believe it. It is a fanciful theory. Nor does the Catholic Church teach it. Regarding the Garden of Eden and the Tree of life--it is symbolical description of the happy life of Man and Woman in the presence of God. Man through abuse of his/her freedom tried to be like God--setting what is right and what is wrong... Man cannot live without God--this is the experience of the biblical writer. Man needs the Redeemer. Ivo da C.Souza
