Comments on: See, I told you so… but some tell it better http://novantiqua.com/2009/03/25/see-i-told-you-so-but-some-tell-it-better/ Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:45:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Michael http://novantiqua.com/2009/03/25/see-i-told-you-so-but-some-tell-it-better/#comment-58 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:24:25 +0000 http://novantiqua.com/?p=251#comment-58 If he continues to say that condoms are not the way to go, it might be because their use in free sexual intercourse is regarded as wrong …

Please explain WHY 2 individual adults, who decide to engage in sexual activity is wrong, where both partners agree to the act???

]]> By: Friend of Thomas http://novantiqua.com/2009/03/25/see-i-told-you-so-but-some-tell-it-better/#comment-48 Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:34:02 +0000 http://novantiqua.com/?p=251#comment-48 Hi again Kevin,

I’m glad there is a Pope and those upon whom he relies to resolve these questions. Let me just mention 2 points from Aquinas that your post brings to mind, which explain why this is complicated and not settled in all cases.
First, an intention for Aquinas is “an act of the will with regard to an end”; thus, a condom doesn’t have a contraceptive intention, only persons who use them for contraceptive ends. Second, Thomas teaches that an act is unnatural to man, precisely to the extent that it is against reason, which specifies human nature. Thus, there is the question of how we today should understand Thomas’s vice against nature in light of his broader moral theory. It has to at least allow for NFP, which Thomas doesn’t explicitly address; following Thomas, the Church came only slowly to accept this in the 20th century.

Best wishes for this Holy Season

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